There are a lot of amazing nail products out there, but it takes something special to reach cult status. Those products that people talk about with admiring reverence, the must have in every beauty babes box of tricks. This list will always be up for debate, but it’s something we’re happy to argue about.
Chanel Nail Vernis in Vamp
Possibly the cultiest of all cult favorites, this darling was created as a one-off in 1994 for their fall runway show. It was the brand’s first dark and edgy shade, and went viral among editors and fashion folk, with demand so high that the brand had no choice but to release it for retail.
Revlon Nail Enamel in Revlon Red
Reds are a dime a dozen, but this particular shade of red 
is constantly held up as ‘the perfect shade’. It is considered universally flattering thanks to its even tone – not too orange, not too blue. Having been around since the brand launched, it shows that sometimes you don’t need to mess with perfection.
Zoya Remove+
The nail polish remover with the flip top lid is a firm favorite amongst backstage manicurists, nail techs, and bloggers. It’s highly effective, smells pleasant (as far as nail polish remover goes), preps the nail, conditions, and doesn’t dry cuticles the way some polish removers do. Buy it by the liter.
Chanel Nail Vernis in Particuliere
Particuliere is the most interesting polish to come out of Chanel in years. This murky mushroom shade of mauvey-grey-brown was released after the 2010 spring-summer ready-to-wear show. Chanel released, it sold out. Chanel released, it sold out again. Paired with the feminine white and cream tweeds of that show, it showed that polish didn’t need to be red or pink to be feminine and chic. Weird was in, and thousands of knock offs were spawned. Particuliere was the start of the nail revolution, with more brands toying with unusual colors, textures, and nail art.
Essie in Mademoiselle and Ballet Slippers
It feels a little unfair to put these two darlings together, but they are often spoken about in the same sentence as the gold standard in neutral nails. These two are among Essie’s biggest selling nail polishes, which is no surprise. Both are chic on their own, but true uptown ladies know to layer the two of them for that perfectly polished finish. Just add Bergdorf blonde.
The Body Shop Peppermint Cooling Foot Lotion
Any story ever written about foot care no doubt references The Body Shop’s famed Peppermint Cooling Foot Lotion. The entire peppermint foot care line is divine, but the cream in particular has reached cult status because of its soothing mint and highly moisturising feel. The Pumice Foot Scrub is close behind in terms of cult status – no one does peppermint foot care better.
Chanel Nail Vernis in Blue Satin
Remember when Blue Satin launched in 2008? Prior to that, blue nail polish had been the poor cousin of the dark nail polish family, thought of as weird, cheap, and a little out there. Perhaps the only thing that came close to making blue cool was OPI Russian Navy, released in 2007. Blue Satin threw blue polish into the fashion zeitgeist with its deep iridescence, and made it ok to wear darks all year round.
Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream
First released in 1930, this product has been a cult classic for decades. The combination of petrolatum and vitamin E mean the thick balm is great for soothing skin irritations, reducing roughness, and working as an anti-inflammatory. Any makeup artist worth her salt carries a tube in her kit! It’s one of the best products on the market for soothing and hydrating angry cuticles, and works wonders as an overnight treatment on hands and feet.
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat
There are top coats and then there are top coats. The Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat in the red bottle is a favorite amongst beauty girls, discussed and shared ad nauseum. Not only does it do what it promises – dries instantly – but it leaves an incredible shine and is one of the best on the market for keeping chips at bay.
