THE GUIDE: BEST NUDE POLISHES FOR EVERY SKIN TONE AND... MOOD!

Of all the colors in the world, nude will forever be our favorite. It’s an enduring classic—but make no mistake: nude is never boring, nor is it a singular, pink-toned beige. It’s a beautiful spectrum of tones.

Nudes are effortless; polished, always (making them the perfect nail color for work); and complement any look, no matter your mood. Find a shade that best matches your skin to elongate your nails and you’ll have achieved the ultimate “mannequin” hands. Or, choose one that directly contrasts in shade, but matches your undertone—voila.
A sophisticated statement at your fingertips. Look no further for help navigating neutrals.

Here’s our guide to finding the best nude nail polish for your skin tone: 

Best Sheer Neutral

For an easy, breezy, sheer wash of color, reach for Invisible Crown. This ballet slipper pink has a neutral undertone that suits all skin tones—plus, the hint of pink instantly brightens nails, erasing any discoloration to give your manicure a natural your-nails-but-better finish.

Best for Porcelain Skin

For the lightest, pink-toned skin try Princess Awaits, a sheer, subtle white infused with shimmer to add light and bring your mani to life. 

Best for Ivory Skin

Murray Me is a creamy French vanilla. It’s beautiful on fair skin with neutral or warmer undertones, and contrasts beautifully with deeper skin, too. 

Best for Fair Skin

It's a pink-tinged beige that’s perfectly creamy and oh-so-pretty. Fair—light, pink-toned—skin tones will love Uncovered. So will medium or dark skin tones: the pinky contrast adds a touch of femininity without being too saccharine sweet. 

Best for Light to Medium Skin

Beige with a (literal) pastel Peach Pop? Yes please. It’s subdued and cheerful all at once; on medium skin tones, it adds brightness that lifts and softens. On medium to deep tones, it becomes a creamy take on 60s mod.

Best for Neutral to Olive, Light-Medium to Medium Skin

Bespoked is pale but warm-toned, pastel pink. Because of its porcelain base, it adds just enough light and contrast to make your nude mani stand out. On deeper skin tones, it’s a softer (but just as bright!) alternative to a stark white.

Best for Neutral, Light-Medium to Medium Skin

This is a sheer, rosy nude for light to medium skin. Because of its warm pink undertone, Crowning Crumpet is most flattering on neutral to golden undertones. 

Best for Neutral, Medium Skin

The Full Monty is a creamy desert sand. It’s beige, but by no means boring, adding sunny warmth to medium skin. (Plus, it complements deeper skin tones beautifully, too.) 

Best for Golden or Olive, Medium Skin

For warm, medium-toned skin, these are the perfect nudes. Tea Time is a sheer, tanned ecru for a barely-there coat of color.

Best for Neutral or Golden, Medium to Medium-Deep Skin

Plié is a sweet, subtle fawn reminiscent of the classic pink-peach ballet slipper. One to two coats delivers creamy pigment that pairs perfectly with warm, medium skin tones.

Best for Cool, Medium to Medium-Deep Skin

For medium to medium-deep skin with cool undertones, Café Au Lait is the ultimate nude. It’s a creamy taupe—the perfect ratio of milk to coffee—that looks beautiful on light and deep skin, too.

For Rich, Medium-Deep to Dark Skin

Pecan Pie is exactly as your imagination suggests: it’s a tawny milk chocolate with depth, featuring burnt orange undertones. Fair skin tones would love this too: it helps neutralize pinkness by adding warmth and depth.

Best for Dark to Deep Skin

For dark to rich, deep skin, Mudslide is the best nude. It’s a decadent brown (on the cool side) with notes of taupe.

Best for Neutral, Light-Medium to Dark Skin

Tired of beige, but still married to nudes? Try a mauve-y polish to switch things up without stepping outside of your (favorite) comfort zone. Honeymoon is pretty on all skin tones, but especially those with neutral undertones.

Best for Neutral, Dark to Deep Skin

This is a rich, purpled taupe made with dark, cool-toned skin in mind. Natural Charm is sophisticated, mysterious, and more wearable than you think; lighter skin tones will love this as a softer alternative to black nail polish.

With love,

The LT Team