Find the Shade That’s Right for You
One of the most flattering trends seen on the fall 2014 runways is the nude nail — a look that’s classic, versatile and eminently wearable. This season’s nude nail can be either translucent or opaque; both options require careful consideration of one’s skin tone and a bit of prep work in order to achieve the desired effect. Nude toned nails that complement your coloring instantly enliven your skin and create the illusion of the long, tapering fingers of a Mannerist Madonna.
The wrong color can make your skin look ashen, chalky and a tad livid, so I advise steering clear of colors that are too gray or taupe. Finding the right nude shade is rather like testing foundation — determine if you have warm or cool undertones, but instead of an exact match try going a shade lighter so the color stands out against your skin. If you’re going for the sheer look, try a color that enhances the natural color of your nails, either pink, whitish or the same color as your skin.
While the nude nail exudes understated elegance, it does require a bit of preparation. Sheer polish is unforgiving — any flaws are going to show. Prevent yellowing by soaking your nails in a mixture of lemon juice and Moroccan argan oil once a week. I also dab this on my nails before retiring in the evening. Achieve a perfect application by first buffing your nails and applying a smooth base coat — I like Butter London Nail Foundation Flawless Base Coat.
Fair skins with cool undertone look best with a hint of pink — you really can’t go wrong with Mischo Beauty’s The Tents. If you have a yellow undertone, then ivory-toned beige, such as Chanel’s Beige 565, is the best option.
Medium skin tones are enhanced by pinky-beige tones, such as Estée Lauder’s Nudité from their French Nudes Collection. Another great choice is RGB’s Doll.
Dark skin with a hint of pink undertone can pull off a soupçon of purple — Zoya’s Normani works beautifully. If you want a closer match to your skin, try Estée Lauder’s Bittersweet.
A native Washingtonian, Beauty Blogger Lia Phipps is an interior designer with an irrepressible, life-long fascination with health and beauty. When she is not selecting fabrics and paint colors for clients, she occupies herself with trying new products and dispensing beauty advice to friends, acquaintances and anyone who is willing to listen to “Tips from Phipps”.