Holiday Gift Guide for the Nail Polish Addict

By Sarah kane

November 13, 2013

By Sarah kane

November 13, 2013

I have a problem: I am a nail polish addict. Everywhere I go, I scope polish displays HARD, whether I’m at my local pharmacy, department store or beauty supply. Perhaps this holiday season, I should maybe seek the help of a professional for nail polish rehab. Oh, who am I kidding? Bring on the polish!

Multiple nail polish companies have already started releasing their winter collections, and now that Halloween is over, the holidays will be here before we know it! I’ve done my research and compiled a list of 15 gifts that would be perfect for the lacquer lover on your list, or maybe some stocking stuffers for yourself, since nail polish is the gift that keeps giving all year round.

1. OPI Mariah Carey “The Look” Mini Nail Set – $19.95 via Ulta

OPI has teamed up with Mariah Carey to release a winter collection of sheer epicness. The full holiday collection features 18 polishes. In my opinion, the full collection is kinda daunting (and expensive) so polish trios are the way to go! For the holiday season, OPI has launched four limited edition Mariah Carey gift sets. This particular polish trio will help you achieve ‘the look’ for the holiday season. The set features three polishes hand-selected by Mariah herself: My Favorite Ornament (champagne glitter), Vision Of Love (rich burgundy), and I Snow You Love Me (holographic confetti).

2. China Glaze Be Bright Mini Set – $19.95 via Ulta

I am also so so excited for the China Glaze Happy Holiglaze Winter 2013 collection. I’ve always been a big fan of their polishes. CG makes a very wide range of colors and their formula is excellent (in my opinion). They also make the most AMAZING glitter polishes. This particular polish set features Your Present Required (multi-colored glitter aka unicorn vomit); Be Merry, Be Bright (purple & magenta glitter) , Bells Will Be Blinging (blue & gold glitter) and Mingle with Kringle (gold shimmer with glitter). Let’s be honest, glitter is acceptable any time of year, but this would be perfect for a New Year’s Eve manicure.

3. The New Black Demi Levato Shattered Nail Set – $14 via Ulta

Demi Levato has teamed up with The New Black to release several nail polish sets, just in time for the holidays. As if you really needed another excuse to buy nail polish? TNB has a past of teaming up with artists of all trades. They’ve released sets with Christina Rinaldi and Madeline Poole, two of my all time favorite nail artists, and I’ve always loved their ombre sets. I personally chose to feature this set on my gift guide because of both the studs and gold foil, which are very popular in the nail art game. This Shattered Nail Set makes it easy for anyone to achieve an edgy, punk rock look.

4. Ciate Mini Mani Month – $58 via Sephora

Advent calendars are a tradition I always look forward to, but imagine how great it would be to get a little bottle of polish every day ’til Christmas? This set features 24 polish minis (17 creme shades and seven textured manicure toppers) so you’ll be feelin’ the holiday spirit all month long. If you’re anything like me, you’ll probably just cheat and open all the doors at once to marvel at all the adorable little bottles.

5. Nails INC. Christmas Crackers – $38 via Sephora

The Nails INC. Christmas Crackers contains both best-selling shades and never before seen special effects nail polishes. Each full sized bottle is wrapped in a fashion quote. The six shades that come in each box are: Baker Street (bright blue), Kensington High Street (deep red wine), Marylebone Lane (red glitter), Mayfair Mews (Fibre Optic effect midnight blue), Trafalgar Crescent (Galaxy effect with holographic glitter) and King’s Road (Foil rose gold). You can either give them as a full set, or gift them individually, or keep a few for yourself.

6. NARS Guy Bourdin ‘Beautiful Stranger’ Polish Coffret – $35 via Nordstrom

NARS has recently released a limited collection of beauty products inspired by legendary fashion photographer, Guy Bourdin. The collection features some gorgeous eye shadows and lipsticks, but I’m most interested in the limited edition nail polish. The set features four classically beautiful shades: Lost Red, Shameless Red, Dance Dance Dance, and Manosque. NARS polishes are a little pricey, but they’re well worth the cash. The set is available online and in select stores.

7. butter LONDON ‘Luxe Rock’ Limited Edition Nail Set – $65 via Nordstrom

I don’t know about y’all, but I swoon over butter LONDON displays. Maybe it’s their amazing three-free formula, maybe it’s their cute lil’ rectangular bottles, or maybe it’s their gorgeous colors. Whatever it is, I’m into it, so naturally, I included this limited edition nail set on my Christmas list. This 12-piece set features 10 “fashion-sized” lacquers, as well as the Nail Foundation Flawless base coat and Hardwear P.D. Quick top coat.

8. Julep Extraordinary Color Kit – $39 via Julep

I’ve been lovin’ on Julep for months now. They has an amazing Monthly Maven program, all of their polishes are named after women and they’re based in Seattle (where I’m originally from). I included this set on my gift guide because I am obsessed with the Freedom Polymer Top Coat. It dries smudge-free in five minutes, and it leaves your nails with a glossy, almost gel-like finish. This kit also features Victoria (red with gold frost), Sienna (gold shimmer), Shenae (minty opalescent shimmer) and Crystal (silver glitter top coat).

9. Jenna Hipp Essential Nail & Hand Cream – $26.99 via Costco

Jenna Hipp is known as the Celebrity Green Nail Stylist, and is one of Hollywood’s most sought-after manicurists. She is very passionate about eco-friendly nail and hand care products. Jenna Hipp previously released a collection of her exclusive “Five Free Formula” nail polishes, sold exclusively at Costco, which unfortunately has been sold out for months. Don’t worry, you can still get your hands on this. Jenna Hipp Essential Nail & Hand Cream contains no hazardous chemicals and is enriched with 20% Shea Butter to help renew, nourish and protect hands. Moisturized hands lead to healthier, longer nails. This is the perfect gift for the holiday season, since our hands tend to take a beating during the colder months.

10. Zoya Zenith Sampler – $48 via Zoya

Zoya’s holiday collection is pretty on point. I’m a big fan of blues, metallics and glitters for the colder months. Zoya’s formula is also “five-free” and wears very well. This holiday collection features Seraphina (bright metallic silver), Cassedy (metallic pewter), Belinda (metallic purple shimmer), Payton (cranberry with holographic glitter), Dream (deep blue with holographic glitter) and Mosheen (iridescent bar glitter and iridescent small hex glitter in a sheer icy blue base).

11. Deborah Lippmann “Starlight” Set – $49 via Nordstrom

Deborah Lippmann is the queen of glitter polishes. It’s almost unhealthy how obsessed I am with her. The salon that I work at carries her polishes, and I always get especially excited when a client picks a DL polish. This glitter set is perfectly festive and features six polish minis: Twilight Tone (a black shimmery base with holographic hexes), Blinded by the Light (a clear base with silver & holo sequins and microglitter), Cosmic Love (a pink jelly base with gold, pink and purple holographic hexes), Fantastic Voyage (a blue jelly base with blue, gold and silver hexes), Champagne Supernova (a peachy pink base with silver & holographic sequins and microglitter) and Lost in Space (shimmery blue base with holographic hexes).

12. Kyle Design Manicurist Earrings – $12.95 via Kyle Design

Both cute and fashionable, these mani/pedi earrings are the perfect accent to any outfit (like an accent nail on a manicure!). These are the perfect stocking stuffer for a manicurist, nail stylish, or day spa employee, or even for an unlicensed lacquer lover.

13. LUSH Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter – $16.95 via Lush USA

This is some serious cuticle butter. I’ve seen A LOT of nail bloggers on Tumblr and Instagram talk about how amazing this product is, so even though I’ve never tried it, I’m including it on my gift guide (with the hopes that maybe Santa will bring me some!). Moisturized cuticles are essential for healthy hands and nails, and apparently, this super thick formula does the job. Some customers have even used it on their feet, elbows or knees for extra moisture. If you have someone on your list who is trying to kick the habit of biting their nails or cuticles, this is the gift for them!

14. Eden Sky “I Do Nails” chain – $15 via Eden Sky

Does this even need an explanation? I’m pretty sure this necklace was made for me. A couple months ago, Eden Sky tweeted this at me, and I’ve wanted/needed it ever since. The website says it perfectly: “Like the colors and brands that rule your world, this chain stand out and sets any style off.” Any nail polish addict or technician would be thrilled to rock this.

15. Formula X for Sephora The Twenty Two – $55 via Sephora

This is the ultimate collection for nail connoisseurs. The Formula X for Sephora mini set includes a collection of 22 mini nail lacquers in a range of classic creams for ultralong wear, megabright neons, cool, reflective chromes and splatter-effect top coats. The formula of these polishes is incredibly saturated, and are what I like to call “One Coat Wonders.” I’m serious y’all, you gotta check these out the next time you’re at Sephora, you won’t want to pass them up.

What sorts of nail polish related items are on your holiday wish list?