The 15 Best Nude Nail Polishes for Every Skin Tone

From deep brown to beige.

By

Theresa Holland

and

Updated on 06/24/22

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Nude is a fallback color you'll always be glad to have in your arsenal. It's a go-to for everything from leather pumps to matte lipstick to eyeshadow, but a nude manicure is one of our favorite ways to rock the neutral hue.

Flesh-inspired nail polish shades range from deepest espresso to milky ivory, but there are no rules that say you have to choose a color that matches your skin. "Rather than matching your skin tone, it should complement it," says nail artist Syreeta Aaron. "When clients request a nude shade, I ask if they prefer a pink tone or a brown tone, and then make a selection based on that."

Scroll down for the best nude nail polishes for everyone and every budget.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Essie Neutrals Nail Polish at Amazon

Best Budget:

Revlon Nail Enamel in Elegant at Amazon

Best Drugstore:

OPI Nail Lacquer Nudes at Amazon

Best Splurge:

Dior Gel Shine Nail Lacquer Nudes at Nordstrom

Best Long-Lasting:

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel

Best Dark Brown:

People of Color Nail Polish in Brown Sugar Babe at Beyondpolish.com

Best Light Brown:

Cirque Colors Nail Polish in Coffee Talk at Amazon

Best Caramel:

Mented Cosmetic Nude Nail Lacquer Collection at Mentedcosmetics.com

Best Cappuccino:

Pacifica Polish in Dirt Road

Best Beige:

Butter London Patent Shine 10X Nail Lacquer in Steady On at Walmart

In This Article

Our Picks
Final Verdict
What to Look For
FAQ
How We Researched & Tested
Why Trust Byrdie

4.9

Essie Nail Polish, Salon-Quality

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Ulta View On Walmart

What We Like

Smooth application
Long-lasting
Toluene/formaldehyde-free

What We Don’t Like

Not fast-drying

Essie's ultra-pale pink might be its most famous neutral shade, but the brand has tons of other stunning options. Topless & Barefoot is a soft taupe-beige that looks great on all skin tones. Then there's Mind-Full Meditation, a dusty nude with a hint of apricot, and Cliff Hanger, a warm milky brown—to name just a few.

Beyond the gorgeous selection of colors with cheeky names, this award-winning nail polish goes on super-smooth, delivers generous coverage, and lasts for several days. We also like that it's formulated without toluene or formaldehyde.

Price at time of publish: $10

Shade: Topless & barefoot, ballet slippers, mind-full meditation, cliff hanger | Size: 0.46 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Dry Time: 15 minutes | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No

Revlon Nail Enamel - Elegant

Walmart

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What We Like

Budget-friendly
Fade-resistant

What We Don’t Like

Not long-lasting

On a budget? Go with Revlon. The tried-and-true brand's Elegant shade is a rich, cappuccino-like color with a creamy, high-gloss finish.

Price at time of publish: $7

Shade: Elegant | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. | Finish: Glossy | Dry Time: 5 minutes | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No

Neutral Nail Polish

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Ulta View On Sallybeauty.com

What We Like

Reliable quality
Excellent shade options

What We Don’t Like

Not fast-drying

OPI is nearly undefeated in the drugstore nail polish category. There are lots of excellent nudes to choose from, including Put It in Neutral (a sheer pinky-beige), Taupe-Less Beach (a dark, dusty taupe with a hint of lavender), Samoan Sand (a light creamy neutral), and Barefoot in Barcelona (a warm medium nude).

Price at time of publish: $12

Shade: Taupe-less beach, barefoot in Barcelona, coconuts over OPI, Samoan sand, put it in neutral | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. | Finish: Glossy | Dry Time: 15 minutes | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No

Vernis Gel Shine & Long Wear Nail Lacquer

Nordstrom

View On Nordstrom View On Dior.com View On Macy's

What We Like

Excellent shade options
Long-lasting

What We Don’t Like

Pricey

If you're open to splurging on a top-shelf lacquer, Dior won't disappoint. This advanced, gel-like polish delivers glass-like shine and comes in a diverse selection of nudes ranging from chocolate brown to mocha to cashmere.

Price at time of publish: $30

Shade: Nude line, dansante, tutu, nude look | Size: 0.33 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Dry Time: 10 minutes | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No

4.2

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish

Amazon

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What We Like

Gel-like formula
Long-lasting
No UV light needed

What We Don’t Like

Can get streaky

The Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Saved My Brittle Nails

Lasting up to eight days, Sally Hansen's Miracle Gel was a hit with our home tester, who said it's a solid alternative to a salon gel manicure. Frill Seeker is an apricot-tinted medium nude, and Totem-ly Yours is a creamy milk-chocolate brown.

Price at time of publish: $11

Shade: Totem-ly yours, frill seeker | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. | Finish: Glossy | Dry Time: 10 minutes | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No

People of Color Nail Polish in Brown Sugar Babe

People of Color

View On Beyondpolish.com View On Peopleofcolorbeauty.com

What We Like

Versatile
Works on various skin tones

What We Don’t Like

Not fast-drying

Inspired by D'Angelo's neo-soul song "Brown Sugar," this nude nail polish might be the ideal dark-brown shade. The slightly warm hue offers a glossy opaque finish with two or three coats (or a sheer effect with one coat) and looks good a range of skin tones.

Price at time of publish: $12

Shade: Brown sugar babe | Size: 0.5 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Dry Time: 15 minutes | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Cirque Colors Nail Polish in Coffee Talk

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Beyondpolish.com

What We Like

Versatile
Smooth application
Long-lasting

What We Don’t Like

Brush can pop out of the lid

We also love Coffee Talk from Cirque Colors. This warm, milky chocolate brown nail lacquer is ideal for medium and deep skin tones, but the versatile hue will look good on nearly any complexion.

Price at time of publish: $13

Shade: Coffee talk | Size: 0.37 fl. oz. | Finish: Glossy | Dry Time: 10 minutes | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Nude Nail Polish

Mented

View On Mentedcosmetics.com

What We Like

Affordable
Opaque in one coat

What We Don’t Like

Not long-lasting

Mented makes a great caramel nude nail polish. Yes We Tan is deeply pigmented and brilliantly creamy, offering an opaque finish in just one coat. For something a little deeper, go with Brown and Bougie.

Price at time of publish: $15

Shade: Yes we tan, brown & bougie | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. | Finish: Creamy | Dry Time: 10 minutes | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

PLANT MAGIC Nail Polish

Pacifica

View on Ulta View On Pacificabeauty.com

What We Like

Long-lasting
Bio-sourced formula
Wide brush

What We Don’t Like

Takes a few coats to be opaque

Pacifica's Dirt Road is a lovely medium cappuccino shade. This eco-friendly formula contains 80 percent earth-derived ingredients and promises long-lasting, chip-resistant wear. It's easy to apply, too, thanks to the wide brush.

Price at time of publish: $10

Shade: Dirt road | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. | Finish: Glossy | Dry Time: 10 minutes | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Butter London Patent Shine 10X Nail Lacquer

Walmart

View On Walmart View On Macy's

What We Like

Opaque in one coat
Wide brush
Long-lasting

What We Don’t Like

Pricey

Our favorite beige is Butter London Steady On. Thanks to the gel-like formulation and signature wide brush, this creamy nude lacquer delivers an opaque effect in just one coat, while the brand's shock-resistant technology ensures a long-lasting mani.

Price at time of publish: $18

Shade: Steady on | Size: 0.4 fl. oz. | Finish: Creamy | Dry Time: 5 minutes | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

LECHAT Dare to Wear Nail Polish, Paloma

Walmart

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What We Like

Budget-friendly
Long-lasting
Non-yellowing

What We Don’t Like

Hard to achieve thin coats

"If my clients request a pink tone, my go-to for a nude shade is LeChat Dare to Wear Paloma, which goes with any skin tone," Aaron tells Byrdie. This highly pigmented yet subtle polish lasts longer than most and resists yellowing.

Price at time of publish: $10

Shade: Paloma | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. | Finish: Glossy | Dry Time: 10 minutes | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

JINsoon Quintessential Collection Nail Lacquer

Amazon

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What We Like

Long-lasting
Fade-resistant
Non-yellowing

What We Don’t Like

Pricey
Not fast-drying

JINsoon makes a few great nudes. There's Risque (an ultra-deep brown), Nostalgia (a pinky-beige), Muse (a neutral beige), and Tulle (cool ivory), all of which are formulated with UV blockers to prevent fading and yellowing.

Price at time of publish: $18

Shade: Risque, nostalgia, muse, tulle | Size: 0.37 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Dry Time: 15 minutes | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Habit Cosmetics Non-Toxic Nail Polish

Walmart

View On Walmart

What We Like

Strengthening
Sustainable packaging

What We Don’t Like

Pricey

Habit's Belle de Jour is a medium-light nude shade with a super pretty iridescent sheen and a hint of shimmer. What's more, this polish comes in sustainable packaging and promises to nourish and strengthen your nails.

Price at time of publish: $18

Shade: 01 belle de jour | Size: 0.3 fl. oz. | Finish: Iridescent shimmer | Dry Time: 10 minutes | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Plant Power Nail Polish

SEPHORA

View On Sephora View On Nailsinc.com View On Revolve

What We Like

Plant-based formula
Sustainable packaging
Long-lasting

What We Don’t Like

Not fast-drying

Want to make your nude nails greener? This line from Nails Inc. is made up of 73 percent earth-derived ingredients and comes in sustainable packaging. We like, What's Your Spirituality? (an ideal taupe) and Weekday Wellness (a pink-leaning teddy-bear brown).

Price at time of publish: $10

Shade: What's your spirituality?, weekday wellness, mani meditation | Size: 0.47 oz. | Finish: Glossy | Dry Time: 15 minutes | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

DEBORAH LIPPMANN GEL LAB PRO NAIL COLOR

Courtesy by Nordstrom

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Sephora

What We Like

Award-winning formula
No UV light needed
Long-lasting

What We Don’t Like

Pricey

Deborah Lippman's Gel Lab line provides salon-level results without the need for a UV light. It comes in lots of stellar nudes, too, including Beachin' (the ideal medium nude), Naked (a pale pinky-nude), Skin Deep (a warm caramel), Written in the Sand (a neutral medium beige), and Fashion (a cool-toned nude).

Price at time of publish: $20

Shade: Beachin', naked, skin deep, let nature sing, fashion, written in the sand | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. | Finish: Glossy | Dry Time: 10 minutes | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Meet the Expert

Syreeta Aaron is an Alabama-based nail artist. She is also a nail educator and brand educator for LeChat.

Final Verdict

Our top pick is the award-winning Essie Neutrals Nail Polish, which includes everything from warm milky brown to taupe-beige to dusty nude. But if you're up for splurging on top-shelf nail polish, we highly recommend Dior Vernis Gel Shine Nail Lacquer Nudes, a glass-like lacquer available in gorgeous nude shades ranging from deep chocolate brown to caramel to cashmere.

What to Look For in a Nude Nail Polish

Clean Ingredients

Traditional nail polishes can be harmful as many are formulated with toluene, phthalates, formaldehyde, or formalin. Stick to clean ingredients if you are able to. Plenty of nude polishes contain nail-healthy ingredients like vitamin E, green tea, and keratin.

The Right Hue

“Nude” nails look different for everyone, so it’s important to select a shade that looks good on your skin tone. Those with darker skin tones might prefer a beige-brown blend, whereas those with lighter skin may prefer a pinky nude. However, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to nail polish, so it's a matter of preference.

Aaron tells us how to pick the right nude shade; "If your skin is darker, you want a darker nude so it won't look faded. If you're fair and have peach/pinky skin, you want a nude that has peach/pink tones to complement. Olive skin tones look best with a nude shade that has opacity to make it stand out."

A Formula That Is Opaque, But Not Thick

Thick polish equals thicker coats. While that isn’t a revolutionary thought, the thicker the coat the more prone your polish is to chipping. You can also thin your polish out with the use of nail polish thinner (not remover).

Dry Time

Most nail polishes should fully air dry in under an hour, with some formulas taking as little as 15 minutes. However, if you can’t resist texting or don’t have the time to sit around, look for a quick-dry nail polish formula to speed up the process. You can also add a layer of quick-dry top coat over any nail polish. If you're at the salon you can ask to place your nails underneath a fan dryer, or you can buy an at-home fan dryer—some even come with UV lights.

FAQ

What is the difference between nail polish and nail lacquer?

The difference lies in durability—nail lacquer is more durable and less likely to chip than traditional nail polish formulas.
Is gel polish bad for your nails?

Unfortunately, gel manicures can cause nail brittleness, peeling, and cracking. On top of that, consistent exposure to UV light may increase the risk for skin cancer and premature aging of the hands.
Can I use gel polish without UV light?

Yes, there are plenty of non-UV gel polishes on the market. However, if you’re a regular UV light user you may not get the same results that you’re used to.

How We Researched & Tested

To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.

Why Trust Byrdie

Theresa Holland is a freelance copywriter specializing in lifestyle and beauty products within the commerce space. For this story, she spoke with a professional nail artist for product recommendations and insight into the best nude shades. After looking at dozens of colors and formulas, she ultimately chose options that stood out in terms of ease of use, versatility, finish, staying power, and overall quality. As a lifelong at-home manicurist, Theresa has used nail polish from several brands on this list, including Essie, Revlon, Sally Hansen, Butter London, Nails Inc., OPI, and Habit.

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Article Sources

Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

Mendelsohn E, Hagopian A, Hoffman K, et al. Nail polish as a source of exposure to triphenyl phosphate. Environ Int. 2016;86:45-51.
Markova A, Weinstock MA. Risk of skin cancer associated with the use of UV nail lamp. J Invest Dermatol. 2013;133(4):1097-1099. doi:10.1038/jid.2012.440

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