Using a specific nail paint that goes well with your skin color will accentuate the beauty of your nails and your hands. It will add to the glam of your outfit and help you express your personality better. So, scroll down and check out our sifted list to pick the shades that are made for your skin tone and texture.
Tips: How To Choose Nail Polish Colors For Different Skin Tones
We’re not saying you absolutely have to stick to a certain set of colors to complement your complexion. However, specific colors help you flaunt the best of what you’ve got and also make your hands look younger. Now, who wouldn’t want that?
Olive To Medium Skin Tones
Lucky for you, your complexion can carry almost anything flawlessly, with the exception of gold and rust colors. Medium skin tones vary from olive to a bronzy glow. Try dark burgundy and wines, blues, purples, pinks, and nudes instead.
Tan Skin Tones
There’s nothing like a fresh tan, yeah? Amp it up and highlight your summer tan by wearing shades like fuchsia, a poppy blue, orange, and red. If Rihanna can pull off neon green nail polish, so can you!
Light Skin Tones
All you women with lighter skin tones need to try reds, pastels, peaches, and purple shades. Yes, dark colors are amazing, but sometimes, very dark shades can leave your hands looking goth-like. But if you dig the vampy look, why not? Now, let’s get into the details!
Nail Polish Colors For Olive Or Medium Skin Tones
1. Burgundy
A good burgundy nail polish is a magical color for fall or winter. Rich shades that resemble a glass of red wine complement this skin tone well. With your olive skin tone, you can never go wrong with darker shades like burgundy, plum, or a deep red. Best Nail Polishes In Burgundy For Olive To Medium Skin Tones
Best For Winter: O.P.I Infinite Shine Nail Polish In Stick To Your Burgundies
This nail polish from O.P.I’s Infinite Shine 2 range is a gorgeous deep purple-y, red shade of burgundy. You need two coats to achieve an opaque finish. We love how easy it is to apply this formula and end up with a professional salon-like finish. It is perfect for the colder months of the year. Pros
Long-lasting formula Chip-resistant Shiny finish Easy to wear and remove
Cons None
Best Streak-Free Application: Essie In Bahama Mama
This shade from Essie is best described as a warm, rich, creamy deep plum. This is a more vibrant color of the burgundy family and is a classic color for winter, spring, summer, and fall. It has a great formula that gives you streak-free application. You can go in with two or three coats for an opaque finish. Do give it a shot if you want your hands looking bold and sophisticated. Pros
Long-lasting Easy to use Streak-free application Glossy finish 8-free formula Vegan Cruelty-free
Cons None
2. Best Semi-Matte Finish: Duri Nail Polish – Cloud True Blue
4 Image: Duri BUY ON AMAZON | $9.49 This gorgeous pastel blue from Duri is here to bag you tons of compliments. This summer or spring color of very subtle and light sky blue will look great on olive and medium skin tones. The color settles into a semi-matte finish and offers full coverage. This long-lasting polish adds charm to your nails and comes with a professional brush for precise application. Pros
Long-lasting Clump-free application Fanned brush for full coverage DBP-free Toluene-free Formaldehyde-free Formaldehyde resin-free Camphor-free
Cons None
Best High-Shine Finish: O.P.I In To Infinity And Blue-Yond
This pastel blue from O.P.I is guaranteed to bag you tons of compliments. It is the perfect sky blue nail polish color for medium and olive skin tones that you can wear during the spring or summer. The formula is exceptional because it not only gives you comfortable application but also leaves you with a high-shine and glossy finish that stays. Pros
Long-lasting formula Chip-resistant Shiny finish Easy to remove
Cons None
3. Peachy-Pink
All you ladies with medium to olive skin tones, peachy-pink tones will look especially flattering on your skin. For this summer, look for colors that are sheer yet pigmented. Colors like coral, peach, and rose pink are equal parts sweet and sexy! Best Nail Polishes In Peachy-Pink For Olive To Medium Skin Tones
Best For Summer: China Glaze In Sun Of A Peach
This bright neon peach is a must-have for summer! It is fun and vibrant and will look exceptionally stunning on medium and olive skin tones. The formula, however, is a little tricky to use. You need to apply three coats for a fully opaque finish and, if you go wrong, it can look streaky. Be patient with this color and go in with three thin coats and a top coat. It dries into a very cool matte finish. Pros
Long-lasting Quick drying Chip-resistant Fade-proof color DBP-free Toluene-free Formaldehyde-free
Cons
Thin consistency
Best 10-Free Formula: Deborah Lippmann In Peaches & Cream
You will fall in love with this color and formula from Deborah Lippmann! It is a delight to use. This shade is a pink-leaning peach and looks really nice and sultry on olive to medium skin tones. Wear this at any point of the year, and you can’t go wrong! It also works well in a professional setting because it’s just so subtle and pretty. Pros
Long-lasting glossiness Nourishing formula 10-free formula Vegan Cruelty-free
Cons
Chips easily Expensive
It’s best to steer clear of colors like brown, gold, and silver glitter.
Nail Polish Colors For Tan Skin
1. Fuchsia
Fuchsia is an amazing color to jazz up any look. With your fresh summer tan, this color will complement your skin like no other! It not only amplifies your tan but also looks hot and attractive. Want to know which fuchsia shades are worth trying? Best Nail Polishes In Fuchsia For Tan Skin
Best Chip-Resistant: Orly In Fancy Fuchsia
This is literally one of the best shades of pink ever! If you want a good, long-lasting formula that won’t chip easily and has a gorgeous creamy finish, give this nail polish a try – because it won’t disappoint you. It is a fuchsia neon-like pink that you can also wear with a white coat underneath to make the color pop even more. Finish this off with a top coat and flaunt those Barbie nails! Pros
Quick-drying formula Streak-free coverage Fade-proof Easy to apply Long-lasting shine
Cons
Thin consistency Strong smell
Most Pigmented: Essie In The Fuchsia Is Bright
‘Fuchsia is Bright’ is a fabulous medium-pink color that is very pigmented and buttery. Two coats of this nail polish are all you need for the prettiest hands in the summer or spring. It has an incredible staying power and will look even better with a high-shine top coat. Pros
Streak-free application Lasting shine 8-free formula Vegan Cruelty-free
Cons
Color may vary
2. Orange
Orange nail polish looks fabulous against tan skin. It is the perfect shade for your summer beach holiday. If you like bold, edgy, and vibrant colors, give these two nail polishes a try, and embrace your inner nail polish junkie. Best Nail Polishes In Orange For Tan Skin
Best Applicator: Essie in Tangerine Tease
Review The shade ‘Tangerine Tease’ is a sparkling bright orange, reminiscent of the summer season and its joy. The salon-quality cream nail polish settles into a flawless sparkly finish. The easy-glide brush applies the color fast to any nail size. You just need two coats of this peppy color to brighten your dull day in an instant. Pros
Glides smoothly Long-lasting shine 8-free formula Vegan Cruelty-free
Cons None
Best In Budget: Revlon Core Nail In Tangerine
This fruit-inspired popping nail color will make your day! It is bright and creamy with a subtle hint of shimmer. For all of you who love loud manicures, this is something you need to try! The nail polish has a decent formula with a good brush. It is easy to apply and dries fast. Two coats will leave you with a pigmented color. It is also wallet-friendly. Pros
Smooth application Chip-resistant formula DBP-free Toluene-free Formaldehyde-free
Cons None
3. Red
Red is a classic for every skin tone. But when it comes to tan skin, a traditional red mani does a great job at highlighting that tan and flattering your skin. Here’s what you should look for. Best Nail Polishes In Red For Tan Skin
Best Opaque Coverage: O.P.I In Big Apple Red
The best red ever, O.P.I’s Big Apple Red is eye-catching, classy, and elegant. You get over a week’s wear without any chipping or fading. This color is suitable for every skin tone, but when you’ve got a tan and want to flaunt it, this color makes a world of a difference. You get an opaque finish in two coats, and it dries to a glossy, shiny finish. Pros
Long-lasting Easy to remove Highly-pigmented formula Chip-resistant Quick drying
Cons None
Best Glossy-Finish: Wet n Wild Wild Shine Nail Color
The Wet n Wild Wild Shine Nail Color is a gel-based nail polish that offers an attractively glossy finish to your nails. The nail color imparts a rich red color that suits all skin tones. The nail polish glides smoothly over your nails without forming bubbles and gives a long-lasting shine to your nails. The nail color dries quickly and prevents smudge or transfer onto other surfaces. The nail color is highly rich in pigment that imparts an opaque color to your nails. Pros
Cruelty-free Non-toxic Formaldehyde-free DBP-free Toluene-free Paraben-free Allergen-free
Cons
Thin consistency
Nail Polish Colors For Light Skin
Reds, grays, and nudes flatter light skin tones exceptionally well. Here are some colors that you can also try if you have light to pale complexion.
1. Pastels
Pastel colors that have sheer color and less of a white going on look beautiful on lighter skin tones. Best Nail Polishes In Pastel Shades For Light Skin
Best Quick-Drying: Jin Soon In Dolly Pink
‘Dolly Pink’ is a retro blush pink shade that flatters light skin tones very well. This nail polish is named after Amanda Murphy, the runway model, and is from Jin Soon’s Spring/Summer collection. Its formula is a dream to apply – it dries quickly, lasts long, and is of great quality. This shade also flatters pale skin. Pros
High glossiness Long-lasting Fade-proof Chip-resistant 5-free formula
Cons
Streaks easily Goopy consistency
Best Fade-Resistant: Essie Gel Couture in Sheer Fantasy
Review The ‘Sheer Fantasy’ gel-finish is a light pink shade that suits light skin tones on all occasions. The curve-hugging brush offers even color coverage and precise application. The chip-resistant and fade-resistant color lasts long with just two coats that settle in a gel-like high shine. It is easy to remove and requires no base coat. This pastel pink will surely be one of your best picks. Pros
Long-lasting formula Chip-resistant Fade-resistant Easy to remove Does not require base coat Curve-hugging brush 8-free formula Vegan
Cons None If your skin tone falls between tan to dark, you should embrace colors like hot pink, electric blue, neon yellow, golds and basically anything you like besides woody nudes.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author of this article, Esha Saxena, is a makeup enthusiast. She loves to research various products and keeps a check on their ingredients. After extensive research and going through online customer reviews, she compiled a list of the best nail polishes. The nail polishes included in the list are a must-have for an elegant look and suit different skin tones. What are the best nail polish colors for dark skin? People with darker skin tones can wear fire red, aqua blue, and pastel pink nail polish shades. They can also experiment with neon shades of green, purple, or orange. What are the best nail polish colors for olive skin? Warm red, bright teal, or creamy pink look stunning on olive skin tone. You can also mix and match with blue and burgundy shades. Which nail polish colors look professional? The classic red color can look professional in an office setting. If you do not want to make your nails look that bright, you can opt for pastel nail colors, or subtle shades including warm pink, coral, brown, or gray. How long do nail polishes last? Regular nail polishes can last up to three to five days, depending on your lifestyle. However, if you want them to last longer, cover your color with a chip-resistant and transparent top coat. How many coats of nail polish should you apply to get best results? For best results, apply up to three coats of nail polish. Applying more than three coats makes the nail polish clump and look messy.
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