There's nothing worse than taking the time to plan a trip to the nail salon and realizing that none of the shades leave you with that clean, polished look you crave. The process of selecting a neutral shade that complements a deep skin tone can be made that much more difficult when there's no immediate reference for how trending nude shades look on darker skin. No one wants to spend their appointment testing endless similar polish shades.
As someone who's experienced that painful process firsthand and is a self-proclaimed manicure enthusiast, I'm always on the hunt for neutral nail colors that are versatile enough to be great on any skin tone and look absolutely immaculate on their own. Recently, I had the opportunity to go straight to the source and ask the ridiculously talented celeb nail artist Elle Gerstein for her go-to shades as well as her tried-and-true process for creating the perfect manicure. Gerstein has been behind the gorgeous nail looks of celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan, Storm Reid, Blake Lively, and Mariah Carey.
Her philosophy for achieving a clean, polished look for any manicure is to prep the nail and give it a great base coat. Her personal favorite is Butter London's Priming Base Coat. "[It] makes the nail have a good even base for sheer colors, as it will prevent and camouflage the streaking and discoloring," she explains. "A lot of the newer base coats are like concealers for nail problems such as white spots, ridges, streaking, and polish-stained nails, as they disguise and conceal so you can wear sheer colors and still look flawless." After giving your nails the TLC they need, it's time to move on to selecting your color. Keep scrolling to reveal the neutral nail colors I'm loving for medium- to deep-toned skin.
Pearly White
Show off deep skin tones by opting for pearly white polishes for a clean look. If you'd like to take it one step further and add a hint of eye-catching shimmer, try layering your chosen white shade with a sheer pearly polish like the ones below by JinSoon and Nails Inc.
JinSoon's Dew is a dreamy sheer white reminiscent of organza fabric. It looks stunning worn alone or layered over other bright whites and pastels for a dreamy finish.
I discovered this one while rounding up my favorite mermaidcore-inspired beauty products. It's the answer to my pearlescent dreams with a beautiful micro-shimmer effect that glistens in the sunlight.
Muted Camel
Looking to add some warmth to your look? Try a nail polish shade that's not quite orange or brown and has a rosy undertone to it. It can be applied as a sheer pop of color to the nail but is also buildable if you're in the mood for something with a little more punch.
A creamy camel is the easiest way for me to add a touch of elegance to any look. Dior's Tutu strikes the balance between pink and brown, making this one the perfect neutral shade for medium-deep skin tones.
I very rarely find a nail polish possessing any name in the realm of "bare" or "nude" that is complementary to my deep skin tone, but Static Nails' Bare is the ideal yellow-based tan for brown skin.
Rosy Pink
Take it from Gerstein: Rosy tones are the way to go. When deciding on a shade, she looks for a hue that leans toward being sheer and brown to avoid it appearing white or opaque on darker skin tones. LeChat Nails' Nail Lacquer in Pure Confidence is her top pick.
I love a rosy brown for my nails year-round. Pure Confidence is described as a "confident pink buff" with a sheer finish that has a high-gloss shine that lasts for weeks with no running or fading.
If you're on the hunt for the perfect apricot to add to your collection, you've found one of my favorites. It's a tasteful dupe of Hermès's Le Mains Hermès Nail Enamel in Rose Coquille.
Rose Porcelaine is a little milkier than the aforementioned Rose Coquille but looks equally gorgeous on brown skin thanks to its neutral undertones. It shouldn't be surprising that this particular shade has a permanent spot in my meticulously edited nail polish collection.
Tasteful Taupe
I'll always love a good neutral, especially if it plays up the natural tone of my skin. For deeper skin, brown-based neutrals can serve as a versatile nude. It also helps that they're all over the place right now and range from warm, sandy tones like the one above to nearly mauve. There's one for everyone.
If I could live out the rest of my days wearing this ultra-sheer nail tint, I would. Part of Londontown's universally flattering Nail Veil line, it's designed to enhance the natural look of nails with a formula full of strengthening and moisturizing benefits.
A sandy nude with pink undertones, Static Nails' Liquid Glass Lacquer in Fetish offers full coverage and pairs beautifully with a swipe of my favorite shimmery topcoat. Against my skin tone, it sometimes appears to have a hint of gray.
Off-White
Off-white shades are flattering on all skin tones but look absolutely ethereal on deeper ones. I'm loving both of these creamy white hues. One is perfect for everyday wear, and the other adds a dreamy finish to any night-out look.
I can say with confidence that I'll never get tired of how off-white nails look on brown skin. Not only does Essie's Quill You Be Mine give the appearance of longer nails, but it also makes your fingers look a little leaner.
Londontown describes this one as being "as soft and silky as a porcelain doll." It's a milky crème that can be easily worn as the base shade for a French manicure or alone. Either way, it's one of my favorites to wear whenever I get the chance.
Toffee Beige
Kick things up a notch by trying a toffee-beige shade for depth and dimension. Staying away from muddy brown can save your finished look from washing out your gorgeous skin. You're welcome.
Part of JinSoon's Goop collection, this toffee-beige brings depth and richness to the nails, giving that cozy cashmere look I can't get enough of. Plus, it's formulated without any harsh ingredients, so my nails feel and look great.
I'm a recent convert to cognac nail colors and can't clearly remember a time when I wasn't in love with the color. Essie's Warm Cognac strikes the balance between brown and orange, resulting in a color with neutral undertones and a creamy finish.
Milky Pink
You can never go wrong with a pretty milky tone to bring effortless romance to your look. My favorites are ones that go on semi-sheer but give the nails a healthy-looking blush tone.
Static Nails' Ballerina is a timeless blue-based soft pink that's semi-sheer and beyond pretty. It also lasts for up to 10 days chip-free using nourishing ingredients like rose hip, coconut oil, and green tea.
You knew it was coming! Bubble Bath will always be a given. While Bubble Bath is described by the brand as a candy-pink polish, a couple of layers of it reveal a natural nail-enhancing hue that exudes elegance with minimal effort.
Chocolate Brown
Another one of Gerstein's top picks? A chic chocolate brown. Her favorite is LeChat Nails' Nail Lacquer in Coco Kisses, as it "looks very polished without competing with the skin."
I'm still in awe of how gorgeous this one looks with my skin. It's a creamy brown that's a little more cool than warm and lets your gorgeous skin tone take center stage without vying for attention.
Looking for something with a touch of pink? Chanel's Particulière is a dusty brown that borders on being rosy. It's part of the brand's vibrant range of shades that are long-lasting and offer high shine.
Lastly, Ella+Mila's aptly named London Fog is a smoky brown that makes me long for rainy afternoons spent in Covent Garden. It looks gorgeous year-round, but I love breaking this one out whenever temperatures drop.
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