These Sheer, Your-Nails-But-Better Polishes Make My At-Home Manis Foolproof
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In 2020, for obvious reasons, I went from a person who took pride in her long, vibrantgel manicuresto someone with short, bare, usually broken nails. When stay-at-home orders were first enforced, I tried my best to perfect my DIY manicure routine by buyinga proper nail file, cuticle oil, and clippersto replicate the spalike treatments I once received from my favorite techFleury Rose.
But ultimately I had to face the truth: No matter how much I try to mimic the pros, I’m terrible at painting my ownnails. Anytime I brought out my pretty, rich-in-pigmentpolishes—Nails, Inc.’s bright pale blue “Jeans Pur Lease” orJINsoon’s deep red “Audacity” — my nails would come out messy, uneven, and wobbly, like they’d been painted by a toddler. Convinced a clean, DIY polish job was simply not in the cards for me, I was ready to give up on my nails until they could againbe manicured by a professional. But one day, when they were looking particularly scuffed and damaged, I decided to attempt one more at-home mani and discovered somepolishesthat are so flattering (and forgiving) they make my toddlerlike application actually look kind of professional.
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I had purchased a set of top and base coats from Pear Nova — a Chicago-basedBlack-owned brandfounded by Rachel James— back in March because I thought its vegan, cruelty-free, and five-free formulas might be helpful at maintaining the longevity of my at-home manis. But I hadn’t opened them up until this point, and when I actually got around to applying the base, “Beneath Me,” I was shocked to discover how much I loved the way it looked on its own. One coat gave my nails a simple, muted, off-white shade that had a lovely, milky haze. This transparent, cloudy shade also made my application foolproof: Even with my wobbly, unsteady hands, my mess-ups were barely noticeable, which had definitely not been the case with any of my otheropaque polishes.
I was tempted to leave it at that. But when I saw the shiny, pinky shade of the top coat, “Clearly” — which reminded me of the cult-favorite, clear-roseDior Nail Glowpolish — I wondered if it might add some extra oomph. It does: On top of “Beneath Me,” “Clearly” gives a gorgeous pink tint and high-shine twinkle; the twopolishestogether create a sophisticated your-nails-but-better look that’s not only gorgeous butinsanelyeasy to apply. Those with steadier hands should know that “Clearly” and “Beneath Me” aren’t just amazing on their own — they also work phenomenally well at their intended jobs as top and base coats. My mom (a much more capable home manicurist than I) recently used them with the highly pigmentedJ. Hannah Blue Nudespolish, and it didn’t so much as chip for a whole week.
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If you’re looking for a more beigey polish, the shade “Loretta” from Zoya is an excellent option. It’s not quite as off-white as Pear Nova’s top and base coats but instead adds a beautiful, barely there, dusty tint.
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If you want a polish that’s as milky and nudey as Pear Nova’s top and base coats but a touch more opaque, try this muted, ballet-slipper-pink color from Ella+Mila. The brand is cruelty free and 17 free (that’s a lot of free!) and quick drying to boot.
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