How to Get the Clean Girl Nail Look on Any Skin Tone
Whether you call them nude nails or soap nails, there’s a polish that’s perfect for you.
There was a time when nude nail polish—much like Crayola’s infamous and now-retired Flesh crayon—referred to a single light-toned skin color, overlooking the many shades that nude can truly represent. Thankfully, that era is over. The new nude polishes run the full spectrum of skin tones, and with toned-down “clean girl” manicures and “soap nails” having a major moment, demand has never been higher.
Finding a nude polish that works well with your skin tone is easier than ever, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a perfect match. “Don’t try to match your skin exactly or else you’ll get the dreaded mannequin hands,” says nail artist Miss Pop, referring to the nails that look like an uncannily seamless, matte extension of your fingers. “Instead, look for a color that celebrates your skin’s undertones.”
And that color may surprise you. “Pale, creamy nude tones work well with medium skin tones because they highlight the inherent tan hue of the skin while providing just the right amount of contrast,” nail artist Jin Soon Choi says. “Dark skin tones can handle the greatest variety of colors,” she says, citing rosy beiges as her favorite for dark skin.
To determine your ideal nude shades, thoroughly examine your entire hand. “Don’t test nail polish just on the back of your hand. Test it against your palm, too,” Miss Pop advises. “Your fingertips tend to be more similar. In my case, my palm and fingertips are ruddy. The back of my hand is a completely different shade.” Read on for expert-approved nude nail polish shade picks for a wide range of skin tones.
Meet the experts:
Miss Pop is a nail artist based in New York City.
Jin Soon Choi is a manicurist based in New York City.
Dawn Sterling is a manicurist based in New York City.
Elle Gerstein is a manicurist based in New York City.
Brittney Boyce is a nail artist based in Los Angeles.
Jenna Hipp is a manicurist based in Los Angeles.
Essie Nail Lacquer in Marshmallow
With “soap nails” catching on so strongly, Miss Pop says the looks-great-on-everyone Marshmallow is the ideal option for creating the look yourself. “It makes for a deliciously sheer, off-white shade that is surprisingly flattering on a variety of skin tones,” she says of the beloved bestseller.
Zoya Naked Manicure Perfector
Think of Zoya Naked Manicure Perfectors as no-makeup makeup for your nails. “They come in a variety of skin tones,” says Miss Pop. “They create an extremely sheer veil, and I love using them for French manicures, negative space nail art, or simply as strengtheners.” An added bonus: When the polish is this transparent, chips are basically invisible.
OPI Nail Lacquer in Put It In Neutral
“The best neutral for fair skin is pink because it supports the pink and blue undertones in pale skin tones,” says Choi. But not just any pink. Unsurprisingly, a pale, beige-y pink like OPI’s Nail Lacquer in Put It In Neutral is a true winner for the lightest skin tones. Manicurist Elle Gerstein calls it a “color that will warm the fairest shade of skin.”
OPI Nail Lacquer in Bubble Bath
Another ideal choice for the soap nail trend is OPI Bubble Bath, which Miss Pop describes as “the perfect sheer, pale pink.” Sterling agrees with Miss Pop, telling Allure that she loves combining this classic OPI shade with Put It In Neutral (recommended above) “One thin coat of Bubble Bath first, one thin coat of Put It In Neutral second,” Sterling says. “It’s the perfect blend of pink and warm tones,” creating a no-fail combo against any skin.
Orly Breathable Treatment + Color in Kiss Me, I’m Kind
“Kiss Me, I’m Kind is a sheer, pastel peach that works for paler skin tones with a colder, more pink undertone,” says nail artist Brittney Boyce, who works with Megan Fox and Kate Hudson. The formula is as fresh as the color, featuring nail-nourishing ingredients like argan oil and vitamins.
Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Color in Naked
Deborah Lippmann’s Gel Lab Pro Color shade Naked is just one of the many colors that naked skin comes in. This take happens to look especially awesome on warm, olive skin tones. Recommended by Miss Pop, its formula is also an Allure US Best of Beauty Award winner because of its non-damaging staying power and gorgeous glossiness.
Deborah Lippmann Modern Love Gel Lab Pro
Deborah Lippmann’s Modern Love in their Gel Lab Pro line is a full coverage, nude mauve cream that comes out as a soft pink on most skin tones, and flatters almost everyone, even mature hands.
Barry M Hi Shine Nail Paint in Dandelion
Barry M Hi Shine Nail Paint in Dandelion is a metallic, hi-shine gold that looks particularly flattering on darker skin tones. It’s a muted shade of gold, that, from some angles, looks like it has some silver in it as well.
Bobbie Nails Ultra Shine Collection in Cafe US
The perfect shade of cafe au lait, Bobbie Nails Ultra Shine polish in Cafe US just screams clean girl. This comes closer to a nude on darker skin tones, but looks just as classic and immaculate on lighter skin. It never gives basic or boring, but instead whispers elegance.
Zoya Professional Lacquer in Louise
Miss Pop’s recommendation for the darkest skin tones, Zoya Professional Lacquer in Louise, is a boldly rich dark brown with a boldly rich formula—a five out of five on Zoya’s opacity scale. However, unlike the warmth you might expect from deep brown shades, Louise has cool undertones that complement your skin’s own undertones.
