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If recent nail trends have taught us anything, it's that your fingertips are the ultimate, low-commitment (and arguably most underrated) way to express yourself. Feeling moody? A black French tip it is. Can't make up your mind? A DIY design on every finger might be your vibe. Or maybe you're in it for the long haul and want to repair dry, damaged cuticles.
But even though nails are easy to overlook, they deserve more than afterthought status in your routine. So for the Well+Good 2025 Beauty Awards, we spent 12 months painting, swiping, and sticking our way through the most exciting nail innovations on the market. Our testers sacrificed their nail beds at the hands of gel polish and tried cuticle oils that felt more like spa water than actual hydration. We tested the top press-ons, made sure they didn’t snag on sweaters or catch in our hair, and narrowed it all down to the absolute best.
As a result, we found truly standout products that earned their spot in our 2025 Beauty Awards. From polishes that look professionally done to treatments that actually help reverse visible damage, these are sure to be your new favorites. Let’s get into it.
Meet the 2025 nailcare winners
Best Cuticle Treatment
What it is: A lightweight cuticle treatment that moisturizes without feeling oily.
Why we love it: Le Mini Macaron’s Lunegloss Serum Pen is one of those products you didn’t realize you needed—until you find yourself reaching for it daily. The mess-free brush dispenses a cocktail of black algae, black açai berry, and black caviar extracts (all super moisturizing and antioxidant-rich), which testers found helped soften dry skin around their nails and made their cuticles look immediately healthy.
Yes, it takes a little patience to get that first twist of serum going—take your time here so you don’t waste any product—but once the brush tip gets saturated, it stays ready to swipe on. Our testers also loved how portable it was, and how quickly their cuticles looked less ragged, even during the cold months.
Best Nail Treatment
What it is: A sheer nail treatment that fills in grooves and helps nails feel stronger over time.
Why we love it: As much as we love the look and longevity of a gel manicure, we don’t love the visible damage it can leave behind when we finally decide to let our bare nails breathe. That’s where Essie To The Rescue comes in. Though it looks like a typical nail polish, the formula is actually packed with ceramides and amino acids to help strengthen and smooth damaged, peeling nails.
The treatment's wider brush took our testers a second to get used to at first, but the application was ultimately seamless: The formula—which has a subtle peach tint—glides on silky and bubble-free, doubling as a nice everyday polish, according to testers. “I would definitely include this in my normal routine,” one tester said. “If I were to have a break between nail appointments, I would for sure use this to protect my nails until I could get to the salon.”
Best Gel Polish
What it is: A gel polish that leaves you with shiny, chip-free nails—no base or top coat required.
Why we love it: We never realized how much we wanted our gel-polish presentation to look adorable—until we met Dashing Diva One Gel. Housed inside this vanity-worthy bottle (with a rounded cap that matches the shade inside) is a gel formula that outperformed every other gel polish we tested this year. It’s super pigmented—one coat looked great on most testers—and its glossy formula allows you to skip base coats and top coats if you’re in a hurry.
That said, it still needs to be cured under an LED light (sold separately) but once you’ve got the lamp, the process is super easy. Just swipe on a thin coat to clean, dry nails and cure for 60 seconds. Even testers who were intimidated by gel polish said this one felt no more complicated than regular polish, and actually appreciated the simplified routine. Bonus: It comes in 22 versatile colors and finishes, including solid opaques and cat-eye magnetics, so you’ve got options no matter your vibe.
Best Press-On Nails
What it is: Glue-free press-ons that make it easy (not messy) to sport a lasting manicure.
Why we love it: With foolproof instructions and a pre-glued adhesive backing, we can happily say it’s never been easier to apply press-on nails. Even our most skeptical, press-on-averse testers were impressed by Kiss ColorFX by imPRESS. “I cooked, washed dishes, and even played tennis, and they stayed secure,” said one tester, noting that when she did eventually remove them a week later, her natural nails still looked and felt as healthy as before. “These press-ons were so beautiful,” another tester said. “I got a ton of compliments while I was wearing them.” And with so many color and design options (34 total, to be exact), it’s easy to change up your look as often as you’d change your polish.
Best Quick-Dry Nail Polish
What it is: A fast-drying gel polish that lasts up to eight days and doesn’t require a UV light.
Why we love it: Thank you, Nails Inc, for creating a one-step gel manicure that doesn’t feel like a compromise—despite not needing a base coat, top coat, or UV curing light. Instead, the peptide-packed formula acts as everything all at once (more of this vibe, please). Testers also found that the wide brush helped the formula apply smoothly and evenly, making it perfect for anyone whose at-home nail game is a little iffy.
“As someone who’s trying to rehab their nails after a gel kick and hasn’t painted at home in a while, I would absolutely recommend this,” one tester said. The formula also dried quicker than our usual gel formulas, though testers got the fastest dry time when they stuck with thin coats. That said, once the polish set, our testers were up and at it (typing, cleaning, and doing makeup) with no smudges or dents. And with a week of wear time and a range of 20 high-gloss color options, this polish gives salon gel manicures a serious run for their money—for literally a fraction of the price.
Best Nail System
What it is: A beginner-friendly gel manicure kit with everything you need, from prep to polish to removal.
Why we love it: While we typically don’t recommend hugging your beauty tools, we’d understand if you felt that urge to express your love and gratitude to this nail system from Olive & June. It completely erased the intimidation factor of doing our own gel manicure, thanks to incredibly detailed, beginner-friendly instructions that gave even our skeptical testers instant confidence. “This is the best at-home gel system I’ve ever used,” one tester raved. “I’ve tried tons over the years, and my nails truly looked like a professional had done them.”
We loved how each layer of polish was completely streak-free and self-leveling, and how easy it was to cure our nails with the portable lamp. The kit comes fully stocked with 14 tools—including the LED lamp, polishes, cuticle products, an acetone remover pot, and more—all packaged in a sleek, convenient box with instructions printed inside the lid. One tester said she now keeps the box permanently on her vanity so she can whip it out for a flawless manicure at any time, from prep to removal.
Best Luxury Nailcare
What it is: A high-end nail polish with a silky-smooth formula and streak-free finish.
Why we love it: You have to really love a nail polish to spend nearly $60 on it—but if any formula could make the case, it’s Hermès. Packaged in the brand’s signature orange box, this bottle’s heft and design convey a luxury only outdone by the polish itself, which is available in 24 sophisticated shades. The slightly angled brush helps coat each nail quickly and evenly, and one longtime fan on our team said she typically needs just two passes per nail to get a smooth, streak-free finish. Once it dries, you get an incredible color payoff that lasts for a few days and won’t chip around the edges.
And while yes, it’s a splurge, it also makes a great collector’s item or gift: “This is a much more accessible entry point into a luxury brand than, say, an expensive purse or bracelet,” one tester said. “And the formula is actually great, so it’s a win-win. It’s not just pretty packaging—it’s a staple in my collection.”
Best Legacy Nailcare
What it is: A cult-favorite nail polish known for its gel-like shine, easy application, and massive shade range.
Why we love it: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Color may not technically be gel polish, but you'd never guess it, considering how well it applies and lasts. We fell in love with how rich and opaque the formula is—you can seriously get away with just one coat, if you're in a hurry—and how the wide brush requires fewer strokes and, thus, leaves fewer streaks. “It has the same shiny finish as my professional gel manicures, but it doesn't leave any of the damage,” one tester said. Another Sally Hansen enthusiast on our team agreed: “Even when I don’t apply a top coat, it’s still shiny and looks good for days to come.”
A true icon in our book, this polish has been in some testers’ rotations for years—and that’s not surprising: With 146 fun shade options, an easy-to-swipe brush, and a quick dry-down time, it’s the kind of polish we always find ourselves coming back to, no matter how many fancy salon manicures we try.
How to shop our 2025 nail winners
First: Don’t be afraid of gel polish
Gel nail polish has gotten a bad rap. But after talking to countless dermatologists and manicurists over the years, we’ve picked up a few key truths: Prep matters, product quality makes a difference, and regular nailcare is essential. That said, you don’t need to be a pro or own a dozen tools to keep your nails healthy—you just need some high-impact formulas.
One of our favorites right now? The Le Mini Macaron Lunegloss Revitalizing Serum Pen, which won for Best Cuticle Treatment. It delivers an instant hit of moisture that, over time, helps improve your overall nail health. And if you want even more protection, try layering on a nail treatment like Essie’s To The Rescue UV Gel Damage Repair. It smooths grooves and hardens brittle nails to leave them looking freshly manicured, even between polish changes.
Do a little prep to make your nails last longer
Listen, even the best nail polish and press-ons in the world (which, ahem, we’d like to think we’ve awarded above) won’t hold up against shoddy prep. When using the Kiss ColorFX by imPRESS Press-On Nails, or any press-ons, make sure your nails are completely free of nail polish (and stickers, glue, and oils, etc.) to prevent damage to your nail plate and to prevent them from breaking off too quickly. And, if you want to get a little creative, our testers had extra success using a few tricks they picked up from Tiktok, like applying your press-ons with a blow-dryer (the heat makes the adhesive tab slightly tackier and stickier, so the nail adheres better).
How we chose our nail winners
- 12 months: Our beauty awards spanned April 2024 to April 2025, during which time we reviewed the best polishes, press-ons, gel kits, cuticle care, nail stickers, and more.
- 1,500 nominations: PR agencies, beauty brands, and industry insiders submitted their standout products across categories for consideration, each one then undergoing a thorough vetting process from our editors.
- 2,000 products considered: In addition to external nominations, our editorial team also tracked nearly every U.S. beauty launch to create a starting list of contenders.
- 250 tested: Our team tested more than 250 total products to assess performance, application, and efficacy.
- 8 experts consulted: Our award finalists were individually tested by a panel of dermatologists, plastic surgeons, cosmetic chemists, hairstylists, trichologists, and makeup artists.
- 70 winners selected: After months of rigorous testing and reviewing, 70 products—8 of which were nail products—earned the title of Well+Good 2025 Beauty Award winner for their incredible performance, quality, and innovation.
To learn about our awards methodology—and see the testing process in action—go behind the scenes with us here.
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