Favorite Things: Favorite Nail Polish

Today I'm linking up with Erika and Andrea to share my favorite things!  Today, the topic is favorite nail polish.

I am partial to Essie nail polishes.   I usually pick them up at Target or CVS.  I used to be a big fan of OPI, but I find that the brushes are too large for my fingernails (although they work OK for my toes).  Essie brushes are thinner, giving me more control; I also think that the consistency of Essie polish is thinner.  While this sometimes requires an extra coat, it means that it goes on more smoothly (less globs), dries faster, and shows my poor painting skills less :)

Here are some of my Essie favorites. 

Essie's Good to Go Fast Dry High Gloss Top Coat does exactly what it claims to - it helps nail polish dry super fast and is really shiny.  It's the perfect top coat.  I've tried lots of other brands, but this one is by far the fastest drying and the shiniest.

Essie's Chinchilly is one of my favorites for any time of year, but especially the colder seasons - it's a gray that has undertones of purple and taupe, depending on the light.  It's one of those nail polishes that people will always ask you what color you're wearing, but at the same time is tame enough to wear on an everyday basis to work.  Love!

I love Essie's Bahama Mama for the fall/winter season!  It is a great plum color that isn't too dark (sometimes I'm not in the mood for one of those almost-black dark polishes).

Essie's Mademoiselle has become my go-to nail polish.  This color is great - it's super sheer, so it doesn't show smudges or chips at all; it is truly one of those "your nails but better" colors that makes it look like you just happen to have very shiny and healthy-looking natural nails.  It's a must for busy moms!

Essie's Cute as a Button is a fave for spring/summer - it is a bright coral color; the perfect balance of orange and pink.  

Essie's Turquoise and Caicos is one of my favorite pedicure colors for sping/summer - a perfect blue-green!