The Best Nail Polish Colors to Flatter a Tan

There’s nothing better than (safely) getting a tan. Since we’re all about sun protection, we tend to opt for faux tanners. Once you have a tan, you want to play it up as much as possible, whether that’s wearing a strapless top or strategically picking colors that flatter your bronzed skin. You’ve likely noticed that sometimes your manicure or pedicure color will somehow magically make you look tanner, but it can be hard to recreate if you didn’t write down the shade.

Generally, Founder and CEO of Chillhouse Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton recommends bright colors for accentuating a tan. “Look for colors with a warm undertone and a slightly fluorescent/neon tint to them,” she advises. To make finding the right shade even easier, we asked experts what nail polish colors they recommend to help make you look tanner, and they shared their shade picks and product recommendations.

Featured Experts

• Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton is the Founder and CEO of Chillhouse
• Galdina Jimenez is a celebrity nail artist and OPI Global Education Manager, Content Creation
• Elle Gerstein is a celebrity nail artist

The Best Nail Polish Colors to Pair With Your Tan

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Coral

Celebrity nail artist and OPI Global Education Manager, Content Creation Galdina Jiminez says she loves a coral manicure for summer. “When you are bronzed, adding the warm hues of a coral just emphasizes the color from the sun,” she says. Coral has a wide variety of hues, so you could go for a more red-orange shade or something closer to a pink.

Ones to try: Essie Clambake ($10), Chanel Le Vernis Première Dame ($33), Olive & June Maine Perfect Pinwheel ($9)

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Butter Yellow

“Butter yellow has been trending this season, and yellow in general will be your secret tool to making your tan look even bronzer this summer,” says Jiminez.

Ones to try: Chillhouse Forever Wear Cool Coolada ($12), OPI Daffodil Duck Walk ($12), Londontown Buttercup ($16)

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Crisp White

If you came into this article with any preconceived notions of what colors flatter tans, they were likely all about white polishes. “It is a well-known fact that white nails add contrast against tan skin and make your fresh tan POP,” says Jimenez.

Ones to try: OPI Alpine Snow ($12), Sally Hansen White on Time ($8), Olive & June Swan ($8)

 

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Citrus Yellow

Celebrity nail artist Elle Gerstein dubbed citrus yellow her standout color for summer. “It’s energetic, happy, compliments a tan and vibes with the fabrics of summer clothing,” she says.

Ones to try: Mineral Fusion Golden Hour Nail Polish ($10), Orly Cesium the Day ($11), Le Mini Macaron Lemon Sorbet ($10)

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Shades of orange

Just like coral polishes, the warm hues from a bright, summery orange shade can help draw attention to any color you got from the sun, says Jiminez.

Ones to try: OPI Prideful Peach ($12), Londontown Camden Chic ($16), Butter London Light Tangerine ($18)