.jpg "The Best Winter Nail Polish Colors of 2023")
Both Decosta and Sarah Chue, a Los Angeles-based nail artist, look to the Essie Good As Gold for some shimmer. “This flat, metallic gold is chic and sleek — and brings on some cheer,” Chue says. Decosta adds that she loves how versatile it is. “You can apply one coat over a sheer neutral for a subtle sparkle, go bold by applying two to three coats for full coverage, or add a small detail accent with a cuff or simple dot.”
Want something a little deeper? The Manicurist polish in Poison is a dark forest green swirled with green glitter. If you’re looking for something quintessentially winter, there’s Ten Over Ten’s Beacon — a polish with silver glitter and foil moons that can be worn alone or as a topper.
Chocolate brown
Chocolate brown is the nail shade of the season, adding “some much-needed warmth to those cold winter days,” says Decosta. You can go for a classic rich shade like Essie in Light Down Music Up, or try something a little more copper like Biosculpture in Rosewood Stardust. And if you’re not into rich browns, opt for a brighter hue like Glosslab’s caramel latte-inspired Tenacious Brown. Chocolate brown is stylish on its own as a glossy manicure, but also works beautifully when incorporated into a French tip.
Almost-black
There’s something elusive and villain-esque about a shade that’s so dark that it’s not immediately clear what color it actually is. That’s why almost-black has made it on 2023’s top winter nail polish colors. “I find [almost black] shades more wearable than a black manicure, as it’s more likely to complement all complexions,” says Decosta.
She particularly loves OPI’s seasonal classic Lincoln Park After Dark, as it’s “a true nod to the ‘90s and a shade that never goes out of style.” For fans of true black polish who want to mix it up this season, Tee loves “a cool deep shimmer” like Nailberry 50 Shades.
Duochrome
Shani Evans, editorial manicurist and nail artist at ArtNail NYC based in New York City, calls duochrome her “winner” during winter and we can see why. Duochrome does as the name suggests — shifts between two chrome colors as the light reflects off the nails — making it perfect for commitment phobes.
Evans likes to pick shades based on “the mood of the wearer, the mood of the moment, and the mood of the season.” She particularly loves ILNP’s duochrome shades, noting Highline — a gold-to-green chrome — as one of her favorites. We also like Mooncat Heart of Stone, which appears silver with a pink shift.
Navy blue
“Navy blue is that unexpected but classic shade that goes with all of your winter whites without clashing,” says Rachel Apfel Glass, founder of GLOSSLAB, based in New York. Shades of blue are believed to be calming, so they’re ideal for getting us through a busy end of year. Chanel Le Vernis in Fugueuse is a classic navy blue polish. “It’s sophisticated and strong and an alternative to the traditional dark red trend you find in the winter months,” says Chue. We also love Orly’s ultra-glossy Blue Tango polish.
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