From rich girl nails to blueberry milk manicures and glazed donut tips, it seems the the world of nail trends is forever evolving. Whether its changes in the popularity of nail shapes—goodbye short and square, hello long and rounded—or celeb-led revolutions in colors and designs, keeping up with the fast-paced world of nail trends is no easy feat.
For quite some time now, chic, updated takes on minimalist manicures have been at the forefront of whats viral in the nail sphere, and the latest of such trends is one with a Lil’ Mama inspired name (iykyk): lip gloss nails. While the name may be a bit confusing—no, this style does not require putting lip gloss on your nails—the manicure itself is quite simple and timeless. Ahead, nail experts walk us through everything lip gloss nails, from what they are to how to ask for them and what shapes they compliment best.
Featured Experts
- Julia Dahbura is a nail expert and founder of Deco Beauty
- Alison Martinez is a V Beauty Pure educator
What Are Lip Gloss Nails?
“Lip gloss nails are really just sheer and jelly nail colors,” begins nail expert and founder of Deco Beauty, Julia Dahbura, “But, these aren’t your grandma’s sheer pink nails—aura nails and iridescent toppers are a super on-trend part of lip gloss nails that are often used to add a little spice to the look.” As V Beauty Pure educator, Alison Martinez, adds, lip gloss nails are “high shine, sheer nudes, and pinks—think ‘clean girl’ era! They are very clean and very milky, with soft, sheer nudes and a high-shine top coat.”
What Color Is Used for Lip Gloss Nails?
While lip gloss nails’ claim to fame may be their sheer, nude/pink shades, as Dahbura explains, you can experiment with colors and still achieve the lip gloss vibe, as the most important part of this style is the ultra-shiny, sometimes iridescent top coat. “While the simplest lip gloss look is just to find a sheer pink you love and paint 1-2 thin coats, you can also experiment with other light, jelly polishes. For example, we also have a jelly purple sheer, Gummybear ($10), which makes a great lip gloss nail base.”
As Dahbura notes, the most important part of lip gloss nails is the top coat, and opting for a high-shine finish or an iridescent/ pearlescent top coat will help solidify this glossy glamorous look. “An example of a fun topper that can be used alone or overtop of a base color for this look is sheer iridescent Hey I Just Met You ($10),” says Dahbura. “This polish is ever so sparkly in the sunlight for a subtle shine and also clear enough to top stickers without interfering with the color.”
Martinez adds that “sheer jelly shades in pinks like V Beauty Pure Gel Polish Shy Girl ($15) as well as nudes and milky sheers, with a very high shine top coat work great for creating lip gloss nails. V Beauty Pure Go Nude Collection ($90) is great for all nail enhancements and rubber bases like V Beauty Pure Rubber Base Muted Lilac ($17) are great for natural nail manicures.”
Can You Create Lip Gloss Nails at Home?
While many viral nail styles are best created in-salon, lip gloss nails are a great example of a manicure that can be achieved at home. After shaping your nails to your preferred shape—Martinez notes that lip gloss nails look particularly good on oval or almond-shaped nails—all you have to do is “prep your nail, apply your base coat, cure,” Martinez explains. “Then apply two coats of your color of choice, cutting each coat. Then apply your super shiny top coat, cure and then add cuticle oil.”
