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Because everyone’s “nude” is completely different.

Reasons why nude nail polishes are actually the unsung heroes of your shade collection: (1) Nude shades will never clash with what you’re wearing (unlike those bright spring nail colors you’re playing with now), (2) they’ll never scream, “Hey! I’m chipping!” when they inevitably peel after a few days, and (3) they’ll never leave behind a stain on your nails that takes three weeks to fade away. That being said, it’s obvi why everyone wants to find their perfect shade, and that’s why I’ve rounded up the 12 best nude nail polishes for every skin tone.

But first, I’m not gonna lie to you: It’s a heck of a JOB trying to find the best nude nail polish for your skin tone. Take it from someone who spends half their appointment at the nail salon picking out any ol’ regular color—now imagine trying to find one that works with your skin and its undertones. Pretty damn near impossible, huh?! But because everyone wants a nude nail polish uniquely suited for them, I found 12 of the best with alllllll skin tones in mind. But first, a sneak peek and your comprehensive guide to choosing the best nude nail polish for your skin tone and undertone straight from a pro below.

First things first, the cardinal rule of choosing a nude polish is to never—and I repeat, never—match the polish to the exact shade of your skin color. (Otherwise, you’ll end up with those dreaded “mannequin hands.”) Instead, go two shades darker or lighter than your skin color, and then find a shade with the same undertones as your skin.

If you’re out here like, huh?!! Don’t worry, we’ve got a full how to find your undertone guide, but here’s a quick TL;DR: Cool undertones have a pink or blue base, warm undertones have a yellow base, neutral undertones have a mix of both cool and warm bases, and olive undertones have a green base. Once you’ve got that figured out, then it’s time to keep your skin tone in mind:

“People with fair skin have blue and pink undertones,” says Choi. Look for neutral shades with pink hues to enhance your rosy undertones, or if you’re trying to neutralize redness around your fingers, look for milky, slightly peach shades.

“Peach shades skew warm because they’re a combination of pink and white tones,” Choi says. “Warm polish undertones and medium skin tones complement each other.” If you’re cool-toned, choose a soft gray or a nude polish with mauve undertones.

Go for warm beige shades, but avoid anything too pale as these shades can often clash with the yellow and green undertones in the skin. If you have cool or darker olive skin, go for a muted and dusty pink hue.

If you have warm undertones, play around with creamy almond nudes that'll enhance the warmth in your hands. And if you’re working with cooler undertones, try rosy nudes to play off the blue tones in your skin. Neutral undertones or just not sure where to start? Try a medium-toned milky brown.

Avoid grayish beiges since they have a tendency to wash out deeper skin, Choi says. Deep, rich browns and colors with a hint of red or orange hues should be your go-tos because they will complement your undertone due to the warmth in both the polish and skin.

Now, remember, just because the shades that we’ve chosen are targeted for specific skin tones and undertones, there is a possibility that a polish can read completely different when you try it on because, well, we’re human and things work v differently on different people. In this situation, it’s all about trial and error.

So keep these tips in mind, and test out a few of our choices for the 12 best nude nail polish shades of 2022, but ultimately, remember: It’s going to come down to how it wears on your nails IRL and your personal preference, of course.

There’s a reason Essie’s Topless and Barefoot is one of the best-selling nude nail polishes around. I’m not kidding—the soft beige, slightly pink shade works for many different people—and it makes a great starter nude polish to play around with, which explains why it’s a cult favorite. Although it won’t work for everyone, light skin tones won’t look washed out due to the subtle pink hues, and because it’s also warm and beigey, it will complement medium skin beautifully. Those with deep skin tones will love it if they’re looking for a lighter nude shade that contrasts against the skin without looking too pale (s/o to its warm undertones!).

All my fair peeps out there, you need a color that’ll warm you up. According to Choi, this means that “you’ll want to choose a hue that enhances that coolness and looks fresh and bright against your coloring.” This nude-pink polish has just enough color to give your nail beds a soft flush, essentially acting as a blush for your nails.

If you’ve got warm undertones, say hello to this beautiful shade of beige. The golden and yellow undertones in this polish work well for olive skin tones, as well as light to medium skin tones that read warm. Not only that, the polish will look like a million bucks thanks to its gel-like wear and shine.

If you have a medium neutral or olive skin tone—meaning you have either warm and cool or green undertones—you can play around with mauve-like and pinker nude shades. Organdi by Chanel will offset any yellow tones and complement your skin incredibly. Plus, this just so happens to be my favorite shade.

This sheer beige nude polish complements medium to dark skin ahhhmazingly thanks to its subtle warm chestnut tones that work particularly well with deeper skin. If you’ve been searchin’ for an everyday shade that keeps your nails lookin’ clean and freshly manicured, this is your bb.

If you’ve got olive skin, this nude nail polish with pink and beige undertones is an absolute winner. Just take it from one v happy Amazon Reviewer: “This is my FAVORITE NAIL POLISH COLOR EVER...I have been looking for a just-pink shade for my skin, and most pink/nude polishes look chalky or clash with my yellow-undertoned skin [but not this one]!” Plus it also happens to be our expert’s nail polish line...’nuff said.

This opaque taupe brown is STUNNING on those with darker olive-toned skin. Typically, dark skin tones want to avoid most grayish shades, however, if you have an olive base, you’ll find that taupe actually complements it extremely well. The best part? It’ll give you that gel nail look at home!

Mented Cosmetics started its journey finding—and creating—the perfect nude lipstick shades for all skin tones. But they didn’t stop there— the brand now has a nude nail polish collection that’ll complement every skin tone too. The shade Yes We Tan is an excellent high-shine, milky brown polish made to suit most skin tones, but it looks especially awesome on dark skin.

Dark skin tones that read warm will find that red and orange undertones work beautifully on their nails. This incredibly gorge milky brown nude has the softest orange undertones that’ll really complement deep skin. Plus, it somehow has the lasting power of gel, tyvm.

This shimmer nude nail polish works well for a variety of undertones. It’s a warm nude shade that complements cool skin as well, thanks to the iridescent pink shimmer. Ooh-là-là. Not only that, all the polishes in Habit’s line are vegan, non-toxic, aaaand they work to improve nail strength thanks to the added myrrh extract.

Raise your hand if you chip your nails the day you get ’em done!!! Enter: The Mischo Beauty Nail Polishes. Chip-resistant, non-toxic, and great for a ton of different skin tones, including light, medium, and dark. Just listen to one happy customer: “One of the best neutrals in my nail polish arsenal! This beautiful neutral is the perfect mix of beige with hints of peach and pink undertones, and it looks gorgeous against my deep chocolate skin tone!”

If you’ve gone through this list and you still can’t decide what the best nude nail polish for your skin tone is for the best of ya, get yourself a set with OPTIONS. That way, you can try them IRL and get a sense of what works for you. This set by Static Nails includes a whole range of nude-y nudes and a base and top coat. Drops mic, adds to cart.