PLL star Lucy Hale and the Queen have this beauty favourite in common
Lucy Hale is one of our ultimate beauty icons. From her immaculate brows to her flawless hair, we can’t get enough of her look.
Just when we thought we couldn't love the Pretty Little Liars star more, the down to earth actress revealed that nail polish she can't live without is none other than high street brand Essie.
"I love Essie nail polishes" explained Hale in an interview with People magazine.
"When it comes to colours, I typically keep it natural" citing Essie's Ballet Slippers as her favourite shade.
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Hale's nails are in good company. Ballet Slippers is famously the only shade to grace the Royal nails as the Queen's go-to nail colour. Keeping it in the family, Kate Middleton is also a fan. A lover of neutral toned nails, Kate even wore the gorgeous natural shade of soft pink on her wedding day, though the jury's out on whether they shared the same bottle.
Lucy Hale, Kate Middleton and the Queen might not sound like a likely trio to share a nail polish but their shared love of Essie is proof that the perfect neutral can work for everyone.
Hale also explains that she washes her face four times a day and follows a daily 15 step skincare routine.
As well as daily use of a great toner - Bioloique Recherche Lotion 50 is her fave - Hale swears by daily application of SPF 50 sun cream to protect her skin.
"I never skimp on sunscreen, even when it's cloudy out," she revealed. "I love that [SkinCeuticals Physical UV Matte Defense SPF 50] has a matte finish."
When she's on the road, Hale treats her hair to a rich conditioning hair mask, swearing by the Kristin Ess Strand Strengthening Reconstructive Moisture Mask to counteract the effects of traveling.
"When I travel, the water is so drastically different than what my hair is used to, so I have to make sure that I bring a deep conditioning mask. This one [created by] my hairstylist Kristin Ess is really amazing," she explains. The mask is sold at Target, so anyone can get their hands on it, even if Ess isn't your actual stylist.
Have you got a neutral nail polish that you swear by? Tell us and the Queen might even try it for her next manicure.
In the meantime, here's our roundup of the best nail polish in town.
Best quick-drying nail polish
Nails Inc Second Speedy Gloss Cruising in Carnaby Street, £8, Amazon
Hero shade: Carnaby Street
You can never go wrong with a Nails Inc gel mani, and the at-home polishes are just as good. Carnaby Street is the grown up, soft pink shade you’ve been looking for.
Best chip-resistant nail polish
Essie Essie Original Shine and Gloss Nail Varnish, £7.95, Amazon
Hero shade: Salt Water Happy
Essie is a very worthy rival of OPI, with one of the best chip-resistant top coats in the game. The Queen herself has been wearing the shade Ballet Slippers for over thirty years, but we can't get enough of this dreamy sky blue shade for summer.
Best long-lasting nail polish
OPI Nail Lacquer, £9.99, Amazon
Hero shade: Mexico City Viva
The OG for a reason, OPI’s nail colours are our go-to for a variety of shades and long-lasting wear. Tickle My France-y and Bubble Bath are the best neutral nude shades, but Mexico City Viva is the most stunning bold orange. Pair it with a midi dress and plenty of sunshine.
Best nail polish for shade range
Butter London Patent Shine 10x Nail Colour, £15, Look Fantastic
Hero shade: Jolly Good
This wonderfully British brand has the best UK-themed shade names and the quality is exceptional, too.
Save when you shop for the best nail varnish with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best red nail polish
Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour, £22, John Lewis
Hero Shade: Pirate
Long-wearing and high shine, Chanel's Le Vernis is smooth to apply and quick to dry. Pirate is the ultimate deep, cherry red.
Save when you shop for the best nail varnish with these John Lewis discount codes.
Best gel nail polish
Sensationail Gel Nail Polish, £12.50, Boots
Hero shade: Kitten Heel
If you're after a manicure that won't chip at the first sign of hard work, and potentially last for up to two weeks, you need to try this at-home gel nail brand. Better yet, they've just released the first-ever 'peel-off' base coat, so you don't have to soak or file away your colour once you're ready for a change. Genius.
Save when you shop for the best nail varnish with these Boots discount codes.
Best summer nail polish
Barry M Gelly Nail Paint, £3.99, Amazon
Hero Shade: Lilac
Not only is this pastel lilac shade perfect for Spring days, but the glossy formula makes the finish indistinguishable from a gel manicure.
Best budget nail polish
Rimmel 60 Seconds Super Shine Nail Polish, £3.49, Amazon
Hero shade: Funtime Fuschia
Glossy finish, fast drying and available in a huge array of shades, this nail polish is a great option made all the greater for its affordable price tag.
Best nude nail polish
Deborah Lippman Professional Nail Lacquer, £16, Nail Polish Direct
Hero shade: Naked
You can never have too many nude nail polishes, and this is one of the best. One coat with give you a sheer natural colour, and two will build it up to an opaque, closer to brown than pink, nude.
Best nail polish for shine
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish, £9.99, Nail Polish Direct
Hero shade: Creme de la creme
Oh, what a day it was when Miracle Gel was released. This super-shiny, gel-like polish is a great alternative for those trying to cut down on their salon spend. Creme de la creme is the ideal almost-white, with a slight pinky tone to keep it less stark.
Best nail polish for easy application
Orly Nail Polish, £11, Nail Polish Direct
Hero shade: Black Cherry
Nothing beats an Orly applicator brush. The fanned out tip allows for easier coverage, with no edges missed and the lid has been designed with extra grip for the butter-fingers among us.
Best nail polish if you're in a hurry
CND Vinylux, £9.95, Nail Polish Direct
Hero shade: Satin Pyjamas
CND’s Vinylux polishes have an amazing consistency. It spreads evenly and thickly (without bubbling) that you could almost get away with just one coat. Satin Pyjamas is the perfect not-too-pink, not-too-brown nude.
