The perfect nude nail polish for your skin tone

Take the guesswork out of shopping for your new neutral

Beauty Crew Beauty Editor / May 25 2017

Picking the right nail colour is never easy, right? We get you - we’ve also spent *ages* staring blankly at a multitude of beige-pink, cream and nude shades, unsure of what will look nice on our digits.

Which is exactly why we’ve compiled this guide to make it beyond-easy to find the nude or neutral nail polish that’ll become your go-to, so bookmark this page, and open it up next time you’re feeling stuck.

You have: fair skin

Mood: classic

What to look for: Because fair skin often has pink undertones, a nude with a light pink twist can help bring warmth to a lighter skin tone. Go for a creamy, opaque finish for a modern take on the classic nude nail.

Try: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Sweet Talker

You have: fair skin

Mood: bold

What to look for: Again, pick a nail polish with pink tones, but for your stand-out nude, pick a medium pink colour with a warm base to complement your skin. Like above, go for a creamy formula that’ll give you loads of coverage in one swipe.

Try: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Pink Pong

You have: medium skin

Mood: classic

What to look for: A light brown-based beige tone will work perfectly against your skin tone, and is a great colour to visually lengthen your fingers.

Try: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Almost Almond

You have: medium skin

Mood: bold

What to look for: For a darker nude manicure, try a terracotta shade that combines rose and chocolate hues to bring out the warmth of your medium skin tone. The statement colour is totally on trend right now, and one that’ll have you reaching for more.

Try: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Brown Nose

You have: dark skin

Mood: classic

What to look for: A light coffee-toned colour is so flattering for dark skin, and magically, the colour also works wonders on those with shorter nail beds, as it can elongate the look of your fingers.

Try: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Camelflage

You have: dark skin

Mood: bold

What to look for: You can’t go wrong with a cherry-inspired shade that has hints of burgundy to contrast your skin tone. The rich shade is great for an everyday manicure, or can be the perfect thing to spice up a plain outfit.

Try: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Branch Out

Looking for some personalised shade recommendations? Jump onto your iTunes or Google Play store and download Sally Hansen’s new ManiMatch app to get scanning and shopping for a new shade. Click here to find out more.

Iantha is BEAUTYcrew's Beauty Editor, and has been part of the team since the site launched in 2016. Besides pinky-nude nail polish and wispy false lashes, she has a healthy obsession with face masks and skin care ingredients. Her previous work can be found in Virgin Australia Voyeur, Women's Health, and SHOP Til You Drop.