I'm Always Asked What Nail Polish I'm Wearing—This Little-Known Brand Is It

I love nail polish, and when I say that, I mean it. I have over 100 in my collection (yes, I counted), and that number used to be much higher until I took it upon myself to make cuts. It saddened me to do so, but I had to. At the time, my collection was taking over an entire shelf in my closet, and I needed that space for other things, like, well, clothes. 

So, I consider myself a connoisseur of nail polish, and I like to collect only the colors that make me happiest—whether that's a soft French-inspired pink, a vivid seaside blue, or a perfect cherry red. 

Lately, I've been reaching for all of those shades (and more) thanks to one, underrated nail polish brand called Habit Cosmetics. The brand sells some of its nail polishes at Target, but I've discovered that not everyone knows about it. And that's a shame because it has some of the best nail polish shades in the game. Keep scrolling to shop my favorite shades.

My Favorite Shades

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(Image credit: @kaitlyn_mclintock)

First up, I tried the shade Bardot, which is a soft pink that made me swoon at first sight. It definitely required two coats for full coverage, but once they had both dried down and I added a shiny topcoat, I was in love. This is definitely a color I'll come back to time and again.

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(Image credit: @kaitlyn_mclintock)

Knowing that I did two coats of the previous pink shade, I expected to do two coats of this blue color, too. However, I stopped at one because it gave my nails a cool transparent look. It was hard to show on camera (the picture doesn't do them justice), but it almost looked like I had those trendy jelly nails. And even though my nails were super short at the time I was wearing this shade, I couldn't help but think it would look incredible on a long, almond-shaped set. 

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(Image credit: @kaitlyn_mclintock)

While I have a bevy of red shades in my current collection, this one stood out to me, as it looked muted or almost matte in the bottle. On my nails, it was a striking berry tone. In fact, it almost verged on magenta (which just so happens to be the 2023 Pantone Color of the Year). I loved the pop of color, and it's, yet again, a shade I'll come back to.

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(Image credit: @kaitlyn_mclintock)

This unique off-white was my neutral shade of choice. It's different than the neutrals I usually wear, which tend to be classic nudes. I'm glad I ventured out of the norm, though, because it gave my nails a smooth, clean, and elegant look. It's a color that works just as well for a work meeting as it does for Sunday brunch. It's exactly what a neutral polish is supposed to do. 

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(Image credit: @kaitlyn_mclintock)

I can't emphasize enough how much I love bright-blue nail polish. It might seem like a strange choice compared to classic beige, red, and pink, but it never fails to make me feel just a little bit happier. I used to only wear it in the summer, but now I'll reach for it occasionally in fall, winter, and spring too. It's just so vibrant and eye-catching. And since I tend to wear a lot of neutral clothes, it gives my daily outfits a nice pop of color. 

This bright blue has become a new favorite. The shade, which is called Swimming Pool, is so flattering. It'll look amazing on every single skin tone. (You can quote me on that.)

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Kaitlyn McLintock
Associate Beauty Editor

Kaitlyn McLintock is an Associate Beauty Editor at Who What Wear. Although she covers a wide range of topics across a variety of categories, she specializes in celebrity interviews and skincare and wellness content. Having lived in Los Angeles and Austin, Texas, she recently relocated back to her home state of Michigan where she works remotely. Prior to Who What Wear, she freelanced for a variety of industry-leading digital publications, including InStyle, The Zoe Report, Bustle, Hello Giggles, and Coveteur. Before that, she held a long-term internship and subsequent contributor position at Byrdie. When she's not writing, researching, or testing the latest and greatest beauty products, she's working her way through an ever-growing book collection, swimming in the Great Lakes, or spending time with family.