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At the foundation of every salon-level polish collection is a solid variety of the best neutral nail colors. So, what exactly determines a neutral nail polish? The definition of a neutral palette, within the context of nail polishes, can often appear ambiguous and a bit complex. But for the sake of simplicity, we like to evaluate neutral nail polishes as muted shades that are inherently versatile. Think of hues like beige, brown, cream, and white. Some even consider pastel pink to be neutral, as shades that fall within this category frequently overlap with nude tones.
There are numerous reasons to incorporate neutral nail colors into your manicure routine, one of the most compelling being that neutrals possess a proven power to match with many shades on the color wheel. When you’re wearing shades of taupe, caramel, or ivory, there’s no need to overthink whether or not your nails will conflict with your outfit. Neutral nail polishes also embody a clean, polished aesthetic that is hard to resist and often deemed "work place" appropriate.
That said, if you’re in need of some neutral nail color inspiration, look no further. Not only have we sourced many favorites from our very own ELLE team, but we’ve also unveiled several celebrity-approved neutral nail colors, from stars like Kim Kardashian, Sofia Richie, Hailey Bieber, and more. Whether you’re looking to play into the balletcore and glazed donut trends, or you just want a neutral nail color that you can wear on repeat, we’ve got you covered. Ahead, the 25 best neutral nail colors for your nail polish collection.
Meet Dior Vernis, a nail polish collection that blends beauty and fashion. ELLE’s Digital Beauty Director Danielle James shares that this nail polish collection is inspired by iconic pieces within the House of Dior archives. Dior’s unique nail polish formula also enhances nails with peony extract and pistachio extract.
Dior rating: 4.5/5 stars
What ELLE editors are saying: “J’adore Dior—on my nails, that is. Give yourself a couture mani with Dior Vernis.” — Danielle James, Digital Beauty Director, ELLE
For less than $8, Sally Hansen’s Insta-Dri Nail Polish delivers professional-looking results within minutes. Whenever I’m in a time crunch, I immediately turn to Sally Hansen’s quick-dry polish to save the day. The gorgeous "Instant Coffee" shade is one of my favorite neutral colors because it’s such a practical hue and I only need one layer for complete coverage.
Ulta rating: 4.2/5 stars
What ELLE editors are saying: “I happened upon this nail polish when I was perusing the Walmart in my hometown. I had become obsessed with gel polish because who has 20 minutes of drying time?! This Insta Dri formula dries in less than 5 minutes and if I bump my nails an hour later, my manicure isn’t sacrificed. The fan brush easily spreads the polish across your nails allowing for even coats. This is a win for me. I don’t have to wait forever to use my hands or mess up my nails.” — Danielle James, Digital Beauty Director, ELLE
Jin Soon Choi is a runway artist and nail spa founder who created a non-toxic nail polish line including over sixty long-lasting shades. Choi’s award-winning nail polish collection features a subtle neutral shade called “Doux,” which embodies a modern and chic essence. After swiping this shade onto your nails, you’ll look like you just walked out of the salon.
Amazon rating: 3/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I usually hate nail polish because it barely lasts [but] apparently I was buying the wrong brands! This was great and it lasted a week with no babying.”
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Deborah Lippman’s Fall 2024 nail collection is inspired by all things Fall and warm, including cashmere and wool. According to James, the six piece set is an absolute must-have for anyone interested in wearing gel nudes. Her favorite nude shade? October Trees.
What ELLE editors are saying: “October Trees is a pastel mauve shade that’s super soothing to look at and makes a great fall nude.”— Danielle James, Digital Beauty Director, ELLE
Manicurist is one of the most coveted nail brands, and for good reasons. James shares that this French company offers an eco-friendly, non-toxic ‘Green’ line which is formulated with bio-sourced ingredients like potato, corn, yuca, and cotton. As for James’ favorite neutral color from Manicurist’s collection, she prefers the brand’s opaque “Pastel Pink” shade.
Manicurist rating: 4/5 stars
A Manicurist reviewer says: “Beautiful color (consistent with the presentation photo), very soft. For an appearance that is both natural and refined. Good coverage and good hold. Perfect!”
Most Innovative Formula
Kur London Town Perfecting Nail Veil Polish
Kur’s Perfecting Nail Veil Polish features a blend of actives that provide strengthening and moisturizing benefits to nails. This innovative formula is also paraben-free and cruelty-free, so it’s a great choice especially if you’re trying to rejuvenate damaged nails. For a flattering neutral shade, we would recommend Veil 5, an ultra-sheer color that’s ideal for any simple look.
Nordstrom rating: 3.7/5 stars
A Nordstrom reviewer says: “I love how with one coat it’s a beautiful sheer color and with two it’s a solid color,I didn’t use base or topcoat and it held up great!”
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Balletcore style is swarming the world of fashion, but we’re also seeing this trend trickle into the realm of beauty too, via shades of pink. If you want to play into this charming trend, try Chanel’s Le Vernis nail polish in the shade “Ballerina.” This dainty color has a gorgeous lacquered finish, and we guarantee you’ll want to wear it on repeat.
Chanel rating: 4.3/5 stars
A Chanel reviewer says: “The perfect nudeI I love it!”
According to an OPI expert, Hailey Bieber adores the OPI Nail Lacquer in the shade “Funny Bunny,” as this glimmering shade was used to create Bieber’s glazed donut manicure for the 2022 Met Gala. For this neutral look, make sure to apply at least two layers, as the polish is a bit sheer. However, if you want to create Hailey’s exact look, do the following: Use OPI’s “Stay Strong” gel as your base coat, continue with OPI’s “Funny Bunny,” add OPI’s “Stay Shiny” as your top coat, and finally, apply OPI’s chrome powder in “Tin Man Can.”
OPI rating: 4.2/5 stars
An OPI reviewer says: “It's a great neutral and a beautiful white. It's more subtle than alpine snow. Looks great on all skin tones and goes with all wardrobes.”
Perhaps one of the biggest beauty trends as of late is Hailey Bieber’s Glazed Donut trend, which refers to products that illuminate skin with a glossy Krispy Kreme-esque touch. But this trend isn’t just reserved for your face, beauty gurus and Bieber fans have translated this glossy look into their manicure routines. You can achieve this trend with Hailey’s OPI favorites, “Funny Bunny,” or you could opt for OPI’s “Cosmo-Not Tonight Honey” shade which has an equally gorgeous hue.
Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “OPI Nail Lacquer is such a quality product. It is understandable why it is chosen by so many nail salons. It has real staying power. I have used so many different types of polish but I always return to OPI for the quality and long lasting color and shine.”
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What shade should one wear on their nails while walking down the aisle? There are many options of course, but we would recommend an understated neutral color that let’s your dress do the talking. One of our favorites is the Les Mains Hermes Nail Enamel in the shade “Rose Porcelain.”
Bloomingdale’s rating: 4.2/5 stars
What a Bloomingdale’s reviewer says: “The applicator brush on the Hermes nail polish is the best I've ever experienced. The application is effortless and evenly distributed with one brush stroke.”
You can never go wrong with an opaque shade of white for your toenails, especially during the summertime. Essie’s polish in the shade “Blanc” provides flawless coverage and it’s the quintessential hue of white that you’ll want to keep in your beauty drawer forever. For a salon-quality look, start with one layer of Essie’s base coat and follow with two coats of the Blanc polish.
Ulta rating: 4.5/5 stars
What an ELLE editor says :“In the words of Saweetie—‘ten white toes, I’m always tip top’ and she is right! I love the way this stark white always makes your pedicure look crisp and put together, no matter the season. This color will compliment any skin tone and it doesn’t chip away.” — Danielle James, Digital Beauty Director, ELLE
Best Neutral Nail Polish for Summer
Essie Lace Is More
Now 30% Off
If opaque white is not your style, you can always go for a sheer neutral look, such as Essie’s Gel Couture Polish in the shade, “Lace Is More.” I can confidently say that this shade is one of my favorites. During the summertime, I love a sheer shade that compliments any outfit, and the Lace is More shade does exactly that.
Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars
What an Amazon reviewer says: “This is my go to nail polish for the summer, it’s such a nice sheer color.”
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According to ELLE’s Senior Commerce Editor Sam Peters, fall is the perfect season to lean into deeper tones and more muted shades. Peters loves Essie’s “co*cktail Bling,” a rich shade of grey that isn’t your typical neutral. She shares that the formula is long-lasting and vegan, which is why it ranks high on her list.
Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars
What ELLE editors are saying: “Essie’s co*cktail Bling is one of my favorite hues for autumn, as it’s a bit more unexpected than your classic cream or nude but has a slight edge to it.” — Sam Peters, Senior Commerce Editor, ELLE
What better time to experiment with dark nail colors than winter? During the winter season, chances are your wardrobe consists of deeper colors, and black compliments rich shades very well. One of our favorites is JINsoon’s “Absolute Black.”
Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars
What ELLE editors are saying: “For me, black nail polish is a neutral color. A classic nude makes me feel too princessy, but I find that long black nails can look elegant when done with celebrity manicurist Jin Soon Choi's excellent polish.” —Tatjana Freund, Commerce Editor, ELLE
Shades of pink are synonymous with spring, and Gucci’s Glossy Nail Polish in “Ellen Blush” is a bubbly pink color that is absolutely irresistible. Not only do we love the rich pink hue, but we also appreciate the fact that Gucci’s polish is formulated without formaldehydes, parabens, and silicones. Instead, this polish contains a blend of red algae extract and vitamin E, which work together to promote healthy nails.
Sephora rating: 3.6/5
A Sephora reviewer says: “Hands down the best nail polish I’ve ever used. Goes on smooth, even, and lasts forever. It’s easy to tell that this product is made with high quality ingredients.”
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Best Pink Neutral Nail Polish
OPI Nail Lacquer Nail Polish, Pink
OPI’s ”Let Me Bayou a Drink” shade falls somewhere on the spectrum between subtle and vibrant, which makes it the perfect pink neutral polish. This hue is a stunning blush pink that will elevate your manicure in such an elegant way. OPI’s nail polish also promises up to seven days of wear, so you can be pretty in pink all week long.
Ulta rating: 4.3/5 stars
An Ulta reviewer says: “This color is beautiful. Received a lot of compliments.”
In the past month, more than seven thousand Amazon customers have purchased Memeda’s “Milky White” polish, which is part of the reason why we’re ranking this product as the best white neutral nail polish. According to reviewers, Memeda’s polish is worth the purchase because it’s an eye-catching shade of white that builds easily. For a sheer look, you’ll only need one coat of polish, but if you would prefer a non-transparent shade, try two or three layers.
Amazon rating: 4.3/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I have been hunting moths for the perfect milky white and I finally found one that is not too bright white and not too shear. Two to three layers with this [product] and you're done!”
Best Neutral Nail Color for Darker Skin Tones
Pear Nova Classic Nail Lacquer in Diana Boss
Pear Nova founder Rachel James created her brand out of a desire to represent medium to dark skin tones in the nail-color industry. The “BRWNGRLMGC” collection offers a variety of gorgeous neutral shades, each named after powerful women of color, and one of our favorites is “Diana Boss.” This luxe polish is also completely vegan, and free of toxic ingredients.
Amazon rating: 5/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I love the glossy finish. It compliments all skin tones & is appropriate for women of all ages.”
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Recently, Kim Kardshian has been rocking a range of neutral colors, and we’re all dying to know what polish she uses. Well, lucky for you, we did a bit of digging and found that Kardashian’s nail artist Kim Truong uses Aprés’ “Cloud Nine” shade. This shade is highly opaque and features a medium viscosity, so it’s great if you’re trying to achieve a bold nail color.
Aprés rating: 4.5/5 stars
An Aprés reviewer says: “I’ve been searching for the best consistency in a white gel polish. Cloud Nine is it!”
Sofia Richie is the queen of the clean girl aesthetic, and one of her secrets to nailing this look is Essie’s “Skinny Dip” nail polish. This neutral color is a glossy shade of light peach that will never go out of style. And thanks to Essie’s easy glide brush, you’ll experience a streak-free manicure.
Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “If you’re looking for subtle pink with a little shine, this is the number one color to get. Essie makes the best polish!”
