Nails: Top 5 Summer Polishes 2026

Summer Solstice was yesterday and so I'm sharing my top summer polishes for 2026. These are the polishes from my collection I will be reaching for more often.

If you are interested you can see my summer picks for 2025 here, 2024 here, 2023 here, 2022 here, 2021 here, 2020 here, 2019 here, 2018 here, 2017 here, 2015 here and 2014 here.

Nails Inc Baker Street // Prism Polish Selenite // Chameleon Nails Little Mermaid // A England The Scent of Azaleas // Danglefoot Polish Oh, Plesiosaur

Baker Street is a bright cobalt blue cream, last year it was one of the polishes I wanted to finish and I think there is only one or two sets of nails worth left in the bottle so want to use it this summer.

Selenite is a blue, flakie, topper polish. I've already worn it over a blue and want to wear it again soon.

Little Mermaid is a UV reactive polish going from green to purple, however the bottle I have no longer reacts. I do want to use it though because I like the sea foam green, flakie colour it now is.

The Scent of Azaleas is a mid purple holographic, which I like wearing in direct sunlight.

Oh, Plesiosaur is a dark grey, almost black holographic polish. It is different to Oh, Plesiosaur 2.0. Black may not seem particularly summer appropriate but there is something about holographic colours in direct sunlight which you don't get in winter, well in Northern England!

  

Nail Polishes Worn: May 2026

I tried wearing a couple of UV reactive polishes this month and think I jinxed the weather!

Leighton Denny Rosey Posey // Cat Tail Bloody and Bruised // China Glaze Fairy Dust (thinned down 1/3) // OPI Lincoln Park After Brunch

Barry M Blue to Lilac // Prism Polish Selenite // Orly Juicy Velour^ // Chameleon Nails Little Mermaid

Orly Alloy Matey^ // Barry M Blue Guava // ILNP Mad House

  

Same Prompt One Decade Later Nails: Mint Green

Today is the prompt 'Mint Green' a decade on from the original which you can see here. I stamped a spring ghostie on as an accent;

Base Polish | Chameleon Nails - Little Mermaid (Thermal no longer active)

White Accent Polish | Barry M - Cotton

Lilac Accent Polish | Barry M - Berry Ice Cream

Stamping Polish | MoYou - Stamping Polish - Black

Stamping Plate | Bohemia Stamping - Ghostie Life 4

2016 Version;

  

Nail Polish Swatch: Chamaeleon Nails - Little Mermaid (Photochromatic / Solar Reactive)

I wore this during the summer as there isn't much sun around this time of year in the North of England!

[Direct Sunlight]

[Out of direct sunlight]

Colour | Purple in Sunlight, Mint out of direct sunlight, Violet and Orange Flakes

Finish | Photochromatic / Solar Reactive, Flakie

Opacity | Three Coats

How Much | 11ml

Brush Type | Paddle

Collection | Inspired by Ariel The Little Mermaid

Vegan | Yes

Cruelty Free | Yes

Purchased From | Rainbow Collection

  

Nail Polish Battle: Miscellaneous

This is the last battle, and the category is everything that didn't fit elsewhere. There was 17 polishes in this battle;

KbShimmer Ex-Static // Orly On A Break^ // Orly Bohemian Child^ // Orly Chillax^ // Barry M Silver Stardust // Barry M Lavender Lights // Mooncat Fool's Gold // Orly Lost in the Maize^ // Orly Acid Trip^ // Orly Party Popper^ // Rogue Arson // Barry M Aqua Aura // Chamaeleon Little Mermaid // ILNP Mad House // ILNP Radioactive // Cirque Mood Ring // Emily de Molly Shadow Brew

Working out my top three wasn't too difficult, I ended up going with a photoreactive / solar polish, a duochrome crackle and a magnetic.

In third place is Shadow Brew, it doesn't look that good in the photo but as I wore it velvetised there was a good flip between black base and the aubergine shimmer;

Second place is Arson, its a duochrome crackle which I've not seen before;

Which means the winner is Little Mermaid, my second solar reactive polish. I don't often buy them because like thermals the pigments die. I like this polish in both forms so whichever it dies in I will still wear. It transitioned really fast in the summer sun and I would wear it more often but its not often sunny, particularly this time of year in Northern England.

 

Sunlight / Indoors

  

Same Prompt One Decade Later Nails: Green and Tape

Today I am sharing my of the prompt 'Green and Tape' a decade on from the original which you can see here. The flakie turns to purple when in the sunlight.

Green Holo Polish | A England - St. George

Solar Flakie Polish | Chameleon Nails - Little Mermaid

2015 Version;