Trendy shades

Nail polish can be one of your most stylish accessories. Here are some of the trends for spring and summer:

• Bold colors: “Bold nails are back,” reports Women’s Wear Daily. In fact, among green beauty products and various DIY treatments, bold nail polish colors are top trends that “will set the tone for beauty in 2009,” writes Karen of the Makeup and Beauty Blog.
• Bright hues: Beautiful bright colors like coral and raspberry are key for spring, according to Sarah-Jean Ballard of the blog, The Fashionable Housewife.

Like the coral trend? Check out SpaRitual Nail Lacquer Last Tango. Free from formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate (DBP), this courageous color is sure to complement any spring or summer outfit. For a golden, shimmery coral, try SpaRitual Nail Lacquer Carpe Diem.

If you’re leaning toward raspberry or other berry shades, consider SpaRitual Nail Lacquer Must Be Lust, a strawberry crème that makes a stylish statement, enhancing your nails with a classy yet intense color.

• Pretty pastels: Ballard also suggests pastels like “lavender and luscious pinks.” “Naturally, pink is the most approachable hue of the bunch,” notes beauty reporter Jamie Rose in W Magazine. “It’s the rare makeup wonder that works anywhere, adding a girlish flush to cheeks, eyes, lips and nails.” To achieve a soft, feminine look on your nails, check out DuWop Polish Glass Slipper.

  Also, consider pale blues this season, according to beauty reporter Jamie Rose in W Magazine. For a shimmering crystal blue shade, check out SpaRitual Nail Lacquer She’s A River.

Additional trendy tips

In addition to these beautiful, fun trends, here are several tips to wear them well:

• Create a complete look: According to beauty news writer Alessandra Foresto in Self a great trend this season is matching your nails and makeup to your outfit. But remember not to overdo it. For example, say you like the hot pink shimmer of SpaRitual Nail Lacquer Up At Noon. Feel free to pair it with hot pink pumps, a hot pink belt or that hint of vivid pink color in your favorite spring blouse. But avoid piling on all these pieces at once.
• Keep ‘em short: For a chic look when wearing nail color, OPI executive VP and artistic director Suzi Weiss-Fischmann tells Harper’s Bazaar to keep nails short. “[It] looks cleaner and more elegant,” she says.
• Make a match: “Yes, you can match the finger and toenails," nail pro Deborah Lippmann tells InStyle. For instance, take a beautiful bold color like SpaRitual Nail Lacquer Life of the Party and apply it to both your fingers and toes.

Considering skin tone

Like makeup, you can also select nail polish colors based on your skin tone. Here’s how to do it:

• Pale skin tones: Choose pinks or reds to brighten your complexion, suggests Kris Connell from Real Simple on The Early Show. In keeping with this season’s trend, try a pastel pink like SpaRitual Nail Lacquer Strike A Pose.

• Medium skin tones: According to Allure Editor-in-Chief Linda Wells, deeper burgundies work well on medium skin shades. Try SpaRitual Nail Lacquer Epicurean for a bold burgundy shimmer.

• Olive skin tones: Opt for peach or gold colors to enhance your complexion, says Connell. Wells also suggests bypassing blue reds and picking “fire engine” or orange reds. For a metallic gold shimmer, try SpaRitual Nail Lacquer Gold Digger.

• Dark skin tones: Check out strong, vibrant purples and reds. Try SpaRitual Nail Lacquer Primitive to add deep magenta to your nails, perfect for flattering darker skin. Additionally, Wells notes that any darker nail polish shade will enhance dark complexions. SpaRitual Nail Lacquer The Giving Tree is a dark plum crème.

See also:

A Step-by-Step Guide to Stunning Nails

How to Protect Your Nails During a Manicure

A Step-by-Step Guide to the Perfect Pedicure

Clearing Bathroom Clutter

Beauty through the Decades: 1960's