This post contains product that was gifted for promotional consideration. For more information, please see disclosure statement.

“Red, for valentines day, revol-uuuuu-tionary.” Listen ya’ll, we aren’t reinventing the wheel here; reds and pinks are forever favorites ANY season of the year. But today, TAH-DAY, we’re talking about my favorite hues for the month of love.

Whether you’re in it to win it with a class bold red or ready for something a little different with holographic pink glitter- I got you covered.

Sally Hansen Insta-Dry Nail Color in ASAP Apple ($4.50) - This one isn’t going to last the longest on your nails, but it’s a one and done- quick dry, gorgeous proper balanced red.

Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer in Perfectly Plaid ($18) - This red is a little on the deeper side but you won’t find a longer lasting lacquer system on the market. It’s part of a system, so in order to get the long wear you’ll have to use the base and top coat as well but it’s definitely worth it.

Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer in Soft Caress ($18) - A sweet lavender-toned cool pink, kind of reminds me of conversation hearts. This one is also part of the Dazzle Dry system as mentioned above.

Cirque Colors Nail Lacquer in Madder ($14) - Who doesn’t love a show-stopping HOLOGRAPHIC red. Yes, you heard right- it’s a red polish infused with super fine holographic flakes and trust me, when it catches the light it’s mesmerizing.

CND Vinylux Weekly Nail Polish in Pink Bikini ($14.50) - Literally, this is the perfect creamy pink. Bright, but not obnoxious and looks great on every skintone.

Essie Gel Couture in Rue De La Ruby ($11.50) - A perfect raspberry red for those that prefer a cooler tone to their reds. This collection as a whole is really impressive and I love the brush.

OPI Nail Lacquer in Big Apple Red ($9) - A true original favorite and probably the most perfect red to have ever have red. It’s fairly balanced, but leans a TOUCH to the warmer side of the color spectrum. This ones been in my bathroom vanity for at least a decade and you’ll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands if you want to take it from me.

Triple O Polish in Sirius A ($11) - Glitter polish is easily my favorite- it dries fast, is super duper forgiving and chips are hardly noticeable. This is the perfect pink sparkle to get you into the season.

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Let’s talk about nudes. No, not those kind. Get your brain out of the gutter. I’m talking about real-life human toned nude nail polishes for my people with medium to deep skintones. While truly there are no rules to color and you should one-hundred-million-kajillion percent wear whatever colors bring a smile to your face- I also understand that when it comes to deeper skin tones, finding an amazing nude shade can be a challenge. While the list below are my personal favorites that I actually own and carry in my kit, I’m so happy to see the call for better nudes is no longer going unanswered.

As you may know, I spent a good portion of my adult life as a make-up artist before I ever ventured into nails. So i’ve been on the quest to find and curate a good selection of foundation-type nudes to share with you all.

Why not the light nude shades? Frankly, there’s no shortage of light-toned nude shades with high name and brand recognition (for example: Essie’s Ballet Slippers, Bubble Bath and Samoan Sand by OPI- just to name a few). True, one does not have to match those shades to wear them- it’s nice to have the option of a true-to-you nude for everybody.