Best Long-Lasting Nail Polishes for Chip-Free Vacation Nails

The OG of the gel-style polish world still reigns supreme (it’s the top seller of its kind in the U.S.) for its easy application, staying power, and range of shades. Once you combine the color and a top coat, the formula immediately begins absorbing light for an ultra-hard finish. The color lasts almost as long as a salon-grade gel manicure and comes in more than 80 shades so there are plenty of options, from trendy blue vacation nails to a classic, work-trip-worthy red.

When it comes to polish-boosting bang for buck, it’s hard to beat this handy top coat. The dense, crystal-clear formula lends gel-like longevity to any standard polish so you don’t have give up your signature shade to get results that last for days longer than usual.

Before she launched her namesake product line, Deborah Lippmann made her name as a manicurist to the stars (Kate Winslet, Reese Witherspoon, Renee Zellweger, and Penelope Cruz all sported her work while accepting their Oscars). So it’s no surprise that her Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Nail Color line carries a serious reputation for shine, crisp color payout, and ability to stay perfectly put. 

When it comes to iconic reds, Dior’s Rogue 999 takes the gateau. Inspired by the glamorous red lipsticks that Christian Dior personally designed for his models, the shade has earned the praise of makeup artists for years. The color is infused into Dior’s Gel Shine lacquer, which uses special polymer technology to create a strong, glassy-smooth finish that lasts and lasts—even through a 10-day trip to Paris (mais bien sûr!). 

For a trendy nail art look that A) you can actually complete, on both hands, at home, and B) doesn’t peel off like your standard drugstore sticker, these artsy peel-and-press stickers are the way to go. Made from real gel polish with silk-screened patterns, the set comes with 38 stickers so you can find just the right fit for any nail bed. Press on firmly, trim and file the ends, and you’ve got a high-style manicure that’ll have you looking like an influencer in under 10 minutes.

Zoya doesn’t specifically market itself as “long-lasting,” but let it be known: their decadent polishes have serious staying power. Fans of the polishes (of which there are many—Zoya’s colors have earned over 1,200 rave Amazon reviews) swear by their hardiness, telling of manicures that withstand gardening, typing, and camping with nary a chip. “I’ve never had polish last this long,” swears one die-hard. (Now that’s what we call a ringing endorsement.) The best part is that every one of Zoya’s 300-odd polishes is free of formaldehyde, camphor, parabens, lead, and other chemicals.

When combined with the brand’s Gel Couture Top Coat, Essie’s shiny, long-wearing polishes promise up to two weeks of glossy results. The shade range differs from classic Essie options, offering two dozen high-fashion-inspired shades that apply just as well as traditional polish. If you happen to leave your backup bottle at home, Essie Gels are easy to find in drugstores at proportionately cheap prices.

When you’re ready to make a statement (“yes, I am Instagram famous” or “I’m here to take charge of this meeting”) you need the right shades; OPI’s Infinite Shine line gives you access to 150 of them, from favorites like Russian Navy and Strawberry Margarita to eye-popping options like the construction-cone orange Loch-Smith and neon green How Does Your Zen Garden Grow?. Three steps (the color, plus a primer and top coat) coordinate to create polymer chains that not only last extra long—think 10 days or more—but also have a crazy-glossy shine that looks fresh from the salon, even if you dashed it on your hotel balcony on night one of a beach vacation.

Matte shades are standouts on their own, which makes a classic shade like red—one of only two options Chanel developed for this special formula—a brilliant bet for a sueded look. The color goes on rich and intense, drying down to a velvet finish that looks dense after just two coats. For maximum wear, add in a matte top coat (we like Sally Hansen Big Matte Top Coat) to extend the vivid scarlet shade for a week or more. 

Whether it’s sand and surf or snow and ice, destination weddings probably mean conditions that’ll put your manicure through the wringer—a serious consideration given how much attention is going to be on your hands once that ring goes on. Since weddings also mean a time crunch, this long-wearing polish that doubles as its own base coat is perfect—unlike traditional polish formulas that break down with wear, it actually gets tougher over time, so you won’t have to worry about touching up from the time the wedding party arrives until it’s time to head home from the honeymoon.

For the trip (and the special someone) you just know is the one, choosing the right nail polish is like setting the stage. The key is in choosing an option that won’t show any unfortunate chips in your big “I said yes!” pictures to your friends, family, and followers. This blush pink is just the right kind of understated, and the gel-like smoothing effect gives your nails a look that’ll make people think you have a manicurist on retainer.