Sure, Moody Nails Are Chic, But This Ethereal Manicure Takes the Elegance to the Next Level

Maybe it's my way of rebelling against 4:30 p.m. sunsets (sob), or maybe it's because the holiday spirit has firmly lodged its way into my subconscious, but I'm currently very into glitter right now. I know, not the most groundbreaking sentence on the precipice of the Christmas to New Year's countdown, but there's something in the air (confetti?) that makes me want to swap my moody winter manicures for a lacquer that feels a bit more playful.

That said, I'm not someone who typically commits to full-on sparkle. When it comes to shimmery makeup, for instance, I search for formulas that have a pearly, almost watery sheen over bolder options with flecks of chunky glitter. The former just feels a tad more fashion-forward. And when it comes to nail colors, I've been on the hunt for polishes that give me that same ethereal opalescence. Enter stardust nails, the elevated glitter manicure I've been dreaming of.

What Are Stardust Nails?

Instead of the high-impact texture from a pot of confetti, imagine a light veil of cosmic ash scattered across your nail plate—superfine particles that provide a sheer layer of shimmer. It's the same idea as fairy dust eye shadow, which refers to soft, iridescent pigment that makes the lids look extra glossy as they catch the light; stardust nails also have that frosty "wet" effect that doesn't require too much effort. Any color you please can fall under the stardust umbrella, but a sheer polish shade (milky white, pink, taupe, or even a cool teal or lavender) will be your best bet, as it keeps the look even more understated.

On a practical note, sheer stardust nails will also typically last longer than a rich burgundy or navy shade. I don't know about you, but I'm itching to change my polish as soon as the first nail shows any signs of peeling or chipping, and deeper, highly-pigmented hues tend to show signs of wear faster. Stardust nails better hide the grow-out, so you'll wind up maintaining the look for longer. Not to mention, sheer manicures are easier to DIY at-home, as any errant strokes aren't quite as obvious.

No, those rich polishes haven't completely exited my rotation. I'm always partial to a burgundy, navy, or jet-black nail look, but stardust nails are what I'll be sporting for the foreseeable future—at least until the last pop of champagne on January 1.

Stardust Nail Inspiration

So dreamy.

I also adore this ombré effect.

This butterscotch-golden stardust looks so luxe.

The trend was made for milky manicures, but I'll admit it looks quite rich with chocolate-brown lacquer.

Celebrity nail artist Queenie Nguyen takes the "stardust" literally with this patterned set.

Sign me up for this stardust French mani.

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