Sun Tanning Products

Best Colour of Nail Polish for Tanned Skin (My Favourite Ones)

Written by: Anastasija

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Painting your nails is an easy, at-home way to spruce up your everyday look, and one of the best things about it is that it doesn’t take long. If you want to customise your colour to flatter your tanned skin, read on to discover some of the best products!

spray tan on acrylic nails by Anastasija thirtsty for tan

Essie Nail Polish Limited-Edition Spring 2021 Collection, Cacti on the Prize

nail polish, limited edition spring 2021 collection, neutral green nail color with a cream finish
  • ICONIC & TRENDSETTING: the essie limited edition spring 2021 collection features a palette of size harmonious hues, from muted pastels to unexpected brights, inspired by a tranquil desert spa retreat.

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In case you haven’t noticed already, sage green is everywhere this spring and summer, so make the most of it while you can! Often, green is a very underrated colour, but it’s the perfect hue to bring out any skin tone, particularly tanned skin.

The shade of this cactus green isn’t too light, and isn’t too dark at the same time, making it perfect for balancing olive toned skin as well as contrasting with golden tones. It’s even part of Essie’s spring 2021 collection, so you can be sure it’s in style!

Not to mention, Essie is a widely known, well-regarded brand for their innovative, salon-standard formulas that come at a fraction of the price of competing products. Even with just a few coats of their classic polish, you can pull of nails that look 100% professional.

Also read: What Colour Nails Look Good on Tan Skin? (Explained)

OPI Nail Polish Mexico City Collection, ¡Viva OPI!

OPI Nail Lacquer, ¡Viva OPI!, Red Nail Polish, Mexico City Collection, 0.5 fl oz
  • Highdefinition gel gloss without the light
  • Gloss lasts up to 10 days

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There’s no denying that a punchy, coral red like this one is one of the best colours for a vacation or any summer event, and it can be worn with almost anything. For this shade of red, it suits tanned skin better than many others. Thanks to the more orange hues it carries, your skin will pop against the polish, and create an even better tan.

Another great thing is that, if you’ve self-tanned or spray tanned, and you think your skin is looking a little on the orange side, this polish will save you. Because it has more orange-like undertones, it’ll contrast to your tanned skin and only bring out the more olive, bronzed tones amongst it.

This colour also belongs to OPI’s Mexico City collection, and it certainly deserves its place there. It adds a bold pop of colour to any outfit, and what better colour is there to be part of a collection named after such a vibrant location?

Nails Inc Caught in the Nude, Maldives Beach

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In contrast to the previous colour, not everyone is a fan of bright hues, so we’ve got your covered. Nude hues are another trendy colour this year, and they’re going to be everywhere. However, while they can look great, you also must be careful with the one you choose to ensure that they give the right contrast to your skin.

This nude finds a harmonious balance between light and dark to create a flattering contrast with your tanned skin. There’s no need to worry about looking washed out, as many nude colours can do, and this will instead make your skin look subtly darker.

OPI Infinite Shine Long-Wear Lacquer, Don’t Tell a Sol

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Who doesn’t love a good yellow? Whether it’s a summery top, tropical jewellery or a fun nail polish like this, yellow is an undeniably suitable colour for the summer. IN addition to that, it suits tanned skin well, thanks to its light shade.

Just like the OPI polish we mentioned before, this one is another feature in their Mexico City collection, with its eye-catching, quirky and vibrant colour. There’s no doubt that something as bold as this belongs in a collection tributed to one of the most colourful cities in the world.

OPI nail polish by Anastasija thirtsty for tan

This nail polish has a slightly different formula to the one we talked about earlier and is a part of the ‘Infinite Shine’ range. It claims to last longer than regular nail polishes, and provide a finish closely resembling a gel manicure, without the UV lamp.

Duri Nail Polish, Cloud True Blue

duri Nail Polish, 107S, Cloud True Blue, Pastel Blue shade, Semi Matte Finish, 5 fl.oz.
  • Salon's and Spa's favorite professional nail polish
  • Cloud True Blue - This tender pastel blue shade of nail polish has a sweet and gentle charm

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To start with, one of the best features about this nail polish is the price, and you’re getting a top-quality product at an unbeatable cost. There’s nothing quite like a pastel blue to bring out warm golden as well as cool olive tones in tanned skin, making it a great summer colour regardless of your skin tone.

The coverage of this polish is intense, which makes it a reliable choice, particularly if you’re not interested in waiting for a thousand separate layers to dry. Plus, despite the more affordable price point, it still carries a professional brush which will spread the product smoothly across your nails so you can say goodbye to any streaks and patches.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour, 500 Rouge Essential

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Most of us are familiar with Chanel’s ever-expanding collections of runway couture fashion, designer handbags and fine jewellery, but how about their makeup? As well as an impressive face makeup line, Chanel also boasts a collection of stunning nail lacquers, and they’re not as expensive as you may think.

How to Protect Acrylic Nails When Tanning featured

This red is their classic, all-time favourite, and measures the perfect balance of tones for the signature hue. If you’re looking for the perfect red for your nails, there’s no need to look any further! One of the best things about this colour is the fact that it flatters every single skin tone, as it brings out all undertones, so it obviously looks great on tanned skin.

Deborah Lippman Gel Lab Pro Nail Polish, Woke

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Deborah Lippman Nail Polishes are a fan favourite for their incredible formulas and aesthetically pleasing colours. It has an iconic ’10 free’ ingredient list, which utilises the benefits of 10 exclusive ingredients to enhance the shine, wear and health of your nails.

A nail polish that cares for your nails while also colouring them. Yes please! This shade of white is the most well-known shade for bringing out your tan, and quite rightly so. If you want to make your nails and your skin pop, there’s nothing better than a good white.

Butter London Patent Shine Nail Lacquer Polish, Ace

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You may have noticed that many of the products on this list are, in fact lighter colours. The main reason for this is because lighter hues do tend to bring out a tan much more dramatically, but that doesn’t mean darker colours can’t, too. Take this gorgeous plum shade, for example.

The flower-like colour makes it a great choice for a beach day, or any day in the summer, as it has some real warm weather vibes. However, it’s also great for enhancing your tan, as the plum undertones are perfect for complementing darker skin, thanks to colour theory. Those with more olive tones in their skin will benefit the most, as that is brought out even more by the polish, but warmer, yellow undertones will still have a similar effect.

Final thoughts

It’s easy to see that there is a vast selection of different colours you can use to bring out the tan on your skin. whether it’s a high end or more affordable product, there’s something for everyone, suitable for every budget. So, if you’re looking to enhance your tan and make those nails shine, what are you waiting for?!

About Anastasija

Welcome to my website! I'm Anastasija, and as a redhead with a sensitivity to the sun, I embarked on a quest to find the perfect sunless tanner six years ago.

After extensive research and four years of personal experience, I'm here to share my wealth of tips and tricks for achieving a beautiful, sun-kissed glow.

Whether you're interested in self-tanners, spray tans, or safe sun exposure, this website covers it all.

Join me as I provide valuable insights and guidance for various methods of getting that desired tan.

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