Charli XCX’s Nail Artist Says These 7 Drugstore Items Are the Key to Achieving a Salon-Worthy Manicure
Welcome to Drugstore Heroes, a monthly series in which we spotlight the often-overlooked and underhyped drugstore beauty products that industry experts count on. We’re asking tastemakers, from editors to content creators and even celebs, to share their top recommendations for affordable yet effective products. Get ready to see the best of drugstore beauty, period.
(Image credit: Original art by Kennedy Caldwell)
For years, I went the DIY route and did my own nails. I’d stock up on my favorite seasonal nail colors, invest in glossy, expensive-looking topcoats, and set aside 30 minutes to get it done. These days, I have a standing appointment at the nail salon. (Unfortunately for my bank account, I’ve gotten hooked on acrylic and gel manicures.) However, I still rely on at-home tools and tricks for between-appointment hand- and nailcare.
I also still rely on at-home tools and tricks when I must A) give my nails a break from harsh salon manicures but I don’t want to go the naked-nail route and B) travel or prioritize other life commitments over my monthly nail appointment. In those cases, I’m heading straight to the experts: celebrity nail artists.
One of my favorite celebrity nail artists is Stephanie Stone. With A-list clients who include Charli XCX, Michelle Monaghan, and more, she’s an expert at creating perfectly precise manicures fit for on-stage performances, designer runways, and high-def cameras. And believe it or not, she often uses drugstore products to do so. Ahead, she shares her seven favorite budget-friendly products. They’re affordable, and they’re critical if, like me, you want to curate the very best at-home nailcare collection.
(Image credit: Tucker Leary)
How often do you use drugstore products on celeb clients, and would you say they’re staples in your kit?
Drugstore products are a staple in my kit daily. There are lots of things that are required for a manicure that luxury brands don’t make or offer. If you want a great mani, that’s always going to include drugstore products—end of story.
What would you say to someone who thinks only expensive beauty products can be expensive?
I would first ask them why they think that in the first place. I think in our society, we’ve been conditioned to believe that a higher price point means something is the best, but that’s not always the case.
I trust so many drugstore brands because for so many of them, making great nail products is their only priority. A nail-only brand is going to make sure they are innovative in making the best nail products, whereas a luxury brand may have a nail line as an add-on to everything else they have going on (ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes, etc.). Unless they’re dedicated and committed to making sure they’re putting out great products (I think Chanel has done a great job of this with their polishes, which are excellent), luxury brands know people are probably going to buy them based on the packaging alone, and honestly, if Miu Miu put out a sheer baby-pink polish, I would save up my money and be the first in line regardless of the formula, so they’re right.
But truly, so many of the top-quality beauty products that you can find at a beauty supply can also be found at the drugstore, and I think that accessibility is a beautiful thing, especially as so many of us learn to do our own nails at home!
(Image credit: Tucker Leary)
Do you have any tips or tricks for navigating the drugstore aisles and finding effective beauty products?
I would say don’t go to the drugstore beauty section with no plan in mind unless the goal is to purchase and experiment with no expectations. There are SO many things to choose from, and you’ll probably end up with a basket full of things you don’t need and might not like. Decide what need you’re looking to fill (Do you need a topcoat? Nail stickers? Moisturizer?) and read reviews before purchasing. Between Instagram and TikTok, there is bound to be testimony from someone who’s tried the product you’re interested in to give you a heads-up on if it’s worth your money or not.
Stone’s Favorite Drugstore Beauty Products
Essie
Apricot Nail and Cuticle Oil
“Cuticle oil is my desert-island nail product. If there is only one thing I could tell my clients when it comes to their daily nailcare, it’s to apply cuticle oil!! This roller ball is perfect for personal use. I highly recommend all my clients to keep one in their purse on the go because of its spill-proof packaging. The formula is highly moisturizing and nourishing to keep your skin feeling soft and hang nail–free.”
Sally Hansen
Pro Tool Kit
“These kits are BRILLIANT. Having the right tools means nail art can be made easy. These pocket-size kits have been curated to provide the tools you need that you formerly only would have been able to find at a nail supply store. Today I’m using the dotting tool to place my confetti stars, but they can also be used to paint polka dots or flowers or anything else your inner artist can imagine.”
Cerave
Daily Moisturizing Lotion
“This is one of my favorite lotions both personally and professionally. I use it on my face and body nightly after showers, but I also keep a bottle in my kit for when a client prefers a hand moisturizer without fragrance. Some clients might have skin sensitivities to lotions with scent, but this one is normally safe across the board, not to mention it leaves your skin feeling amazing.”
one+other
Extra Large Premium Cotton Ovals
“This sounds like such a basic one, but the enemy of a great mani is tiny little fuzz. Tiny little fuzz ruins EVERYTHING, so lint-free cotton rounds are a nonnegotiable for me. These cotton ovals are normally a generous size so you can even cut them in half or into fourths beforehand to get maximum use out of them.”
Essie
Gel Couture Nail Polish in Sheer Fantasy
“This is one of the most-used shades in my editorial and celebrity kit. Everybody wants this mani. Every season it’s given a fun little name like ‘soap nails’ or ‘super model nails’ or ‘lip gloss nails’ but names are all same thing: sheer pink. And Gel by Essie Sheer Fantasy is the perfect gloss to give you that timeless look. Though it’s called ‘gel’ it’s an air-dry formula, so there’s no lamp needed. It gives you up to two weeks of wear, but you can remove it without soaking. A win all around!!”
KISS
imPRESS ColorFX Nails in Starry
“I have been loving the colors offered within the Impress line. While lots of press-ons may have crazy or outdated designs, this line has simple yet elevated colors like chrome, cat-eye, even holographic designs that are extremely coveted and wearable in day-to-day life. These press-ons have a temporary sticky-tab application, but they are not budging unless you intentionally remove them.”
Seche Vite
Dry Fast Top Coat
“This topcoat really is tried and true. We have more options now (Gel by Essie Top Coat, Sally Hansen Miracle Gel), but for the past 10 years before those came out, this is the only air-dry topcoat I’ve trusted to ensure nails would be dry and flawless when sending a model or celeb out of glam onto set. It’s super glossy and plump like a gel and dries ultra fast so you don’t have time to mess them up.”
(Image credit: Original art by Kennedy Caldwell)
Stone’s affordable drugstore nailcare haul comes in at just under $90 for seven products, which is impressive considering that one salon manicure can cost just as much (if not more). Now, excuse me while I add these products to my online shopping cart.
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