The Best Light Pink Nail Shades for Your Next Manicure
"It's kind of like the LBD of nail polish."
By Brittany Burhop Fallon, Beauty Director ·
Essie | Olive & June
Light pink nails are one of the most versatile manicure looks you can choose. Whether it’s your wedding day, your baby shower, a big work presentation, or a girl’s trip, pink works in every situation. However, there’s a difference between a sheer light pink nail polish and an opaque light pink one. The opaque version leans more into white-pink territory on the nails, which has become incredibly popular in recent years.
For me personally, this light pink hue is my signature shade. If I had a dollar for every time someone complimented my nails while wearing OPI’s Let’s Be Friends (it’s a best-seller that they finally brought back from the limited-edition graveyard), I’d probably have a new designer bag on my arm. It’s the perfect milky, white-pink that goes with everything—I even wore it on my wedding day, despite the irony of its name.
Light Pink: A Modern and Classic Shade
It turns out, I’m not the only one who loves light pink nails. I spoke to several salon owners who said this type of baby pink color is one of their most requested shades, and you’ll see many celebrities wearing it on their nails too. “Baby pink or pinky-white shades never go out of style because they work so well at enhancing the true beauty of every skin tone,” says celebrity nail stylist Mazz Hanna. “Pink nails elongate the fingers on pale skin for a subtle, yet elegant statement. They also offer darker skin tones a bright contrast, without the harsh effects of a classic white nail polish. It’s kind of like the LBD of nail polish: it’s always in style, no matter the season, and brings out the best in everyone.” I couldn’t agree more.
The brand describes this shade (probably my favorite nail color of all time) as cotton-candy pink, but I’d say it’s even lighter than that. It’s also super creamy, but I still prefer three coats when I’m trying to hide any frustrating ridges on my nails.
I imagine this is the signature shade of a very chic French woman. It’s super sheer and natural-looking, but gives the nails enough coverage to look put together. The formula contains naturally derived camellia eco-ceramides that were developed exclusively for CHANEL, and make nail health part of the equation.
One reviewer describes this cool-toned, creamy pink polish as a “very high-class look,” and I agree. It’s also vegan and 10-free. I’m a fan of pretty much everything creative director Rebecca Isa dreams up, and this shade is no exception. Also, if you’re on the hunt for baby names, scroll through the brand’s nearly 650 nail polish shades. The inspo is endless!
One of the brand’s best-sellers and a true crowd pleaser, this dreamy baby pink shade complements nails on all skin tones in all seasons. On my nails, I need three coats to get that creamy pink look I want, but two coats might be enough for some. Be sure to also get the brand’s Gel Couture Top Coat ($11) to lock in a manicure that lasts—no base coat or UV lamp required.
As its name suggests, the brand describes this shade as indulging in the “velvety smoothness of your favorite pink cake frosting.” This soft pink polish is made with plant-based ingredients that work to strengthen, nourish and protect your natural nails while you’re wearing it. Plus, it dries fast: The brand says it’s “touch-dry in 60 seconds, and hard within four minutes.”
The brand has a ton of classic soft pink shades to choose from, so we’re taking the guesswork out of it for you: This one is the end-all-be-all of Olive & June’s baby pink nail colors. It’s dainty, pretty and a must for both nails and toenails (it looks so good on toes in the sand!).
Before I discovered Let’s Be Friends, this creamy baby pink (it’s almost a white with a hint of pink, though it looks more lavender in this photo) was one of my go-to shades, and I could easily find it at the drugstore in any city. Now, many years later, it isn’t as easy to find, but I’m happy to see it’s still a beloved pink hue and available on the brand’s site.
If you’re looking for a baby pink nail polish that puts the environment first, this one is vegan, cruelty-free and made in France using up to 84-percent bio-sourced ingredients. Who would have thought you could use potato, corn, yuca and cotton to make a beautiful pink nail color? The packaging is eco-friendly, too.
Perfect the nude pink nail look with this celebrity favorite. It girl Sofia Richie even wore it on her wedding day to keep her nails beautifully neutral so her dress would make the statement. For her rehearsal dinner, Richie’s manicurist Georgia Rae applied one shade of OPI’s cult-classic Funny Bunny, a sheer white nail polish (that one doesn’t contain any hint of pink or baby pink).
The brand describes this best-seller as “a classic light pink with cool undertones,” and it looks beautiful on every set of nails I’ve seen it on. However, it does lean a little more pink than some of the lighter options included in this list.
Use it as part of Dazzle Dry’s famous four-step system to ensure quick drying time (no sprays or oils needed) and long wear of up to 14 days without chipping. Considered a healthy gel alternative, it gives nails the glossy gel look, but can be removed with regular nail polish remover.
Known for its high-shine formula, Butter London uses a patented Shock Resistance Polymer Technology to give the nails a gel-like finish without using actual gel. This milky baby pink gives full, fade-resistant coverage for a manicure that lasts up to 10 days.
If you want light pink nails that are a bit more sheer, this shade from celebrity manicurist Deborah Lippmann is it. It offers the glossy finish of a gel manicure without stepping foot in the salon, and without any damage to the nails.
In fact, this 21-free, vegan formula prioritizes nail health by incorporating evening primose, keratin, biotin, green tea, rice protein, and strengthening aucoumea. Over time, the nails become stronger and more resilient.
Described as “impossibly romantic,” this soft baby pink is more sheer and a great option for those who like a little more of a natural look on their nails, but it’s nonetheless a salon staple. Click here to find a salon that has it.
A vegan nail polish with serious lasting power and high shine for a non-gel formula, this soft pink color is super versatile and will go with everything in your wardrobe. Plus, the brand’s NailPure formula also contains a patented Regenerating Complex to rev up the production of keratin in your nails, so they become stronger and healthier over time.
This creamy, baby pink nail polish has lavender undertones in it that give it a little bit of mystery because it’s tough to tell exactly what color it is on the nails. The brand’s signature 21-plus free formula includes a chip-resistant Florium Complex, which is a blend of botanical extracts and plant oils that strengthen and nourish the nails.
For those who want a baby pink shade, but love a pearlized finish, this is the one to flaunt on your nails. The luminescent opal finish, as the brand describes it, catches the eye, and also does a good job of hiding any minor chips you might incur. I tend to keep my nails on the shorter side, and this fun take on light pink also makes them look longer.
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