A collection of soft and bright drugstore summer nail polish colors with swatches from orange to teal, green and pink from Essie, Revlon, Barry M, Rimmel and more!
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As I’m writing this round-up of some of my current favorite summer nail polishes, it’s over 35 degrees Celsius in Paris, and all I want to do is drink water, eat watermelon and wear bright nail shades.
That’s about it, really, aside from swatching, swatching, and writing all the Barry M, Nails Inc, and Essie nail polish posts I feel rather late sharing.
Oh well.
If you’ve been here before, you may know that while I’d been very much into sheer nail polish these past few months, my obsession recently shifted to duochrome nail polishes and pastels.
18 Drugstore Summer Nail Polish Colors You Won’t Get Enough Of
That’s why you’ll have a bit of pastel nail polishes here, a couple of duochromes I’ve already dedicated reviews to, and of course, lots of bright nail polishes as well.
For each of these, I’ve included a swatch, as well as the review of the nail polish when I’ve already posted it – the others are on their way 🙂
In terms of brands, I’ve focused on some of my favorite drugstore nail polish brands, a few of which you’ve already been able to see on Sammie Etc:
- Barry M
- Nails Inc
- Essie
- Layla Cosmetics
- Revlon
- Rimmel
That way, even if you’re tight on budget, you can still treat yourself to some gorgeous summer nails!
Best Summer Nail Polish Colors: Pastel Green with Kiko Power Pro Nail Lacquer 239 Minty Frost
The Kiko Power Pro Nail Lacquer range offers a gorgeous formula, and pastel nail polishes have recently been added, with baby blue, lilac, and mint shades.
The Power Pro Nail Lacquer 239 Minty Frost is a beautiful pastel green nail polish with soft gold duochrome – opaque in two to three coats, and very long lasting.
Read: Clean Girl Aesthetic: Essie Ballet Slippers Nail Polish Swatch
Best Summer Nail Polish Colors: Shimmery Teal with Rimmel 60 Seconds Siren
I am not well acquainted with the Rimmel nail polishes, the 60 Seconds Super Shine Siren had however been on my purchase list for a while before I got it last year.
This shimmery teal would also make for a perfect fall nail polish color, but come to think of it, teal is a perfect makeup and nail color for pretty much any time of the year.
It’s opaque in three coats – the formula is pretty sheer, but the extra work is definitely worth it.
Read: Mauve Nude Nails: Essie Lady Like Nail Polish Swatches
Best Summer Nail Polish Colors: Layla Cosmetics Ceramic Effect 73
I have several Layla Cosmetics Ceramic Effect nail polishes, five, to be exact, and number 73 is a soft teal nail polish with gold duochrome.
The difference between the Rimmel Siren nail polish and the Layla Cosmetics one is that the latter is lighter, and a tad warmer-toned.
If you’re not acquainted with the Layla Cosmetics nail polishes, it’s safe to say they’re some of my best finds of the year – when they dry, they become rock hard on the nails and last so, so long.
Read: 4 Beautiful Hema Nail Polish Colors (Swatches)
Best Summer Nail Polish Colors: Essie Mint Candy Apple
Essie Mint Candy Apple feels like a staple when it comes to summer nail polish colors; it’s a medium-toned mint green which I love using for nail art even during spring and winter.
It’s opaque in two to three coats, and is one of the most popular summer Essie nail polishes – on tan skin, it looks dashing!
Best Summer Nail Polish Colors: Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine in Pear
I collect the Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine nail polishes, and have for almost a decade – I can’t remember the first color I ever got, but I know that the pigmentation is consistent across the range.
The Barry M Pear Nail Paint is a bright, slightly cool-toned green nail polish which is also perfect for spring – it’s one of the brightest greens Barry M currently offers, and opaque in two, two and a half coats.
(If you’re looking for something softer or colors also suitable for spring or winter, check out the Barry M Eucalyptus nail polish – a beautiful muted mint green!)
Read: Duochrome Nails: Barry M Glazed Sheer Nail Paint Swatches
Best Summer Nail Polish Colors: Douglas Pink Triteia
As soon as I enjoy using a specific brand, I’ll pretty much start collecting all their colors – that’s the case with the Douglas nail polishes.
The Douglas Pink Triteia nail polish is a soft champagne nail polish with turquoise duochrome – and one of the duochrome nail polishes I’ve bought again and again over the years.
When the light hits your nails, the turquoise duochrome show up instantly, giving a discrete, yet very fun effect.
Read: Drugstore Lipstick: Maybelline Superstay Vinyl Ink Swatches & Review
Best Summer Nail Polish Colors: Nails Inc That Euphoria Life
The Nails Inc nail polishes also count among some of my favorites; from the color options to the large brush, the fact that it’s a London-based brand and the almost gel-like formula, there’s just so much to love about them!
The Nails Inc That Euphoria Life nail polish is one of the most magical shades the brand carries; a beautiful lilac nail polish with turquoise duochrome that shows up to perfection after two to three coats.
Shop Nails Inc That Euphoria Life
Read: Comparison: Essie Lady Like vs Eternal Optimist Swatches
Best Summer Nail Polish Colors: Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine in Berry Parfait
There are a few absolutely outstanding blue Barry M nail polishes in the Gelly Hi-Shine range, and one of my favorites is Berry Parfait – this is my second bottle!
I do love me some gorgeous blue nails, as I showed you a few days ago with my summery, beach nail art using Essie.
Anyhoo – Berry Parfait is a striking medium-toned blue, creamy, with a formula which glides smoothly and gives opaque nails in two, two and a half coats.
Read: Kiko Milano Smart Fusion Lip Liner Swatches
Best Summer Nail Polish Colors: Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine in Blue Guava
Blue Guava is one of the darkest – the darkest? – blue Barry M nail polish – an electric blue opaque in two to three coats.
Electric blue eyeliners, eyeshadow, nail polish: I love electric blue.
On my fair olive skin, Blue Guava offers a particular result which I love to mix with white or baby pink nail polish (Essie Not Just a Pretty Face, for instance) for an even deeper contrast.
Read: 23 Gorgeous MAC MACximal Lipsticks For All Skin Tones
Best Summer Nail Polish Colors: Essie Aruba Blue
Pale skin, medium or dark – the Essie Aruba Blue nail polish is one whose color has clearly been carefully crafted.
This shimmery navy blue nail polish is one I’ve used in my beach-inspired nail art along with Essie Blanc and Essie You Do Blue, and one I’ve been wearing a lot on my toes lately.
Read: Comparison: Essie Angora Cardi vs Island Hopping Swatches
Best Summer Nail Polish Colors: Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Cotton
Whatever the season, white nail polish is always in – you’d think my favorite nail polish colors would be red, sheer or green (and they are), but white tops them all.
The Barry M Cotton nail paint pictured here is my second (maybe my third) bottle, and is completely opaque in three coats.
The effect is simply gorgeous when I tan, but, again, whether it’s summer or not, I collect white nail polishes and will definitely wear them all year long.
Read: 7 Gorgeous Pink and Coral Summer Lipstick Shades
Best Summer Nail Polish Colors: Essie Mademoiselle
While most of the shades here are bright nail polish shades, I have also been wearing Essie Mademoiselle a lot recently.
This soft sheer pink nail polish makes for a perfect nude for every day no matter what the season.
Whenever I want a touch of color on my nails but really don’t want to take the time for two to three coats, I’ll apply a simple coat of Mademoiselle and be off with my day.
Read: Comparison: Essie Ballet Slippers vs Mademoiselle Swatches
Best Summer Nail Polish Colors: Wynie Cosmetics 7 Days 484
The Wynie Cosmetics products are great and cheap – what’s not to like?
I know they were very easy for me to purchase in Rome and Barcelona (it is, after all, a Spanish makeup brand), but since I’m currently in Paris, my next Wynie Cosmetics nail polishes will have to be purchased online.
I’ll show you two of the ones I have today, and the first is the 7 Days Ultra Shine Long Lasting nail polish in 484.
This is a bright pink nail polish with slight coral undertones, almost neon and perfect for tan skin.
Read: 7 Beautiful Summer Lipgloss Shades For All Skin Tones
Best Summer Nail Polish Colors: Wynie Cosmetics 7 Days 848
The other Wynie Cosmetics nail polish I’ll show you today is the 7 Days Ultra Shine Long Lasting in 848 – a strong pink color, almost neon, which I’ve been wearing a lot on my toes in the past few months.
These two nail polishes are opaque in about two coats, and really are long lasting, which is great since I purchased them for 1.50/2 euros each.
Best Summer Nail Polish Colors: Revlon Ultra HD Snap in Rule The World
Another collection I started a few months ago was the Revlon Ultra HD Snap nail polishes – one of my current favorites is Rule the World.
The Revlon Rule the World nail polish, compared to the Wynie Cosmetics one I’ve shown you above, is much cooler-toned, and a shade particularly suited for olive or cool skin.
I particularly appreciate that the Ultra HD Snap nail polishes are almost opaque with just one coat, are completely vegan, and last a long, long time.
Read: 8 Popular Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Swatches
Best Summer Nail Polish Colors: Layla Cosmetics Ceramic Effect 74
The Layla Cosmetics Ceramic Effect 74 nail polish is the second product from the brand I’m showing you today, and another duochrome.
This time, we have a cool-toned fuchsia nail polish with purple blue duochrome.
It also makes for a great fall nail polish, but since duochrome makes me so happy no matter the season, it’s one I’ve loved to wear: with a dash of pink or coral lipstick, it makes a great combo for summer!
Read: 4 Must-Have Matte MAC Lipstick Shades for a Statement Look
Best Summer Nail Polish Colors: Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine in Tangerine
The Barry M Tangerine nail paint is the last product from the British makeup brand I’ll show you today.
We have here a really bright orange nail polish which I can see suiting Asian and all kinds of warm skin tones to perfection.
This is the one nail polish out of the whole bunch that I almost only use for nail art designs as orange nail polish tends to look slightly mismatched on my skin.
However, with its two coats to full opacity, it’s yet another great drugstore nail polish to get if you’re interested in bright shades!
Best Summer Nail Polish Colors: Essie Too Too Hot
The Essie Too Too Hot nail polish is the last one I’ll show you today, and if you would like to find a great coral nail polish which leans into redness, that’s one to get.
I usually prefer proper red nail polish rather than coral, still for the same olive skin reason, but since this one has strong red undertones, it does suit me pretty well.
Too Too Hot is easily opaque in two coats, and beautiful to use for nail art with white, cobalt blue or a lavender nail polish.
Read: Nude Mauve Nails: Essie Clothing Optional vs Lady Like Swatches
18 Drugstore Summer Nail Polish Colors You Won’t Get Enough Of
There you have them, all my current favorite summer nail polish colors!
You’ll hopefully have found in this post some new shades to try – I’ve been loving duochrome and multichrome makeup lately, and it of course shows in my choice of nail polishes as well.
I’ve been wearing all of these a lot over the past few months, and feel like they all bring some fresh air into the summer months!
Until next time!