Hands and nails get their own favorites category this year. There were a lot of really good colors launched this year – unfortunately quite a few were limited-edition. My top picks for hand creams, treatments, polishes and other basics. Previous reviews linked for reference:
- Marc Jacobs Hi-Shine Enamored Nail Lacquer in Daisy – this is one I’ve owned for a couple years but everytime I wear it I always get asked “what’s on your nails?” it’s the prettiest soft pearly color that makes the hands look polished
- Chanel Le Vernis in Beige Rose – best baby pink cream nail color
- Dior Vernis in Lady – so sad this was limited-edition, the prettiest powder pink, I wish I bought a backup bottle
- Dior Vernis in Sunkissed – also limited-edition but still available at Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue, the best nude peach cream
- Tom Ford Sugar Dune – this was a limited-edition color from spring 2014 but made a comeback this year and was added to the permanent lineup, it’s the closest one to Dior Lady and such a polished beauty
- Louboutin Scarabée Nail Polish Collection – the three had to be the prettiest nail colors launched this past year, I was happy to get them before they sold out, looking forward to what they will release this upcoming year
- Rescue Beauty Lounge everything, in particular the R29 Collection – RIP RBL, you were one of my favorite nail polish lines, I was very sad to see the line go, but their polishes will always have a very special place in my heart
- L’Occitane x Pierre Hermé Hand Creams – L’Occitane launched such an amazing with their holiday collection this year, I fell in love with everything in the Pierre Hermé line and am embarrassed to admit how many shower gels and hand creams I stocked up on because they are limited-edition, right now you can still find Miel Mandarine and Pamplemousse Rhubarbe online but I don’t suspect they will be available for long
- Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Remover and Cuticle Oil – both of these remain at the top of my list for DIY nail essentials, I use them weekly and had to replace both because I use them so often
- Molton Brown Hand Cream in Pink Pepperpod – the most unique refreshing scent I’ve tried
- Tweezerman Pushy Cuticle Pusher – still the best one I’ve tried, although if you have any good ones to recommend I’m all ears
- Chanel Chataigne – from the fall collection earlier this year, initially I thought it was so similar to other vamps but it grew on me, best vampy shade launched this year
- Chanel Top Coat Lamé Rouge Noir – prettiest gold glitter top coat launched this year, I hope you were able to get one! It’s limited-edition
- Marc Jacobs Hi Shine Enamored Nail Lacquer in Wine Not – best metallic wine color released this year, it sold out almost instantly but was restocked online at Marc Jacobs Beauty, if you haven’t tried it you need to
- Nails Inc. 45 Second Top Coat – I don’t think I reviewed this in detail although I did mention it in this post here, one of the best top coats I tried this year and doesn’t cause shrinkage with other nail polish brands
- Formula X Nail Cleaner and Base Coat – I’ve found the Nail Cleaner to be a game changer, having a completely clean nail surface makes all the difference in helping polish adhere to the nails, the Base Coat has been a staple all year long, it’s what I’ve used the most and I can’t recommend it enough
Nail polish and hand cream fanatics – what were your favorites this year?
Love Chanel Ecorce Sanguine and Lamé Rouge Noir nail polish, Dr. hauschka hand creme and per your recommendation the Sephora FormulaX nail polish remover.
Tanja
Oh yes, that Formula X Delete Nail Polish remover is the best!
Chanel's Vibrato, it's the same shade of blue in the blue willow China pattern. I've had it on my toes for the past two weeks, nary a chip in site. Granted, I've been holed up in a cabana in Hawaii. Also love CND's Vinylux in Cake Pop and Winter Glow; they're my go-to neutral-ish mani shades. And, I could easily go through a vat of Essie's cuticle oil.
Oooh, Vibrato is one I passed on this past year. Will have to check out the CND and Essie you listed!
Dior Lady is super pretty! Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe OPI My Very First Knockwurst and Zoya Rue may be similar.
They are close, but not the same 🙁
Hear Hear on the Chanel Vamp collection and top coat. Love this for fall, holiday and into winter.
That top coat is just the best 🙂
Sabrina I bought Dior Lady but it doesn't work for me. I would be happy to send my bottle to you.
Karen
Hi Karen – thanks for offering to send it, you should keep it! It's such a great color!
I'm a polish LOVER and these choices are super pretty! Thanks for the beautiful suggestions. 🙂
What's your favorite polish?
Totally with you on Lady and Sugar Dune. My go to neutrals. And what happened to RBL?
RBL closed this year. http://www.refinery29.com/2015/11/97015/rescue-beauty-lounge-closing#slide
Got me interested in many of these products, can't wait for more! I trust your choice and appreciate your amazing work. Thank you 🙂
Thanks for following and reading my blog 🙂
Hi Sabrina, great post as always. I'm esp glad I got my hands on the Chanel Top Coat Lamé Rouge Noir, it is sooo pretty. And the Pierre Herme loccitane scents are sooo delicious. I stocked up on the hand creams but didn't think to get shower gels. I think there are still some left at my local loccitane, I might get some. I was wondering have you ever tried the Jo Malone 'Vitamin E' Nourishing Hand Treatment. I know your a huge fan of the lip balm and thought you should give it a try I think you'd like it. 🙂
My favourite colour's this year were……Dior 'Lady for being the perfect pink. All the Chanel Les Beiges Collection Polish……all 4 were beautiful summer colours for fresh, healthy looking nails. Chanel 'Singuliere' & 'Chataigne' and Chanel's Lamé Top Coat were all winners but I will say the Lamé quickly dulls down and after a couple of days needs a freshen up with another coat and then my Dior Gel Topcoat to set it but for glitz it's can't be beaten. My most favourite colour this year was Tom Ford 'BlackOut' from Noir Colour Collection but I am a sucker for Vamp in Autumn and post relaunch I have had Chanel Rouge Noir Ltd Edition bottle back on which I haven't used in a long while. I'm not a massive fan of duochromes so although I bought the Louboutin polish they were more for my collection. Chanel where was your Vogue Fashion Night Out polish this year? I really missed those. My favourite new brand has to be Smith & Cult not least for giving us such crazy names…..Birdie Num Num & Gay Ponies Dancing in the snow. Also the bottles are quirky and you get a lot of polish for your money. I still buy Burberry polish when a new colour comes out as I just love the dinky little bottles and the whole Burberry packaging is divine as are the colour's in the range. Yesterday two new colour's Purple Garnet & Forest Green landed here and they are gorgeous. I also swear by Deborah Lippman cuticle cure cream and cuticle oil and I have the CC cream base coat & rehydrating basecoat as staples. Xx
Hi Amanda – love your picks! I've still been testing that DL CC Base Coat and am undecided.
Smith and Cult is amazing!
I was super bummed about RBL closing. Chanel has been amazing this year.
Me too 🙁