Best Nail Polish Colors That Look Great On All Skin Tones In 2023
Look bold and sophisticated with these great-quality and long-lasting nail paints.
Simone de VlamingBeauty Expert
Expertise: Makeup
Experience: 5 years
Simone de Vlaming is a beauty expert and founder of Beautymone.com. She specializes in makeup, skin care, fragrances, and nails. Simone decided to start a beauty blog during her graduation to find an outlet for her passion. She also worked ... more
Expertise: Beauty & Lifestyle
Experience: 7 years
Madhumati is an associate editor with seven years of professional experience. She has previously worked as an editor, proofreader, and a writer with various organizations, helping her navigate through... more
Expertise: Makeup & Beauty
Experience: 3 years
Esha Saxena is a writer and journalist with over 3 years of experience. She holds a master’s degree in media and mass communication from St. Francis College for Women, Hyderabad, and firmly believes... more
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A well-done coat of nail polish can make your hands look appealing. And there are some nail colors that look best on medium skin, some on olive skin, and some on tanned skin. So, we have put together a list of the best nail polish colors for different skin tones so that you can pick the one that matches your skin tone the best.
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.
In This Article
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
Image: O.p.i Review
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
Pro Tip- Best Streak-Free Application:Essie In Bahama Mama
Image: Essie Review
This shade from Essie is best described as a warm, rich, creamy deep plum. This is a more vibrant nail polish option from 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
Image: Duri
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 unique brush shape 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
Image: O.p.i Review
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
Pro Tip3. 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 sheer yet pigmented nail polish colors. 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
Image: China Glaze Review
This is one of the best nail polish shades. A 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
Image: Deborahlippmann Review
You will fall in love with this trending nail polish 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
Pro TipIt’s best to steer clear of colors like brown, gold, and silver glitter nail polish shades.
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
Image: Orlybeauty Review
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
Image: Essie Review
‘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 wish to go for bold nail polish choices, 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
Image: Essie Review
The shade ‘Tangerine Tease’ is a sparkling bright orange, reminiscent of the summer season and its joy. The salon-quality cream nail polish shade 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
Review
This fruit-inspired popping nail color will make your day! It is a bright and creamy nail polish color 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, similar to neutral red. 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
Image: Opi Review
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
Image: Wet N Wild Wild 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.
Pastel nail polish shades have sheer color and less white going on to look beautiful on lighter skin tones.
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
Image: Jinsoon Review
‘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
Image: Essie 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 nude nail polish shades.
Choosing the right nail polish finish can make all the difference in how the color looks on your skin tone. There are several different types of nail polish finishes to choose from, including matte, glossy, metallic, glitter, and shimmer. Beauty Expert Simone de Vlaming, says, “For those with lighter skin tones, a glossy finish can make the nails look healthy and vibrant. On the other hand, those with darker skin tones may find that metallic nail polish colors add a touch of glamor to their nails. A matte nail polish finish can work well on any skin tone, but it is important to make sure that the color is not too similar to your skin tone, as this can make your nails appear dull. Finally, glitter and shimmer finishes can add a fun, playful touch to any nail polish color, but be sure to choose a shade that complements your skin tone.”
She further adds, “The world of nail polish is always evolving, with new colors and trends popping up every season. When choosing nail polish colors that look good on every skin tone, it is important to keep up with the latest trends. For example, pastel shades are always among the popular nail polish hues in the spring and summer months, while jewel tones are a favorite for fall and winter. Another popular trend is ombré nails, where two or more colors are blended together to create a gradient effect. If you are looking for a more subtle way to incorporate the latest trends into your nail polish choices, try experimenting with different shades of a particular color.”
Infographic: How To Apply Nail Polish For A Salon-Like Finish
Good looking nails are a big boost to your appearance and confidence. Getting a salon-like manicure is not too difficult with the right products and techniques at the right time. After you have chosen your favorite products from the list above, check out the infographic below for some easy-to-follow steps to get exquisite nails each time. Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
Save the high-quality PDF version on your device now.
Download Infographic
The Bottom Line
Well-manicured nails look magnificently beautiful. But it takes a lot of effort place to create such a look. It might feel like a lot more work when you are not sure which shade to go for. So, invest in a nail color that will always go well with your skin tone. Shades of burgundy and wines look extraordinary for olive to medium tone. Orange, red, and blue would be ideal for a tanned tone, while dark shades, peaches, or purple would go great for a lighter skin tone. The O.P.I Infinite Shine Nail Polish In Stick To Your Burgundies offers an elegant, glossy look that is perfect for winter, while the Essie In Bahama Mama is a sophisticated color, perfect for all looks and seasons. The Jin Soon In Dolly Pink offers a soft and feminine hue that is ideal for a subtle and romantic apperance or for your everyday look. However, ensure that the formula is chip-resistant and glides smoothly.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 nail polish shade- 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 5-6 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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