A nude manicure looks effortless, but finding the right nude can take some trial and error. The secret is to look at your skin's undertone, not just how light or deep it is. Here's how to find the shade that makes your hands look polished instead of washed out.
Step 1: Find your undertone
Look at the veins on the inside of your wrist in natural light:
- Greenish veins usually mean a warm undertone.
- Bluish or purple veins usually mean a cool undertone.
- A mix of both usually means a neutral undertone.
Step 2: Match the nude to your undertone
Warm undertones
Look for nudes with golden, peach or caramel notes. Toffee Coffee, Camel and Dulce De Leche are great places to start.
Cool undertones
Choose nudes with a pink, rosy or taupe base. Try Romance, Taupe or Better Naked.
Neutral undertones
You can wear most nudes. A true middle-ground shade like Nude #120 or Creme Brulee is a safe bet.
Step 3: Go a shade lighter or deeper than your skin
A nude that exactly matches your skin can make your fingers look blurred. Choosing one a little lighter or deeper creates definition:
- Fair skin: soft pinks and sheer beiges like French Silk.
- Medium skin: warm beiges and light browns like Avellana or Café Con Leche.
- Deep skin: rich browns and chocolates like Chocolate, Cacao Lover or Expresso.
Not sure yet? Try a set
Our Wild Nudes and Dark Nudes sets each include four shades, so you can test what works on you. Or browse every shade in our nude nail polish collection.
Every Eternal polish is 21-free, made in Miami and wears for up to 6 days.