11 Nude Nail Polish Shades for Every Skin Tone
There is no such thing as one universal nude color, and nail polish is no exception. Treating a peachy hue as a "classic nude" denies the fact that skin tones come in an array of shades and as such, the polishes that complement them should vary as well. Fortunately, there are a variety of nail polish brands that realize "nude" doesn't have one singular meaning, and instead offer more diverse neutral color options. If you've ever wanted something subtle for your nails but aren't sure which color matches your skin tone, fear not: we got you covered.
HelloGiggles talked to several nail experts to get their recommendations on nude polishes that complement skin tones across the spectrum. For reference, we've noted celeb with similar skin tones to give you a better feel of how each polish will match your own skin.
Dark skin tones
Skin tone: Dark with red undertones
Nail Polish: Tom Ford Bitter Bitch
Stefanie Keenan / Contributor/Getty Images & Tom Ford
Shop it! $58.83, amazon.com
"This compliments darker tones with red undertones," celebrity nail stylist and expert Gina Edwards says. "This color is super rich and luxurious!"
Skin tone: Dark with neutral undertones
Nail Polish: ORLY Coffee Break
Steve Granitz / Contributor/Getty Images & ORLY
Shop it! $9.24, amazon.com
"This nude has more of a neutral undertone and looks great on someone like Kerry Washington," Brittney Boyce, consulting nail artist for ORLY, tells HelloGiggles.
Skin tone: Caramel with warm undertones
Nail Polish: Morgan Taylor Neutral by Nature
Emma McIntyre / Staff/Getty Images & Morgan Taylor
Shop it! $9.99, amazon.com
"I've used this color on Tiffany and it looks beautiful," Edwards says. "She has a warm caramel skin tone. The perfect tone on tone neutral."
Skin tone: Medium-dark
Nail Polish: Chanel Organdi
Kevin Winter / Staff/Getty Images & Chanel
Shop it! $28, nordstrom.com
"Organdi is more of a pinkish beige that's very soft and pretty," Boyce says. "It's actually quote versatile and look great if your skin tone is like Beyoncé's."
Skin tone: Medium-dark with cool undertones
Nail Polish: OPI Do You Take Lei Away?
Aaron J. Thornton / Contributor/Getty Images & OPI
Shop it! $10.50, amazon.com
"It’s a creamy, sandy, light brown nude shade that goes great with medium to dark skin tones like Chloe Bailey," OPI’s North America education manager Sigourney Nunez tells HelloGiggles.
Medium skin tones
Skin tone: Medium with warm undertones
Nail Polish: ORLY First Kiss
Jason Merritt/TERM / Staff/Getty Images & ORLY
Shop it! $8.50, amazon.com
"If you have a warmer skin tone like Chrissy Teigen, First Kiss is a fantastic coral-ish nude," Boyce says.
Skin tone: Medium with olive undertones
Nail Polish: LeChat Dare to Wear Mi Amour
Shop it! $9.50, amazon.com
According to celebrity nail artist Elle, those with olive skin tones should avoid nudes that are sheer or beige because they might look yellow. "This shade has enough opacity and pink so it will always read as a perfect, classic nude on olive skin tones," she advises.
Skin tone: Medium with olive undertones
Nail Polish: ZOYA in Farah
Kevin Winter / Staff / Getty Images & ZOYA
Shop it! $10, amazon.com
“A beige nude shade like Zoya in Farah works nicely with medium and olive skin tones since it’s a neutral base and not too yellow," Rebecca Isa, creative director of ZOYA, tells HelloGiggles. "This color would be a great match for Eva Mendes as it compliments her golden, tan complexion.”
Light skin tones
Skin tone: Light to medium
Nail Polish: OPI Bubble Bath
John Shearer / Contributor / Getty Images & OPI
Shop it! $9.50, amazon.com
"This classic cool pink nude complements light to medium skin tones like Camila Cabello," Nunez says.
Skin tone: Light with pink undertones
Nail Polish: LeChat Dare to Wear Beauty Bride to Be
Neilson Barnard / Staff / Getty Images & LeChat
Shop it! $9.50, amazon.com
"This color has some peachy tones to it," Elle says. She adds that for those who don't have fair or olive skin, but have more of a peach/pink tone, this shade will not look muted.
Skin tone: fair with cool undertones
Nail Polish: ORLY Kiss Me, I'm Kind
Kevin Winter / Staff / Getty Images & ORLY
Shop it! $9.99, orly.com
"Kiss Me, I'm Kind is a sheer, pastel peach that works for paler skin tones with a colder, more pink undertone," Boyce says.
