Busy women expect a lot out of their manicures, and they should. We want a color that is on trend for the season and that we love. And we want a formula that dries quickly, looks great and is long-lasting, while being easy on the wallet. Does such a dream formula exist? Well, yes and no. Your technique is key to keeping the polish in place for at least a few days. Don’t skimp on your base coat and top coat, and be sure to paint clean, dry nails. Sweep a cotton ball over the surface of naked nails if you’re not sure they’re clean and free of lotions, dirt and other polish looseners. Ensure that the edges of your nails are smooth so they don’t tend to weaken and break. Now you’re ready to paint – but with what? If you have a little extra pocket change, then it’s worth going for the high-end brands like OPI, Essie and China Glaze. If you like a more natural formula, then you’ve got Zoya and Butter in the same price range. These two brands are tolulene- and formaldehyde-free.

At the very least, these chemicals are harmful when inhaled. But they have been linked to more serious risks such as fetal problems in pregnant women and even cancer. They’re approved to be used in cosmetics, so the risk is supposedly low. But Zoya and Butter are polishes to try if you want to err on the safe side. Zoya is a fairly long-lasting polish that tends to wear on the edges of nails instead of chipping, so it looks better as you wear it. The company makes fast-drying drops to apply to wet nails to speed the drying process as well. If you’d rather not spend up to $8 on a bottle of polish, then there are some standouts at the drugstore to try. Surprisingly, TotalBeauty.com’s readers rate Rimmel’s 60 Seconds polish easy to apply, fast-drying and long-lasting. And with a price tag of $1.99, you can’t beat it. For just $4, you can get CoverGirl’s Boundless Color, which comes in a large array of colors and lasts as long as salon brands.