I’ve spent many years (and dollars) looking for the perfect nude/understated polish. Here are some of the ones I’ve picked up along the way.

[LEFT]: ESSIE TOPLESS & BAREFOOT, CIATÉ IVORY QUEEN, CIATÉ MEMBERS ONLY, ESSIE MARATHIN, ESSIE ALL TIED UP [RIGHT]: OPI CHOCOLATE SHAKE-SPEARE, ESSIE MERINO COOL, ESSIE MINK MUFFS, ESSIE LITTLE BROWN DRESS

Essie Topless & Barefoot is definitely too light for darker skin. I dislike the creme finish with such a light shade on my skin, but I do think the hints of pink make it special.

Ciaté Ivory Queenis a lovely champagne pink polish with a pearl finish. It’s very subtle and natural looking, and pretty much a more contemporary version of what I want Topless & Barefoot to be.

Ciaté Members Onlyis decidedly shimmerier and sheerer than Ivory Queen, even with 3 coats I could still see my nail underneath. The gold shimmer paired with the pink polish makes it look almost rose gold and is a prettier ‘going out option’ than Ivory Queen.

Essie Marathinis a dusty mauve, crème finished polish. It’s more of a spring colour that’s not overly bright like some other options you see.

Essie All Tied Upis what I imagine Maybelline’s lipstick in Touch of Spice/Gerard 1995 would look like in lipstick form. Essie’s website describes it as a bronze with gold shimmer but I think it’s more of a copper which makes the gold shimmer register as orange. I love this colour for fall, it’s the kind of shade that goes well with everything pumpkin flavoured.

OPI Chocolate Shake-Spearewas the first ‘nude’ polish I ever bought and I still love it. It’s a proper champagne colour with a frost finish. It’s absolutely ideal for professionals or those who aren’t allowed to have very noticeable polish.

Essie Merino Coolis a creme greige. It’s quite deep which makes it perfect for darkerskin tones.

Essie Mink Muffsis a medium brown in a creme finish. This is one of my favourite polishes because it’s so wearable and versatile. It’s darker than the other polishes I was touting earlier and as a result it works well on darker skin as a nude.

Essie Little Brown Dressis a very deep brown crème polish, so dark that it’s almost black. While this doesn’t look bad on NC45 I imagine this would be much nicer on a darker woman as it would pair nicely with her skin.

Do you have a favourite neutral or nude polish?