The Best Nude Nail Polishes
First things first. We did our best to try and put together a tight edit of nail colours you need for the new season, but no matter how many hours we spent going through backstage images on style.com, the message was clear – it’s time to get nude. And we couldn’t be happier.
Why? No more (obviously) chipped manicures, less time wasted staring blankly at the colour wall at the nail salon, nude goes with everything, and, for those who prefer to DIY, it makes life easier.
We’ve narrowed it down to five of the best. All you have to decide is how nude you’re willing to get…
By Carmen Hamilton.
Best all-rounder – O.P.I Samoan Sand
A true, sandy nude that glides on perfectly streak-free. The colour is so on-point your nails pretty much disappear (except for the glossy finish).
Best on lighter skin tones – YSL La Lacque Couture in Rose Abstrait
If you don’t tend to stray far from a French mani, this is your best bet. It’s the most subtle of the lot. The first coat comes out almost clear, but we suggest you step it up with a second.
Best pinky nude – Estée Lauder Pure Colour in Nudité
Quite close in colour to Samoan Sand but slightly more pink and doesn’t score as highly on the streak-free factor. Having said that, it dries quickly and you can get away with one coat.
Best on darker skintones – MAC Nail Lacquer in Skin
If perfectly camouflaged nail beds sound like something from a bad dream, MAC’s Skin brings a bit of depth to the table. Best on medium to dark skin tones (or those with a tan at least), it’s what we’d call “nude in St Tropez”.
Most opaque nude – Essie Spin the Bottle
If you jumped on the white (a.k.a. liquid paper) bandwagon, this is your next stop. It’s the milkiest of the bunch with a subtle nude tint. You’ll need two coats but it’s well worth the trouble.
