Allure magazine put together a list of award-winning basic nail essentials, from polishes to polish removers.

NAIL POLISHES

RED: An intense fire-engine hue, OPI's Big Apple Red manages to look both classic and trendy.

NUDE: Sheer nudes put us to sleep. But Orly's Coffee Break, an opaque cappuccino, delivers a welcome jolt.

PALE PINK: Essie's Mademoiselle is loved by brides, beauty editors, and everyone else.

BRIGHT: Estee Lauder's Purple Passion, a cool, shimmer-free magenta, is bold but not jarring. The Essie nail polish in Mint Candy Apple is just as irresistible.

DARK: Rescue Beauty Lounge's Moulin Rouge is a heady Bordeaux that's as smooth as a glass of grand cru. The next edgy neutral is OPI's Road House Blues, an indigo that borders on "blurple."

BASECOAT

Essie's Ridge Filling Base Coat evens out bumps on nails for streak-free coverage.

TOPCOAT

Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat dries to a brilliant, dinhproof finish in just 30 seconds, so you can enjoy your manicure without missing a beat.

CUTICLE OIL

Suspended beads of vitamin E make Sally Hansen's VitaSurge Cuticle Gel look as cool as it is nourishing.

NAIL-POLISH REMOVER

Zoya's 3-in-1 Formula Remove+ won't shrivel your fingers, stain your nails, or leave your house smelling of moonshine.