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5 Great Teal Nail Lacquers

5 Great Teal Nail Lacquers

I had a reader request for five picks for teal nail polishes, so here are my five — a couple of these are limited edition, I believe, but they’re still available from major retailers like Sally’s and ULTA (I checked!). I have to do a legit post on China Glaze For Audrey (I swear, I thought I did one), but I do have a couple of swatches of it in a comparison photo (to Chanel Nouvelle Vague, which was a great teal, but it is gone now, which is what is pictured – China Glaze on the thumb and pinky).

What’s your favorite teal polish?

67 Comments

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VAna Avatar

Oh I’m so sorry :/ I read all 5 post about the individual polishes but I don’t know how I forgot to read this post since I usually read everything :S
Really sorry Christine!

vikaki Avatar

christine…you have made a mistake!!the first link goes to chanel nail polis..not to china glaze for audrey!!
but…my fave is for audrey!!

Christine Avatar

I just think if you’re going to comment or ask a question, it would be nice to at least skim the text to make sure I didn’t already answer what you asked 🙁 I don’t expect everyone to read everything I write by any means but this was just really discouraging because there are only two sentences in this post and one was about the first image, because I expected there would be confusion without an explanation. It just made me feel like why bother writing anything at all.

AlexisV. Avatar

Christine, you are horrible (but in a good way). Before reading your blog I was not really into nail polish, but slowly but surely I have begun a collection of colors based on your swatches and reviews. Not only am I going to buy Essie’s Braziliant today, but I just might have to go out and get this Illamasqua Viridian. Now I’ma makeup and nail polish junkie!

Lindsay Avatar

This post is spookily timed! I just had a conversation with a friend about “the teal controversy” and how there seems to be a huge range in what people see as teal. Like to me, only the Illamasqua is what I’d personally call teal; the others are totally different (especially because I never think of a lighter color as teal. Isn’t that weird?).

But these are GREAT picks! As usual, I’m lusting after the Illamasqua. 😀

Erin Avatar

I’m exactly the same way, Lindsay! I think of teal as a blue/green, leaning slightly more towards the green side, and on the medium-to-dark end of the scale. Teal isn’t a light color to me. I wonder how common that is! We should put up a poll. lol!

naturegirl Avatar

Hi Christine, I can see the words “Chanel” and “nouvelle” on the first bottle. I think it is Nouvelle Vague, but in the description below it says its China Glaze For Audrey.

Chris25 Avatar

I own For Audrey and Essie T&C. I also own OPI Catch Me In Your Net which is a dupe for Orly Halley’s Comet and Zoya Charla. I love all of these immensely!

What I have noticed is that a lot of people do not read signs, or much else, properly. That is probably why no one gets that For Audrey was swatched for comparison alongside Nouvelle Vague. I used to have to tell people at work “Just read the signs”. People would ask “Where’s the restroom?” when there was a huge sign above them saying “Restrooms this way–>”. 😀

Lindsay Avatar

When I saw the same thing in so many comments, I thought, “poor Christine!” I know I’d be frustrated.

Oddly, I first thought it was For Audrey, too. I think it’s because FA is mentioned first, then NV; even though you do clearly state the swatch is NV, FA is what you come across first so maybe it velcroes into the brain?

Stephanie Avatar

Love all of these! I think CG For Audrey and Essie Turquoise & Caicos are my favorites. I actually have Chanel Nouvelle Vague as well, but the fact that For Audrey is just so, so close (awesome comparison shots, btw, it really shows how close they are) and is so much more accessible, I have to give my vote to For Audrey. As for Essie T&C, I was so obsessed w/ finding the color I bought two when I finally found it (it was well after the release and hard to find at B&M stores; I had borrowed it from a friend and wanted a bottle of my own)!

Shavonne Avatar

I get what your saying Christine lol. My favorite teals are Ski Teal We Drop by OPI, China Glaze For Audrey and Zoya Charla which is basically a dupe for Haley’s Comet.

Tania Avatar

OMG I can’t understand why I see Viridian as a bluish teal but I got more like a green shade? is it my screen? am I stupid? I mean I did read the description that says “peacock green” but~ I seriously see it blue maybe I am stupid ;__;

Bianca Avatar

Thank you so much for this post! I’ve been loving teal nail polish! I found Essie turquoise & caicos @ target b/c it has been sold out for a long time @ ulta! It’s so very streaky!!! I also picked up Orly gumdrop which looks like a dupe for China Glaze’s for audrey. I’ve never tried Orly nail polish before & I’m really happy w/ it!

Sarah Avatar

LOL save yourself the trouble and just pick another teal! Even I’m annoyed by reading all the comments hahaha. Thanks for the post! I’ve been eying Essie’s Turquoise & Caicos and now I for sure want it.

Erin Avatar

Love that my personal favorite was on the list. Turquoise & Caicos is usually my go to color when I’m bored with everything else..

Bettynova Avatar

For Audrey is one of my favourites of all time. I love Essie Turquoise & Caicos. But the Orly one is the winner for me. Its not just a colour but its a trend too. I mean like every brand came out with their own versions of Haley’s comet. Zoya OPI Essence etc etc
LOVE LOVE teals!!!

Kiah Avatar

Oh me oh my! Teal is DEFINITELY one of my favorite colors. w< I actually bought that, Space Cadet, and It's Not Rocket Science when I read your review on them. 🙂
Excuse me while I stare at my shiny toes for a little bit.

Laura H. Avatar

My favorite teal is OPI Ski Teal We Drop. It’s one of those colors that make me stare at my nails all day when it’s on. I’m surprised no one mentioned it, and now I’m nervous that I missed something in the post explaining why!(Just kidding.)

catherine Avatar

very pretty shades!

My fav teals are:
RBL Teal
Diamond Cosmetics Don’t Teal My Heart Away
Misa Dirty Sexy Money
Zoya Charla is lovely too – if that is technically teal

Rochelle Avatar

I am loving that Orly Haley’s Comet – its freaking amazing! I am an OPI devotee and I really love Cuckoo for this Colour, Ski Teal we Drop and Austin-tatious Turquoise.

PS. I feel so bad for you having to deal with the same stupid question over and over again. You did a great job of not losing your temper

Leone Avatar

Wow, I couldn’t tell the difference between For Audrey and Chanel Nouvelle Vague, except For Audrey is a creme. This is good news for my wallet! 🙂 That Illamsqua is killer! Thanks for the post, these are lovely.

Kate Avatar

I love love love teal nail polish! My favourites are SpaRitual’s Emerald City, Sally Hansen’s Fairy Teal, and SpaRitual’s Crystal Waters.

Haley’s Comet looks really interesting, I’m going to check it out! I’ve got a soft spot for glitter polishes, even if they are a pain to remove.

Summerblue Avatar

Unfortunately, my most perfect teal (Nina’s Ultra Pro “In A Tiff” sold at Sally’s) was discontinued several months after I found it. 🙁 Luckily, I was able to swap for 2 backups so I’m gonna save these for special occasions.

katili Avatar

I feel your pain about people skimming (or not reading at all). I have to answer the same question about a plugin at work at least twice a day (even though the article everyone quotes has the answer bold and highlighted), and it drives me batty.

I haven’t found the perfect teal yet. The Essie one is close to what I want, but I want it just a touch darker.

Chelsea Avatar

Being a sucker for all things teal, loving Orly Haley’s Comet (oh what a sparkler!), China Glaze Turned Up Turquoise and China Glaze Flyin High.
For a quick fix, Rimmel’s Sky High is my go to.

Andrea Avatar

I love shades of teal/turquoise – everything from Tiffany blue to mermaid green. In fact, I’m lemming after OPI’s Mermaid’s Tears from the new Pirates collection (though it’s not really teal, I know). Thanks for the post!

Bibi Avatar

I can’t choose just one teal. Since I can’t resist to them I’m usually buying more and more and that’s why I have all the five of this list 😀 But Kiko’s has a gorgeous dark teal with some sparkling particles that I love.

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