CHIP-RESISTANT NAIL POLISHES

Tough As Nails

Just try to crack these lacquers

A weekly manicure might make sense if you’re Prince William’s girlfriend, but for us commoners, the best chip-resistant nail polish offers the royal treatment. We crown these three the winners.

Polish: L’Oréal Paris Pro Manicure

$5, drugstore.com

Tester wore during: Week of deadlines (lots of typing) and bathroom cleaning

Chip free days: 6 (without a topcoat)

Tester says: “The flat brush made it easy to avoid bubbles, which can lead to peeling. The color held on, and if I wore a topcoat, I’m sure it would last twice as long.”

Why it lasts: Keratin, a protein found in fingernails, and plasticizers

Polish: Revlon ColorStay Nail Enamel

$6, drugstore.com

Tester wore during: Swimming, running, 10-hour days of typing

Chip free days: 12 (before removing)

Tester says: “This stayed on until I took it off — I just wanted to change colors. I’ll use the clear polish to help make my other shades stay on longer.”

Why it lasts: Acrylic polymers (plastic that adheres to nails)

Polish: Sally Hansen No Chip 10 Day Nail Color

$5, sallybeauty.com

Tester wore during: Playing basketball, zipping tight jeans, unpacking boxes, washing dishes, biting nails

Chip free days: 14 (then we stopped counting)

Tester says: “I have a bad habit of picking at my polish, and I wasn’t able to make a dent in this. Ten days later, it looked as good as it did on the first day.”

Why it lasts: Minerals and calcium that add strength