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Best Neutral Nail Colors
Saying nude nail polish always looks good would be an understatement – it’s more like comfort beauty to impress without even trying, and that’s mostly in line with everyone’s taste buds. We’re not saying that other colors or nail art is any less, but nudes are another level aesthetic. Also, who can relate with it being less messy, less stain-ish, and overall low on the maintenance?
According to our research, we’ve hit upon some of the best neutral nail polish colors that aren’t going anywhere and would go well with all fair, light, medium, and dark-colored beauties. Have a scroll, loves!
If you love neutral nail polish colors, you might also want to check out our best at-home manicure products!
What Are The Best Nude Nail Polish Colors?
There’s a red for everyone, we’ve been hearing this phrase since eons! Similarly, we believe there’s a nude shade for everyone. Even if you’re not fond of nail polishes, we’re sure you won’t decline a neutral nail polish once in a while, given how elegant it looks and effortlessly works from day to night, formal to informal, home to office and to black tie!
Our selection of best nude nail polish colors aren’t stuck on the all-known beige alone, it cascades through neutrals you never knew existed, plus these options ain’t for matching skin tones – these will enhance what’s already there! Every woman must at least keep one bottle of nude nail polish she can kill in and call her own! We’re here to do just that – fasten your seat-belts.
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OPI Nail Lacquer
When Bright Shades Look Blah
Introducing a shade that goes with all skin tones and if it matches your particular skin color, it will fake that immediate lengthening appearance. A crust and chip-free blend according to consumers that lasts through 7 days of wear, no matter how many times you wash the dishes. A light pinky-mauve shade to keep your manicure up-to-date and nails bed looking pampered all the time.
Loved For: ★★★★ ( Amazon’s Choice ) | Available in different neutral shades, provides up to 7 days of wear, ease of application & removal
User Said: The more OPI polishes I buy, the more I’m convinced it’s the best brand available. This polish is my new favorite neutral. It’s opaque and matte, with just the usual nail polish shine, but no shimmer or glitter.
WHERE TO BUY:
SHOP AT AMAZON
Essie The Wild Nudes 2017 Nail Polish Collection
Such A Staple
This shade from the well-known Essie Wild nudes collection works brilliantly for fair to medium-skin ladies. A sheer finish which is buildable and made free from Toluene, DBP, and formaldehyde! A nice way to add some subdued warmth, color, contrast, and shine to your manicure and the users are in love with the way it glides over effortlessly.
Loved For: ★★★★ ( Amazon’s Choice ) | Available in different neutral shades, rich crème, long lasting
User Said: I love the color of this Essie Polish! It looks very summer like and Essie has to be one of the best as far as my nails are concerned.
WHERE TO BUY:
SHOP AT NORDSTROM
Deborah Lippman Gel Lab Pro Nail Color
Optimistic Yet Subtle
Our pale-skinned dearies will be ecstatic with this light, bubble-gum pink shade that definitely leans on the cooler side – all the more reason to wear if you have a cool undertone. It’s an exciting shade, isn’t it? That lasts 7 days and is the winner of Allure’s Best Of Beauty 2018 Award, now that’s something! This is a unique neutral nail polish every pale girl should have around.
Loved For: ★★★★ | Available in different neutral shades, dual-patented formula
User Said: I’ve tried many polishes. None of them lasted four days before they chipped. I wear gloves when I wash the dishes, still, the polish chipped. Not with this! The first time I tried it, it lasted ten days!
WHERE TO BUY:
SHOP AT AMAZON
SPACE.NK.apothecary Smith & Cult Nailed Lacquer
Luxe AF
Have you seen the bottle? Wouldn’t it look swoon-worthy on your vanity and we’d buy it for the packaging alone, no jokes! According to consumers, they’re in love with the gloss this nail lacquer leaves and applies like a dream. A must-have for medium to dark-skinned lovelies – it’s going to add that striking balance against your skin tone and play up your undertones. Buy it before somebody else does!
Loved For: ★★★★ | Available in different neutral shades, smooth coverage, brilliant shine
User Said: My new favorite line of polishes! They are thick and extremely shiny. The bonus of these is the darling bottle!
WHERE TO BUY:
SHOP AT AMAZON
Zoya Polish Quad Nail Polish
No More Complaints
A reappearance from our best at-home manicure products, this nude nail polish quad is undoubtedly worth a try. You get four options which literally removes all the need for making choices. Crafted with formaldehyde, this is a vegan-friendly formulation that caters to all skin tones. It eliminates the guesswork from your routine and is a great value for money, given the full-sized bottles. It lasts a long time as well without coming off, fading too soon, or chipping!
Loved For: ★★★★ ( Amazon’s Choice ) | Available in different neutral shades, includes four full-sized
User Said: This nail polish is a holiday set but, don’t let that cause you to think, in any way, that the colors aren’t good for other holidays and seasons. These colors are gorgeous and are perfect all year round!
WHERE TO BUY:
SHOP AT AMAZON
ILNP Juliette Holographic Nail Polish
An All-Rounder
Seriously, you don’t want to apply another nude? Fret not! This nude-ish rose gold polish is the perfect finisher for any skin tone, more so for olive, medium, and dark women because it imparts the ideal amount of shimmer with a formula that’s chip-resistant and such a statement for events.
Sparkle doesn’t necessarily mean you have to take pains to wipe off this easy-to-remove polish! Consumers are just mesmerized by the color, and the same can be said about us.
Loved For: ★★★★ ( Amazon’s Choice ) | Chip resistant, easy to remove, 100% Vegan
User Said: I’ve never had any luck with glittery nail polish, until now. This polish gives full coverage in just two coats (you could even get away with one layer, depending on the look you’re going for). It also lasted WAY longer than any other nail polish I’ve used!
WHERE TO BUY:
SHOP AT NORDSTROM
Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour
No Telltale Chips
When a brand serves as it promises, it is one of the best feelings in the world because you get your money’s worth. Likewise, consumers are glad to be more than satisfied with this nail color which is a gorgeous taupe brown that works on nearly all skin tones. It’s dramatic yet understated and apart from that, nourishes your nail beds, improves, and strengthens nails over time. It’s one of those shades that will never let you down!
Loved For: ★★★★ | Available in different neutral shades, helps strengthen and improve the quality of nails
User Said: This is an excellent neutral nail polish. It’s not too light which can sometimes blend into skin. Great everyday color!
WHERE TO BUY:
SHOP AT AMAZON
Nars Nail Polish
You’ve Been Looking For This
Pink never goes wrong, and this shall never do you wrong. Flawless for pale to light skin tones, this is wildly attractive with a high-gloss finish that lasts a good amount of time. Since Spring’s around the corner and Summer will be in the works too – this shade would slay through both these two seasons. It brings out your chirpy personality to the brim!
Loved For: ★★★★ | Available in different neutral shades, high-gloss finish, long lasting
User Said: A good pedicure/manicure starts with a good base coat and this one is the best out there. I’ve tried a bunch of brands but this one beats them all!
WHERE TO BUY:
SHOP AT NORDSTROM
Dior Diorific Limited Edition Vernis Lacquer
The Rare Kind
This is a color that only few can rock and if you can, congratulations to you! A lightweight formula that can be layered over and mixed with other shades without second thoughts. The formulation is rich, long-lasting, and provides that sophisticated, rich hue which is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. If you care little about nail polish, this will be right up your alley.
Loved For: ★★★★ | Available in different neutral elegant shades, long lasting
User Said: Good quality, nice color, long lasting varnish. I love the Christian Dior brand!
WHERE TO BUY:
SHOP AT NORDSTROM
Deborah Lippmann Bed of Roses Set
All The More Reasons To Love
Packs, sets or collections are just so fuss-free, aren’t they? Just like this compilation of neutrals is a no-brainer ranging from light pinks to more greyish-pink versions, something every pale and woman of color can enjoy. If you really cannot make up your mind about a single nude nail polish, a set like this will help you better than your best friend! These depart shine, durability, and dry quickly!
Loved For: ★★★★ | Available in different neutral shades, high-gloss formula, provides a cushiony, plumped look
User Said: All of these colors are pretty, and I am enjoying them. There is enough of a difference between each shade and the formula is a dream.
WHERE TO BUY:
Best Neutral Nail Polish Colors Overview
PRODUCT DETAILS
OPI Nail Lacquer
Available in different neutral shades, provides up to 7 days of wear, ease of application & removal
Essie The Wild Nudes 2017 Nail Polish Collection
Available in different neutral shades, rich crème, long lasting
Deborah Lippman Gel Lab Pro Nail Color
Available in different neutral shades, dual-patented formula
SPACE.NK.apothecary Smith & Cult Nailed Lacquer
Available in different neutral shades, smooth coverage, brilliant shine
Zoya Polish Quad Nail Polish
Available in different neutral shades, includes four full-sized
ILNP Juliette Holographic Nail Polish
Chip resistant, easy to remove, 100% Vegan
Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour
Available in different neutral shades, helps strengthen and improve the quality of nails
Nars Nail Polish
Available in different neutral shades, high-gloss finish, long lasting
Dior Diorific Limited Edition Vernis Lacquer
Available in different neutral elegant shades, long lasting
Deborah Lippmann Bed of Roses Set
Available in different neutral shades, high-gloss formula, provides a cushiony, plumped look
How To Find The Ideal Nude Nail Polish For You?
No, it’s not as simple as chanting “Aparecium” to magically reveal the very hidden nude color for your fingernails – Harry Potter won’t work here. Try our tips below to find which shade will complement your skin tone the most.
Determine Your Skin Undertone
Skin undertones give away the shade that will look great against your natural skin tone. For example, pink is the opposite of green, which means anything that’s in the pinky-nude range would look best with warmer skin tones and orange is the complementary color of blue that references that blue undertone can easily sport tones such as peachy-nudes, cloudy-corals, dusty pinks, or some tinted-whites.
Finding a nude shade for yourself is a process of trial and error, but it is wise to follow the general basics. Folks with cool undertones should stick with cool tones, and warmer tones stick to warm tones as a fail-safe approach towards finding your perfect shade.
Finishes
You can go from sheer, to opaque, and matte in a matter of moments with nude nail polishes but to really get started, begin with a sheer formula. Because it imparts a beautiful, healthy glow and lets your natural nails shine through, since, opaque finishes don’t always work well with various skin tones.
But if you think your nails can handle the opaqueness well, there’s no harm in having your way. Also, matte would be ideal if you are feeling a bit bolder and have long, shapely nails to flaunt this super-fabulous finish.
Add Shimmer or Variety
If you feel that plain nude nail polish looks dull and boring, try one with some glitter or shimmer to add that instant WOW factor to your nails. This is something that goes well with all skin tones depending on the hue of the glitter or shimmer specks.
Or opt for a different neutral shade for each nail – that’s such a trendy look nowadays!
Go By Seasons
As Fall is defined by berries and burgundies, Spring/Summer is characterized by brights and pastels, whereas Winter is prominent with browns, olives, and dusty colors whatsoever. Simultaneously, find nude shades according to seasons just like you’d probably wear a different red in Summer from the one in Winter.
Like golden hues would suit well with tanned skin whereas, taupe, cool-toned pinks and more chocolate-nudey shades go best when you’re not so tan.
What’s Your Nail Beds Like?
If a neutral color isn’t the right fit for you, it might look “dirty” or as if you’ve been playing in the mud. Study your nail beds during daylight and see whether they appear white, pink, or just mimic your natural skin tone? Then find a shade that complements the exact same tone of your nail bed or buy a color that’s one shade darker to create an attractive contrast against your skin tone.
Or coming upon a shade that’s an exact match with your skin tone would grant an effect of longer nails.
Mix & Match
Who says you only need to apply one nude shade? You can mix and match to create your own perfect concoction. Or better yet, you can use sheer formulation over an opaque one – there’s so much you can do to do it the way you like.
Another trick is to keep a top coat with you because if your nails get chipped and you’re in a hurry, layer on the actual nail polish, cover with a top coat, and you’ll have a fresh pair once again.
Be Diverse
Invest in high-quality nude nail polish because finishes that look streaky, chip easily, and don’t apply evenly are worse than having anything on. Also, you don’t have to remain within the territory of brown and beige.
There’s some wonderful dusky options, mauves, creams, pinky-greys, and violets in neutrals that look fantastic on all skin tones. Take your time with selecting, and you’ll definitely nail an impeccable buy!
We hope you enjoyed our list of the best nude nail polish colors! From ordinary to extraordinary, we’ve talked about all of them, and we wish you end this read with your pick already made! Have Fun!
If you feel we’ve left some important choices, send us your recommendations. We’d love to get your feedback!
Have you got any suggestions of your own for the best neutral nail polish colors? Let us know in the comments!
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