“Foundation Nails” Are No-Makeup Makeup for Your Nails

What if the secret to flawless nails is actually doing nothing? Or, at least, the appearance of doing nothing? That’s the key to the latest clean-girl manicure trend: “foundation nails.”

When it comes to getting the foundation-nails manicure, approach it much as you would a trip to the makeup counter: You want a perfect color match, just as you do with foundation. The shade you pick should blend so closely to your nail bed that it practically disappears, creating a magic trick to make fingers look longer.

And the finish should be semitransparent, without any glitter or shimmer (which you can DIY with a drop of clear nail polish mixed into your perfect color, FYI), so that it looks like skin.

https://www.amazon.com/Manucurist-Active-Smooth-Concealer-Polish/dp/B0F1Z89NQN/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09V1ZLQFF

https://www.chanel.com/us/makeup/p/158368/le-gel-coat-longwear-top-coat/

https://www.amazon.com/expressie-Quick-Dry-Polish-8-Free-Transparent/dp/B07Y8ZFH1W/

All in all, the foundation-nails manicure creates a stylish magic trick: The shade makes the nail look like a natural extension of the finger to lengthen. These foundation-nails looks, all spotted on Instagram, are proof of that.

Have a beauty or wellness trend you’re curious about? We want to know! Send Vogue’s senior beauty and wellness editor an email at beauty@vogue.com.