The Best Nail Colors For Your Skin Tone

Take the guesswork out of choosing your next nail color. We put together some timeless nail polish colors to flatter your skin tone whatever the season or occasion.

The great thing about makeup rules is that they don't matter. The truth is, the nail polish color that suits you is the nail polish color that you like best and that you enjoy seeing when you look down at your fingers.

If you like, you can match your nail polish shade to your outfit, mood, or just about anything you can think of. But if you're interested in getting some inspiration for colors that are generally considered to flatter certain skin types, then check out these nail polish suggestions for your skin tone.

Deep Skin Tone

For a deep skin tone, go for vivid hues of red and bright shades of pink like Fuschia. But if you're not looking so much to draw overt attention with a loud color, you can opt for a subtle nude shade. Try:

• Essie in The It Factor ($9): A glossy bright fuchsia shade
• JINsoon in Dulcet ($18): A milky, toffee beige shade
• Context in Unfaithful ($15): A fire engine, classic red shade.

Olive Skin Tone

Medium to olive skin tones can vary quite vastly, but this skin tone also supposedly goes with many different nail polish colors. Try:

• Olive & June in CV ($8): A red shade with orange undertones.
• Context in Nightrain ($15): A vampy, deep plum shade.
• OPI in Got Myself Into A Jam-Balaya ($13): A peachy, pink shade.

Light Skin Tone

Light skin tones are typically flattered by light, airy-fairy colors like fresh pastels and cool tones. But you also don't want to wash out your complexion, so you could go for a classic red or a soft pink. Try:

• Essie in Check In To Check Out ($8): A milky coral shade.
• Butter London in Strawberry Rhubarb ($18): A sheer pink shade.
• Chanel in Ballerina ($35): A soft, blushy pink.

Fair Skin Tone

Fair skin tones have some cool blue undertones. As such, you might want to look for nail polish colors with cool undertones. Try:

• Côte in No. 99 ($18): A milky charcoal grey.
• JINsoon in Muse ($18): A sheer pinkish nude shade.