Lifestyle Style 7 Tips For Finding Your Perfect Nude Nail Polish When it comes to nailing a manicure that works for day and night, beach and boardroom, weekend and wedding, a nude will never fail you. That's why we tapped celeb manicurist Geraldine Holford to help us pick our perfect polish By Jackie Fields Jackie Fields Instagram Jackie Fields is the Deputy Beauty Director at PEOPLE. A Tufts University and Parsons School of Design alum, she joined the brand as an editorial assistant in 2005 and has previously held the titles of reporter, writer-reporter, writer, editor, and senior editor. In 2009, she reported the magazine's first BeautyWatch page. During the last 12 years, she has focused almost entirely on beauty – specifically celebrity and market trends. Jackie most enjoys heading up the brand's annual drugstore Beauty Awards. When she is not reporting, writing, and editing content, she is testing fragrances, lipsticks, and products for 4c hair or catering to her beloved English Bulldog, Bowie. People Editorial Guidelines Published on October 26, 2015 07:17 PM Share Tweet Pin Email 01 of 08 MEET THE NAIL PRO Courtesy Jackie Fields We love chatting with our manicurists, so when Geraldine Holford stopped by our office to answer our Qs about every nude polish under the sun, we also quizzed her on her life story. It turns out the London-raised manicurist had her first bite of boxed macaroni and cheese at age 25! And though her roster includes Gigi Hadid, Nicola Peltz and Scarlett Johansson, actor Jeffrey Tambor is her all-time fave client. Even more surprising? Her signature nail look: “I never wear polish, but sometimes I’ll do a little sparkle or a single stud on my nails. I call it the ‘unmanicure.’” 02 of 08 TAKE THE SEASON INTO ACCOUNT Courtesy Andrea Lavinthal; Inset: Sally Hansen “The same way you might reach for a different red in summer than in winter, you have to do the same with your nude color,” says Holford. “I used this cream (seen on Style & Beauty Director Andrea Lavinthal) because the golden tone in this lighter nude really stands out against her tanned skin! It’s important to apply at least two coats of polish to make the color pop.”Buy It! Sally Hansen “Camelflague,” $7.99; drugstore.com 03 of 08 TRY A TOUCH OF SHIMMER Courtesy Alex Apatoff; Inset: Essie “If you think the nude nail look is dull, a hint of shimmer adds glamour and dimension to your manicure,” says Holford. “This opaque sand version (seen on Senior Style Editor Alex Apatoff) is my favorite for lighter skin tones, and I love this color because it doesn’t doesn’t alter even after days of wear.”Buy It! Essie “Cocktails & Coconuts,” $8.50; essie.com 04 of 08 GET A LENGTHENING EFFECT Courtesy Tomoko Takeda-Canel; Inset: deborah lippman “When you opt for a shade that’s a perfect match for your skin tone it will really make your nail bed, and fingers, look longer,” advises Holford. “A classic café au lait (seen on PEOPLE StyleWatch Senior Beauty Editor Tomoko Takeda Canel) goes well with medium complexions while still providing enough contrast to stand out.”Buy It! Deborah Lippmann “Fashion,” $18; deborahlippmann.com 05 of 08 SHAPE, NOT SIZE, MATTERS Courtesy Jackie Fields; Inset: RGB “You can stick to the length you’re most comfortable with, but remember a classic color calls for a classic shape, so a rounded nail is best,” says Holford. “I love this wonderful taupe (seen on Beauty Editor Jackie Fields) on darker skin tones. It’s a warm and creamy shade that never goes dull.”Buy It! RGB “Toast,” $18; rgbcosmetics.com 06 of 08 KEEP YOUR TOP COAT CLOSE BY Courtesy Brittany Talarico; Inset: NailsInc “The most important thing is keeping your manicure looking fresh. Because nude nails can really look blah, you have to invest in a top coat.” Holford topped our tips (including Style News Editor Brittany Talarico’s, seen here) with Deborah Lippmann’s Addicted to Speed “because it’s super glossy, quick-drying and self-leveling, meaning you can fix a chip, apply the top coat over it and it and it’ll look like nothing happened.”Buy It! Nails Inc “Montpelier Walk,” $14; us.nailsinc.com 07 of 08 ENHANCE YOUR COMPLEXION Courtesy Sarah Fernando; Inset: Priti NYC Polish “I like to use a nude polish one shade darker than the person’s skin tone to create a slight contrast,” says Holford. “This raisin (seen on Assistant Photo Editor Sarah Fernando) has peachy pink undertones, so it looks natural – but rich.”Buy It! Priti NYC “Fairy Moss,” $15; pritinyc.com 08 of 08 BREAK THE RULES Courtesy Sarah Kinonen; Inset: Smith & Cult “A lot of people look for a nude that perfectly matches their skin tone, but you don’t have to be so rigid,” says Holford, who used a caramel on Style & Beauty Editorial Assistant Sarah Kinonen’s nails. “It’s much more beige than some would choose but I love it for her because it will never get lost on her nails.”Buy It! Smith & Cult “Feathers & Flesh,” $18; smithandcult.com