5 pastel nail polishes that suit all skin tones
- Posted by
- Ava Welsing-Kitcher
- Published

Cool baby blues and mint greens get a grown-up makeover just in time for heatwave season.
No longer reserved for Mini Eggs and newborns’ nurseries, pastel shades are emerging as the dominant nail trend this summer.
Iterations of #pastelnails have broken out all over Instagram, be it a different colour for each finger, pastel French manicures or subtle half-moons.
As the temperature rises, pastels give a pretty, calm and cooling respite. Stylist rounds up the prettiest shades to suit every skintone – try one (or all five) before the summer’s over.
Pink: Barry M Candy Culture Nail Paint in Raspberry Sherbet
This cool-toned pink stops fingertips from looking overly girly, and once it’s dry, you’ll get a kick out of the sweet, berry scent.
Blue: Nails Inc NailPure in Regents Place
The air-and-water-permeable formula makes this breathable blue one of the purest polishes.
Green: Mavala Nail Polish in Naive Mint
Clean, crisp and soothing for the soul when you gaze at it during meetings – this celery hue is an all-rounder.
Yellow: OPI Nail Lacquer in Meet A Boy Cute As Can Be
If bright, canary yellow isn’t quite within your range, we recommend trying this buttery, barely-there shade instead – it goes with everything.
Purple: Essie Nail Lacquer in Lilacism
Everyone has had a trusty purple nail polish in their collection at some point, but this silky amethyst shade is the one to conquer them all.
Main image: Photography by Kat Pisiolek