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Let’s talk about nudes. No, not those kind. Get your brain out of the gutter. I’m talking about real-life human toned nude nail polishes for my people with medium to deep skintones. While truly there are no rules to color and you should one-hundred-million-kajillion percent wear whatever colors bring a smile to your face- I also understand that when it comes to deeper skin tones, finding an amazing nude shade can be a challenge. While the list below are my personal favorites that I actually own and carry in my kit, I’m so happy to see the call for better nudes is no longer going unanswered.

As you may know, I spent a good portion of my adult life as a make-up artist before I ever ventured into nails. So i’ve been on the quest to find and curate a good selection of foundation-type nudes to share with you all.

Why not the light nude shades? Frankly, there’s no shortage of light-toned nude shades with high name and brand recognition (for example: Essie’s Ballet Slippers, Bubble Bath and Samoan Sand by OPI- just to name a few). True, one does not have to match those shades to wear them- it’s nice to have the option of a true-to-you nude for everybody.