The Best Nail Strengtheners to Keep Your Nails From Peeling, Flaking and Breaking

To use at home.

Leiana Foye

Published: Oct 15, 2024

IG: @matejanova

We may earn commission from links on this page. Each product featured has been vetted and chosen by our editors.

When the cold air sweeps in, it’s not just skin that’ll need some extra TLC; your nails may start to chip, peel and break. Instead of throwing money away on costly manicures that will only conceal, not repair, weakened fingernails, try an at-home nail-strengthening treatment. The best nail strengtheners can help fortify brittle nails back to peak health. Fortunately, there are several effective options on the market. Below, find a list of 13 nail strengtheners that’ll protect nails all season long.

1 / 13

Best All-in-One

Essie Treat Love & Color Nail Polish ($7.50)

If you’re looking for a strengthening nail treatment and color in one bottle, look no further than Essie’s Treat Love & Color line. It’s formulated with collagen and camellia extract for a noticeable improvement in peeling and breakage and is available in several beloved Essie colors.

BUY NOW – $7.50

Key ingredients

Collagen, camellia extract

2 / 13

Best Concealing

CHANEL La Base Camélia ($32)

Technically a base coat nail treatment, CHANEL’s La Base Camélia doubles as a pretty nude nail polish while working magic to harden and smooth nails. With camellia oil and cellulose, the polish also alleviates dryness and evens out the color of your nails.

BUY NOW – $32

Key ingredients

Camellia oil, cellulose

3 / 13

Best Jelly-Like Finish

LONDONTOWN kur Sheer Strength Nail Blush ($20)

Love a jelly manicure? Then it’s about time you’re introduced to LONDONTOWN’s Kur Nail Blush. The sheer polish uses multi-polymer technology to strengthen nails on contact while leaving a glossy, jelly-like flush of color over nails—no base or top coat needed.

Key ingredients

Multi-polymer technology, vitamin E, safflower seed oil, evening primrose flower extract

4 / 13

Best Nail Color Strengthener

OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener ($20)

OPI’s Nail Envy collection comes in a variety of the brand’s iconic nail shades, so you don’t have to choose between peak nail health or a stunning manicure. (Said collection includes Bubble Bath, a light pink hue legendary among nail polish lovers, and the iconic Big Apple Red.)

OPI Nail Envy nail strengthener polish in Bubble Bath

Key ingredients

Biotin, calcium, vitamins A, C, and E

5 / 13

Best Stress-Free

CND RescueRxx Daily Keratin Treatment ($20)

If precise nail application isn’t your strong suit, this one’s for you. Unlike other nail treatments, CND’s RescueRxx is meant to be brushed on and then massaged into bare nails and cuticles. Use it twice a day to strengthen nail beds and moisturize cuticles.

CND Rescue Rxx Daily Keratin Nail Treatment

Key ingredients

Keratin, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil

6 / 13

Best for Peeling Nails

ORLY Nail Defense ($10.50)

To prevent breakage, bond splitting and peeling nails, apply ORLY’s Nail Defense every other day or a couple of times a week. It can be worn alone or as a base coat under your favorite nail polish.

Key ingredients

Hydrolyzed wheat protein, balm mint, chamomile flower extract

7 / 13

Best Sheen

NAILS.INC LONDON Gimme Strength Nail Strengthener ($9)

Rich active oils combine with vegan collagen to fix nails damaged by frequent gel manicures. The off-white hue also shines as a pretty highlighter on nails as it simultaneously provides relief.

BUY NOW – $9

NAILS.INC LONDON GIMME STRENGTH NAIL STRENGTHENER POLISH

Key ingredients

Vegan collagen, avocado oil, coconut oil, apricot oil

8 / 13

Best Brightener

Manucurist Active Bright ($16)

With an 80 percent plant-based formula, Manucurist’s Active Bright is an all-in-one perfecter that enhances and nourishes dull nails, per the brand, thanks to lemon extract, a natural brightener. Active Bright also doubles as the prettiest opal-like nail color for the coveted “clean nail” look.

BUY NOW – $16

Key ingredients

Lemon, hexanal, AHAs and vitamin E

9 / 13

Best for Damage Post-Gels

LONDONTOWN kur Get Well Recovery ($20)

Thin, peeling nails are a common side effect of frequent post-acrylic or UV gel manicures. LONDONTOWN’s Kur Get Well Recovery formula addresses the damage by repairing the nail barrier and infusing each nail with nourishment from nourishing botanicals and antioxidants.

LONDONTOWN KUR GET WELL RECOVERY NAIL POLISH

Key ingredients

AHAs, biotin, iron, vitamins B5 and C, nitrocellulose, safflower seed oil, antioxidants

10 / 13

Best on Bare Nails

essie Hard to Resist Advanced Nail Strengthener ($11)

This clear nail-strengthening treatment from Essie is designed to improve brittle, weak nails in just three days. It’s meant to be worn in between manicures (not under nail polish), and bonus, the treatments deliver a pretty glossy shine.

Key ingredients

M5M Technology

11 / 13

Best Weekly Treatment

Olive & June Nail Strengthener ($14)

Just one application a week of Olive & June’s Nail Strengthener has shoppers raving their nails are “growing faster and longer than before” and “have never looked better.” With conditioning celery seed extract and the brand’s nourishing Flora Complex, say goodbye to peeling, white spots and ridges.

BUY NOW – $14

Key ingredients

Celery seed extract, rosemary leaf extract, sage leaf extract, lavender extract

12 / 13

Best Basecoat

JINSoon HyperRepair ($22)

JINSoon’s HyperRepair doesn’t just restore nail health after two uses; it also smooths nails to perfection so polish glides on effortlessly.

BUY NOW – $22

Key ingredients

AHAs, vitamins B5, C and E, patented hexanal

13 / 13

Best 7-Free Formula

ella + mila First Aid Kiss ($10.50)

Vegan, cruelty-free, and PETA and Leaping Bunny certified brand Ella + Milla offers a weekly nail treatment to improve thin and brittle nails. After the first month, First Aid Kiss can also be used as a strengthening base coat.

Ella + Mila First Aid Kiss Nail Strengthener

Key ingredient

Vitamin E

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Best All-in-One

Essie Treat Love & Color Nail Polish ($7.50)

Key ingredients

Best Concealing

CHANEL La Base Camélia ($32)

Key ingredients

Best Jelly-Like Finish

LONDONTOWN kur Sheer Strength Nail Blush ($20)

Key ingredients

Best Nail Color Strengthener

OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener ($20)

Key ingredients

Best Stress-Free

CND RescueRxx Daily Keratin Treatment ($20)

Key ingredients

Best for Peeling Nails

ORLY Nail Defense ($10.50)

Key ingredients

Best Sheen

NAILS.INC LONDON Gimme Strength Nail Strengthener ($9)

Key ingredients

Best Brightener

Manucurist Active Bright ($16)

Key ingredients

Best for Damage Post-Gels

LONDONTOWN kur Get Well Recovery ($20)

Key ingredients

Best on Bare Nails

essie Hard to Resist Advanced Nail Strengthener ($11)

Key ingredients

Best Weekly Treatment

Olive & June Nail Strengthener ($14)

Key ingredients

Best Basecoat

JINSoon HyperRepair ($22)

Key ingredients

Best 7-Free Formula

ella + mila First Aid Kiss ($10.50)

Key ingredient

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