The Right Nail Polish for Your Exact Skin Tone (2024)

FAQs

The Right Nail Polish for Your Exact Skin Tone? ›

Understanding your undertones is key to finding the perfect nail shade. Warm skin tones tend to suit earthy tones, vibrant reds, and golden hues, while cool skin tones can rock blues, purples, and icy whites. Neutral skin tones have the versatility to pull off nude shades, soft pinks, and metallics.

The easiest way to determine skin tone is to look at the veins on the outside of your hand. Veins that appear bluish indicate a cool tone, veins that appear green indicate a warm tone, and veins that look somewhere in the middle indicate a neutral tone!

“If you have a lighter skin tone, the color would differ depending on how fair your skin is, but corals, greens, and red would be good for older hands because it draws attention to the nails,” according to Orly. According to Orly, older adults with darker skin may look best in orange, gold, and gray shades.

Choose nudes with soft pink hues to brighten your skin. Think of a natural nail color in a light blush, a medium pink nude, or even a classic mauve to warm up your skin. Go for sheer nudes in pinkish tints; a sheer taupe can work well for you, too.

What to consider when choosing a nail color? When choosing a nail color, it is important to consider your skin tone. Nail colors that are too light or too dark can make your hands look washed out or mismatched. If your skin has yellow undertones, stick to cool colors like blues and purples.

“Nail polish colors that have cool tones—like blue, lavender, and light pink—typically complement people with cool undertones,” says celebrity manicurist Queenie Nguyen. Pastel colors, blue-based reds, and jewel tones are also very flattering. If you're choosing brown nail polish, lean toward taupes.

Warm-toned nail colors like coral, peach, or bronze can enhance your tan. These shades create a harmonious and flattering look that brings out the warmth in your complexion. Experiment with different warm-toned shades to find the ones that complement your skin tone the best.

“Darker shades tend to make nail beds look smaller so make sure that you choose dark colors that are good for your skin tone in the summer,” says Choi.

Lighter Tones: Choose lighter shades of any color, such as pastels or light grays. Lighter tones help to brighten the hands and create a more youthful appearance. Sheer and Natural Finishes: Consider using sheer or natural finishes, like a sheer pink or a clear coat.

What color nails makes you more attractive? ›

One study found that men were more likely to rate a woman as attractive if she was wearing red nail polish. The study also found that men were more likely to approach a woman who was wearing red nail polish. Another study found that men were more likely to remember a woman's name if she was wearing red nail polish.

What colour makes fingers look slimmer? Sheer pink is best. While Lippmann says, a clean beige can also slim the hands. For those with medium skin tones: Lippmann likes more opaque, full-coverage, yellow-based taupe, which works well.

“Nail polish colors that have cool tones—like blue, lavender, and light pink—typically complement people with cool undertones,” says celebrity manicurist Queenie Nguyen. Pastel colors, blue-based reds, and jewel tones are also very flattering. If you're choosing brown nail polish, lean toward taupes.

Atlanta-based makeup artist Brielle Brenner says this quick at-home test is perhaps the easiest way to find your skin undertone: “Check the veins in your wrist, and if they appear more blue or purple, you most likely have a cool undertone; if they look green, you most likely have a warmer skin tone,” she tells SELF.

In natural light, check the appearance of your veins beneath your skin. If your veins appear blue or purple, you have a cool skin tone. If your veins look green or a greenish blue, you have a warm skin tone. If you can't tell whether or not your veins are green or blue, you probably have a neutral skin tone.

For fair skin, light pastels, soft pinks, and nude shades work well. Medium skin tones can pull off a wide range of colors, including vibrant reds, corals, and purples. Darker skin tones can rock bold and deep shades like rich blues, deep purples, and metallics.