Top Nail Polishes for Spring & Summer 2025: Reds, Nudes, and Holiday Favourites

I really enjoy doing my own nails, it's oddly therapeutic. Letting someone else do them? Absolutely not. That’s a chalkboard-screeching experience for me.

Unsurprisingly, I wear mostly variations of red and nude or sheer shades (see my piece on red lipstick for proof). But when the sun comes out, so do some of my more playful favourites. Regardless of colour choices, having a little something on my nails always makes me feel, well... polished.

We’re in the middle of one of the UK’s hottest summers (finally!), so I have rounded up my top spring–summer nail polishes, with a few holiday picks thrown in. These are the ones I keep coming back to, plus a few great alternatives (I own or have owned) when I want to mix things up.

For reference and to help you picture whether these would work on you, my skin is light and mostly neutral with olive undertones.

Reds (Classic, Timeless)

Red nails are a must-have and default colour for me (check out my red lipstick article). They work year-round, but some feel especially right for this time of year.

Essie Russian Roulette: My spring–summer red. It’s bright, glossy, and never fails to make me feel pulled together. It's a neutral, warm-leaning bright red that looks classic and cheerful.

Alternatives I like:

• Mavala Tadoussac: Has a slight sparkle and is a bit warmer, so more orange than Russian Roulette. If your skin tone is tanned or dark, I would expect this one to look fantastic!

• Mavala Ankara: Deeper and definitely pink/magenta leaning, this is the pinkest I will go. If you are cool-toned and not 100% comfortable with bright true reds, this is a lovely alternative.

Nudes & Neutrals (Clean Girl, Low Maintenance)

When I’m not wearing red, I’m usually in a sheer or neutral nude. They’re my go-tos for everyday, or when I want something really low maintenance. If any of the below chip, you can barely tell. They all look clean and will suit any outfit.

Essie Allure: My top pick for that clean nail look. I know everyone loves Ballet Slippers from Essie but I really dislike it. This is much better. Tt's a sheer white. It makes my nails look perfect and bare in one coat, or really minimal and bright in two. I cannot wear opaque whites as I feel like it just looks like whiteout. This is more flattering on me than a sheer pink and a little more elevated.

Alternatives I like:

• Mavala Tallinn: A creamy, balanced neutral that looks great all year round. It is a clay, faded terracotta colour. I find it unique, elegant, and not too beige (another colour that sucks on me—I'm looking at you, Topless and Barefoot).

• Essie (Gel Couture) Inside Scoop: This gel-looking polish is a sheer pink I can only wear when I am at my darkest (champagne instead of my usual ivory, basically). It is super summery and very cute. Very Barbie chic.

• Essie Buy Me a Cameo: I wore this one for years as my default nude. It is metallic/shimmery rose gold that is surprisingly elegant. It is neutral enough to be worn to work and reflective enough to be interesting.

Metallics & Effects (Fun, Shiny)

These are the shades I save for beach trips, rooftop dinners, or when the heat makes me want to sparkle a little. It is very hard for me to have one favourite here as they really offer different looks.

Sally Hansen Game of Chromes: This gold chrome is a proper head-turner, especially with a tan. It is super metallic and looks like melted gold. I especially like that it leans more champagne and not too yellow, so it stays flattering and somewhat versatile.

Essie Birthday Girl: This one is a new favourite. I bought it for a dear friend's wedding and it carries that memory for me. An absolute pinky-gold-silver glitter bomb that somehow manages to stay classy, ideal for a sparkle on vacation.

OPI Kyoto Pearl: We have a gold option, now naturally we move on to pearls. Dreamy, pearlescent, and perfect for a light yet interesting-to-look-at nail. I love wearing Allure on top of this one to tone it down sometimes. Again, I can't do opaque white, but this has a textural element that just works.

Essie Penny Talk: Rose gold perfection. Elegant and fun. I would wear it more, but I find it chips on me so I keep it for events only.

Playful Picks (Colourful, Unusual)

Sometimes the mood calls for something less classic and these are the ones I reach for when that happens.

Mavala Green Zen: Absolutely love this one. The colour is a spot-on match for my island crochet dress (see here). Fresh and calming, this pale green is so flattering in the sun.

Essie Bikini So Teeny: Iconic for a reason. That cheerful periwinkle just feels like summer holidays. I wore it to Morocco, Italy, etc. It is such a cute pop of colour. I sadly get tired of it after a week or so.

My Holiday Essentials

When I travel, I want shades that will last, match everything, and still feel fun. Here’s what usually makes the cut:

• Essie Russian Roulette: The summer red, forever my default.

• Sally Hansen Game of Chromes: I wear 99.9% gold jewelry so this matches it all.

• Essie Bikini So Teeny: Some destinations just call for this gorgeous blue.

• Essie Birthday Girl: For that sun-and-sparkle combination. I actually wore it to Malta recently (curious about that trip? Click here).

Final Thoughts

Nails are such a small thing, but they’re one of my favourite rituals, especially in summer. Whether I’m heading on holidays or just enjoying the UK heatwave from my balcony, there’s something about a fresh coat of polish that makes everything feel a little more put-together.

Disclaimer

The vast majority of my recommendations are from Essie. I’m not sponsored, I just genuinely find their formula lasts the longest on me, and their colour range is hard to beat. I also really like Mavala, Sally Hansen, OPI, and Zoya, though many of their standout shades are in my autumn–winter lineup. Some links may be affiliate, which means I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you choose to purchase through them.