Top 5 Nail Polish Colors to Rock at the Beach

Even though it’s not quite summer yet, it sure feels that way. Time to pack up the essentials and enjoy a trip to the beach here in sunny San Diego! A manicure might not be on the list of things to do before heading to the beach, but why not? Add bright color wherever you can after being stuck in the months of dark polish. It’s time to build up your nail polish collections with colors that are suited for the beach. 

Just make sure, if you’re giving yourself a manicure, to do so ahead of time. If you give yourself a manicure just minutes before you apply your sunscreen or tanning oil, you risk ruining it. If you’re just plain impatient, grab a quick dry top coat when picking up some new summer colors to cut drying time in half.  

Here are five colors that will make a perfect manicure on a beautiful beach day. These fun polishes will have you staring down at your nails all day, so proceed with caution. Don’t walk and gawk!

Cobalt Blue

Blue is not a typical color to wear unless you’re feeling adventurous. Oftentimes, we gravitate more towards pinks and reds in our daily lives. While those colors are nice and classic, bright blues are oh-so summery and hard to resist! A vivid or neon cobalt blue is the way to go. This color looks great on anyone, and most of the time, it can shine alone without a white base coat. This beautiful blue would look great against a bright/neon yellow or pink swimsuit, as it complements the color. Butler Please by Essie, $8, captures this color. If you want it to glisten in the sun, add a shiny top coat, as this color has more of a matte finish. Be aware that while blues are beautiful, they stain like crazy because of the strong pigment. Use a protective base coat, and you should be good to go!

Bright or Light Coral

Match the coral in the sea with a bright or light coral nail polish! Any shade of coral is a fun twist on your average pink, and its orange tones scream, "summer!" Bright or light corals will also look beautiful against a bronze tan, so it will look great at the beach. Most bright or light coral polishes get by with a little help from a friend, so make sure to add a white base coat to really get the true vibrancy of the color. If not, the pigment can come off more red, instead of pink or orange, which completely changes the effect. Tea Rose by Jin Soon, $18, is a light, feminine coral color. To make this color pop even more, bring out your best turquoise or aqua-colored swimsuits. Add some gold accents if you feel like going all out!

Off-White

Wearing a stark white color might be just a bit too bright in the sun, so it’s a good thing off-white polishes are in. Wearing white is good for bringing out your natural tan, which is why it's such a popular shade for a summer manicure. Different shades of white are great year-round, but for summer, pick a white that has just a tinge of another color, like pink, blue, or tan. This will make the color appear more like the shells on the beach and less like you just painted White-Out on your nails. It’s In The Clouds by OPI, $10, is a creamy white with pink, violet, and nudes all mixed into one. This shade of white will go perfectly with any swimsuit or cover-up, which is the beauty of wearing white!

Lavender

Thankfully, pastels aren’t just for spring, as there are so many wonderful pastel colors but so little time to wear them. Pastel colors are perfect for the beautiful summer weather. Very delicate, pastels give out a gentle pop of color, and they don’t stand out as much as neons. If you’re going for a more tame look, bust out the pastel polishes. However, bright purples are also in for summer, so kill two birds with one stone. Lavender was a popular color for hair in 2016, so go ahead and put it on your nails too! If you have a favorite white, lime green, or floral swimsuit, it will look great with your fresh lavender manicure. English Lavendar by Butter LONDON, $18, is a true purple lavender that brings this trend to life, along with a beautiful shine. 

Seafoam Green

This one is pretty obvious for the beach. Maybe it’s not the exact color of actual seafoam (which is more similar to the off-white polish above), but it’s guaranteed to make you feel like a mermaid. Colors that complement this greenish-blue shade are navy, whites, or pinks. These colors bring the seafoam green to light, and make it stand out against other colors. Appropriately named, Mermaid’s Dream by Deborah Lippmann, $20, is a glittery take on this trend. This Deborah Lippmann favorite is a seafoam green base with blue glitter and shimmer. This color works its magic with or without a top coat. But if you plan to get someone to bury you in the sand with a mermaid tail, add a top coat so the abrasive sand doesn’t chip away your manicure.