Not Butter Yellow, Not Sheer Pink: The Dreamiest Nail Color to Wear All Summer, Per Rihanna and Selena

The trendsetters have spoken.

When the stylish set wants to amp up their expensive-looking neutrals (iced coffee, creamy ivory, sheer pink, et al.), there's a solid chance they'll opt for butter yellow. After all, the creamy hue adds a bit of zing without appearing too saturated, keeping the overall look chic and understated. Not to mention, "It’s a sunny happy color that can be neutral but stands out," nail artist Evelyn Lim, chief educator at MiniLuxe’s Paintbox studio, once shared about summer nail trends.

But this is not a story about butter-yellow nails. (Been there, done that!) No, we're here to spotlight an even dreamier polish hue you should ask for at your next salon appointment—at least if Rihanna and Selena Gomez have anything to say about it. Per these celebs and their top-tier manicurists, dreamy lilac is the summer lacquer du jour. Scroll ahead to stay ahead of the trend.

Photo of Selena Gomez's lilac nails

(Image credit: @selenagomez)

We first spotted the luxuriously creamy color on Gomez, who donned Aprés Aster Family while appearing on ABC’s upcoming reboot of Match Game. Her long, almond-shaped tips looked elegant as ever, paired with a black Miu Miu dress and inverted, "cupped" lob. A few days after the event, her manicurist, Tom Bachik, reposted one of his photos, noting how he was "still in love" with the lilac mani (to which we say, same, Bachik).

Photo of Selena Gomez's lilac nails

A closer look at Gomez's nails

(Image credit: @selenagomez)

Fast-forward another few days, and we clocked lilac nails yet again—this time on Rihanna, who wore The GelBottle Inc's Diana ("a beautiful sheer lilac," according to nail artist Jenny Longworth) at the Smurfs movie premiere in Brussels. The pastel hue beautifully complemented her baby-blue chiffon Chanel two-piece (which reportedly took 840 hours to make, BTW), a refined touch to the equally ethereal ensemble.

Rihanna pictured at the red carpet during the global premiere of the movie Smurfs on June 28, 2025 in Brussels, Belgium, 28/06/2025

(Image credit: Jan De Meuleneir/Photonews via Getty Images)

Lilac is what we'd consider an "almost neutral," as it adds a little something extra without overpowering an entire outfit—just like its warmer counterpart, butter yellow. Plus, it's universally flattering. Take it from celebrity manicurist Julie Kandalec: "Lilac is incredibly easy to wear on a multitude of skin tones," she told WWW about the on-trend polish color. Consider it a chic summer color swap for when you're craving something elegant and low-key—one that isn't a pale yellow or milky, sheer pink.

Shop the Best Lilac Nail Polishes

Explore More:
Jamie Schneider
Senior Beauty Editor

Jamie Schneider isBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing ’s senior beauty editor based in New York City. With over seven years in the industry, she specializes in trend forecasting, covering everything from innovative fragrance launches to need-to-know makeup tutorials to celebrity profiles. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Organizational Studies and English before moving to NYC, and her work has appeared in MindBodyGreen, Coveteur, and more. When she’s not writing or testing Wholesale Replica Bag beauty finds, Jamie loves scouting vintage boutiques and reading thrillers, and she’s always down for a park picnic in Brooklyn.