The Beauty of the Neutral Nail
I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but gel manicures are everywhere. Like everywhere. Even those with short nails are using gel polish, and I get it: it lasts a long time and that convenience speaks to people. However, I remain a nail purist. I love a beautiful, clean nail that looks cared for and elegant, but one that I don’t need to step foot into a salon for. And having to go back to remove your polish? That’s a special kind of torture for me.
This is why the polishes from Manucurist resonated so deeply with me. Their Active Range is incredibly unique - the polishes are takes on a neutral nail with a subtle touch of pizazz, and I can do them at home with minimal effort and maximum payoff. If quiet luxury was a thing for nails, these would be the products you use to achieve it.
- Active Bright - A sheer wash of opal. The blue tone in the polish makes the whites of the nails look brighter and uber-glossy.
- Active Shine - It’s not a frost and it’s not a glitter - just the most beautiful soft twinkle in a clear base. The way your nails catch the light will have you chasing sunbeams.
- Active Smooth - Got annoying ridges? This base coat is like Spanx for your nails. A faint peach tone in a satin finish that smooths out the nail bed, it’s also really pretty to wear all on it’s own.
- Hortencia - Truly the most perfect sheer nude. Not too pink, not too white, not too beige and it applies with zero streaks.
- Active Glow Raspberry - A wash of transparent pink that makes the nails look super healthy. Like the way your cheeks look like when you come in from the cold - but on your nails.
- Active Glow Blueberry - Like the Active Raspberry, but in a cooler toned pink.
The Art of Layering for the Perfect Neutral Nail
I truly love all of these polishes on their own, but my favorite thing to do is layer them to create subtle, neutral nails that are anything but boring. Any time I wear these combos I get non-stop compliments.
- Active Bright + Active Shine: A touch of opal + twinkle makes for the the prettiest subtle nail that’s anything but boring.
- Active Smooth + Active Shine: It’s like vaseline on the lens of your camera or a soft focus filter. You can’t tell there’s anything happening, but your nails just look better.
- Active Smooth + Active Glow Blueberry: The soft wash of color from the Active Smooth creates a great base for the Blueberry, adding a touch of opacity to the shade. The effect is a custom neutral that’s first in class.
- Hortencia + Active Bright: The dimension that the opal adds to the sheer nude is so subtle and pretty. It makes the nails look extra shiny and sophisticated.
- Active Smooth + Green Sunshine Top Coat - The way the Active Smooth almost invisibly evens out the nail topped with the mirror-like shine of the Green Sunshine Top Coat is the equivalent to getting your car detailed and waxed. Tip-top and tidy.
Nail Care Essentials for a Flawless Finish
To truly elevate your neutral nail game, don’t forget the essentials from Tenoverten:
- The Rose Oil - Hydrates and nourishes the cuticles for a well-groomed, healthy nail look.
- The Push Back + The Cuticle Eraser - Essential tools to keep cuticles neat and nails looking salon-fresh with minimal effort.
