The Best Nail-Care Products of 2025

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Healthy nails are the foundation of any great manicure, but the right polish doesn’t hurt either. This tightly edited lineup has your tips covered.

Kara Jillian Brown is the beauty editor of InStyle. She began her career at Well+Good, where she spent five years evolving from editorial intern to news writer to beauty writer. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English rhetoric from Binghamton University and a master’s degree in health and science journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. She is also a certified fitness instructor and teaches barre in Brooklyn.

Nail care might be the most satisfying of all beauty rituals. Your hair and makeup look great, sure, but unless you’re snapping selfies, you don’t get to enjoy them all day. Nails, on the other hand? Always in view—giving you a moment to admire your polish or marvel at your DIY art.

To keep your manicure flawless, make sure you’ve got the best tools on hand (pun intended). We asked two celebrity nail artists and our mani-loving editors to share their top picks. Shop the best nail-care products of 2025, below.

“Ironically enough, I don’t often have color on my nails. I like to keep them natural to be inspired for my next creation. I use La Base to give my nails a healthy-looking glow while keeping them natural. It’s perfect for those who love low-maintenance nails.” —Betina Goldstein, celebrity nail artist

Gucci provides a smooth formula that is available in vibrant colors and housed in a stunning sculptural bottle. The tightly edited collection boasts 10 stunning colors that fit well into any polish wardrobe. It dries quickly and has a super-glossy finish. —Kara Jillian Brown, beauty editor

"My nail tech never believes I have on a regular mani when I wear this super glossy top coat. It looks and feels like gel, but it doesn't require that same tedious removal process. In fact, I haven't used another top coat since I tried it a few years ago." —Ruby McAuliffe, associate commerce editor

"Dazzle Dry is one of my favorite clean nail beauty brands that offers a wide range of colors and provides a quick drying system that promotes healthy nails with cruelty-free ingredients." —Queenie Nguyen, celebrity manicurist

Dichen Chen

"Gel polish is my favorite invention. I can't live without it. And I love the polishes from Aprés. The brush allows me to sweep color on with ease. And in just two coats, I'm left with the most stunning finish." —K.J.B.

"As a chronic DIYer, I've used my fair share of gel top coats. This one from ORLY remains a favorite. The no-wipe, high-shine formula is the perfect finishing touch to any manicure." —K.J.B.

"The gel kit from Le Mini Macaron is such a smart idea for travel and easy application. They come in a variety of colors, and the polishes are 3-in-1, so users can skip the additional base and top coat like other gel polish brands." —Q.N.

"I have been using this product for over 12 years. It removes nail polish without drying out the skin. It’s also ideal for the removal of red or dark nail polish without staining the skin or nail. The wipes are perfect for on the go, and one wipe is enough for both hands." —B.G.

"I personally use the Active Glow nourishing treatment polish to condition my nails and give them a little tint of color. The serum adds additional hydration to the cuticles around the nails." —Q.N.

"Cuticle cutting is my strange addition. I love snipping away at dead, dry skin around my nail bed to reveal smooth, new skin. But because I do it myself and can feel what I'm doing, I never go overboard. The key to a painless clean-up? A sharp, precise tool. And nothing beats those from Tweezeerman." —K.J.B.

Dichen Chen

"I love a cuticle cream in a tube because it is easier to travel with and store away. This cuticle cream has plant keratin and biotin to strengthen, repair, and protect nails, while other emollients and actives keep nail beds and cuticles hydrated, soft, and bacteria-free." —Q.N.

"A solid cuticle oil is a must-have in any nail-lover's routine. This one from Mineral Fusion is rich in fatty acids and sweet almond oil to nourish and condition nails for a smooth and healthy base." —K.J.B.

"The skin on our hands is also very sensitive, so I'm thoughtful when it comes to hand wash and especially the texture of an exfoliating hand wash. I love the hand exfoliant from Sidia because it is extremely gentle and features fine perlite to carefully slough unwanted skin and boasts plant-based retinol dupe rambutan to smooth fine lines." —Q.N.

"I always thought I needed a super heavy hand cream to ward away cracks, dullness, and dryness, but this lightweight, serum-esque cream does the job better than my doctor-prescribed hand lotion. It’s really a treat to push down the application and apply the silky cream before bed, especially since the brand houses the formula in a very cool-looking, art-deco-inspired vessel." —Irene Richardson, commerce writer