Light Summer Nail Polish Ideas – Best Color Analysis

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​Summer comes, and the ads are showing bright nail colors that pop with your summer look. 

And when you get into color analysis and realize you’re a summer, it can feel a little disappointing to realize that a lot of those vibrant shades are just not for you. 

​There are a lot of great light summer nail colors! But the nail polish shade that works for you in the summer season may not be the bold colors that we tend to associate with summer. 

(If you’re a soft summer, I wrote a post already about the best nail polish, gel, and dip shades for soft summers during the summer! And if you’re a light summer, you might also be interested in my post about the best hair colors for light summers.)

What makes the best nail colors for light summers

​You should start by looking at the nail polish colors you already have for “best” options before you buy anything new! 

A nail color for light summers should be:

  • cool (meaning it has blue undertones, not yellow or orange undertones)
  • slightly muted or soft (meaning it doesn’t look clear or bright)
  • have low contrast from your skin — neither significantly brighter nor significantly darker than your natural skin tone

(I’m gonna talk more about contrast in the next section, because most guides to light summer will call this “value” and talk about light colors, but that’s not the best advice for every light summer woman!)

So, a perfect shade for light summers won’t be those brighter colors we associate with beach vacations: no coral shades, no neon orange, no hot pink. Rather: try to imagine light, airy sophistication. You’ll spend your summer months in cool, soft pastel tones.

So, look through the nail supplies that you already have. You may find that you have options already that are going to harmonize with your season! 

(BTW, this blog does not suggest that you throw out polish that doesn’t match your color season! If you love it, keep it. Wear it, and if it doesn’t match your season but it makes you happy, so be it. There’s more important things in the world than color analysis.)

A quick note about light summers, contrast, and skin tone

Light summers come in every race and ethnicity! For that reason, when I was writing about the best hair colors for light summers, I stopped talking about the “value” of a color (which is how light or dark it is on the color wheel) and started talking about contrast against your skin. 

All light summers are looking for low contrast against their skin, but each light summer woman will have their own skin tone.

For a white girl who’s a light summer, she’s looking for a light, sky blue polish that will offer only slight contrast from her light skin tone. For a Black light summer, even though she’s going to have light skin for her ethnicity, she’s going to need a slightly darker blue to get that same low-contrast look. Women of color who are light summers can often borrow from the soft summer palette, because soft summers are going to have more depth. (And my soft summer nail post is here: TKTK)

So, when you’re looking for your light summer nail polish colors, you’re looking for low contrast with your skin tone! This will get you a better result than just picking the lightest color you can find, especially if you’re a woman of color. 

Okay, now let’s look at some new options!

In the last post I broke it down into different sections by type of polish, but before we do that I gotta tell you:

Sheer colors are a light summer nail polish cheat code

Regardless of whether you’re using nail polish, dip, or gel, sheer colors are a great choice for light summers, because you’re going to nail the contrast level every time. A sheer color will impart a little something, but the base will be exactly the depth of your skin tone. The jelly nails of summer 2022 were one of my favorite summer nail trends ever because they suit a summer season woman so well! 

Your sheer polish still needs to be cool-toned, so you can’t go for a creamsicle orange shade. But a sheer soft pink or any of light summer’s dreamy pastel shades? Gorgeous. 

Best regular nail polish for light summer 

Sale
essie Salon-Quality Nail Polish, 8-Free Vegan, Cornflower Blue, Bikini So Teeny, 0.46 fl oz
  • Glossy Shine Nail Polish: essies Bikini So Teeny is a cornflower blue nail polish with a glossy shine shimmer finish. Salon quality nail color formula provides flawless coverage and glossy shine.
  • Even, Professional Application: Our exclusive easy glide brush fits every nail size and allows for quick, streak-free, even and professional application at home. Flawless nail color coverage and durability with every brush stroke.
  • The Perfect Manicure: Apply 1 coat of any of our base coat polishes on nails, follow with two coats of essie nail polish, and finish with any 1 of our top coat offerings. Follow with essie apricot cuticle oil, a nail care essential.
  • Iconic and Trendsetting Colors: from the essie collection, which has produced over a thousand nail polish shades and counting. essie nail polish takes from fashion and cultural trends to make manicure possibilities endless.
  • America’s Nail Expert: essie is a leader in nail luxury, committed to high quality standards. Our nail polish has a vegan formula with no animal derived ingredients and no animal testing. essie nail polishes and nail care products make life colorful.

Essie’s Bikini So Teeny is a classic for a reason — an icy, shimmery blue nail polish that’s going to make your nails pop. This is very very cool and muted enough for a light summer.

ILNP Sweet Pea – Seashell Pink Holographic Sheer Jelly Nail Polish
  • High quality, boutique nail lacquer
  • Long lasting & fast drying
  • Cruelty Free / Vegan
  • Sheer, Buildable Formula
  • Not glitter! Effortless removal

I love this pretty seashell pink for a light summer! Sheer, glittery — like, I’m refined in pink nail polish, but I’m also fun. The listing photos show a very opaque manicure, but if you look at the review photos the color is quite sheer. 

Sale
Essie Salon-Quality Nail Polish, 8-Free Vegan, Cool Grayish Lavender, In Pursuit Of Craftiness, 0.46 fl oz
  • Glossy Shine Nail Polish: This nail polish in cool grayish lavender with a cream finish features our salon-quality nail color formula for flawless coverage and glossy shine.
  • Even, Professional Application: Our exclusive easy glide brush fits every nail size and allows for quick, streak-free, even and professional application at home. Flawless nail color coverage and durability with every brush stroke.
  • The Perfect Manicure: Apply 1 coat of any of our base coat polishes on nails, follow with two coats of essie nail polish, and finish with any 1 of our top coat offerings. Follow with essie apricot cuticle oil, a nail care essential.
  • Iconic and Trendsetting Colors: from the essie collection, which has produced over a thousand nail polish shades and counting. essie nail polish takes from fashion and cultural trends to make manicure possibilities endless.
  • America’s Nail Expert: essie is a leader in nail luxury, committed to high quality standards. Our nail polish has a vegan formula with no animal derived ingredients and no animal testing. essie nail polishes and nail care products make life colorful.

This purple is a little deeper and better suited to those light summer women with a darker skin tone, but it is undeniably gorgeous! This is about as bold as a bold statement gets for light summers. 

Sale
Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish, Gel Lab Pro | Treatment Enriched for Nail Health, Wear and Shine | No Lamp or Tools | Love at First Sight, 0.5 oz.
  • HEALTH: Evening Primrose Keratin Biotin Green Tea Extract Aucoumea Rice Protein|WEAR: Bamboo Nonychosine F|SHINE: Nylon Carnauba Wax
  • Cruelty free
  • Vegan Formula
  • One of a kind formula delivers health, durable wear and incredible shine!

And Deborah Lippman’s Love at First Sight is just about a perfect light summer sheer, buildable pink. 

Best gel nail polish for light summer 

If you’re a gel girl like me, yo know that gel polish is often sold in sets, and those sets are never based around your color season. But there are workarounds!

Sale
Beetles Pearl Gel Nail Polish, 6 Colors Pastel Pink White Orange Blue Colors Gel Nail Polish Shimmer Mermaid Nail Polish Shell Swirl Thread Effect Glitter Soak Off UV LED
  • Beetles Unique Pearl Gel Nail Polish: 6 * 0.25 fl.oz 2-in-1 Pearlescent shimmer gel nail polish set, 7.5ML/ 0.25fl oz, not only can be pearl gel polish but also can be thread Shell nail gel.
  • Long Lasting and Shimmer Set: Long-lasting for 28+ days with perfect shine. Mermaid Pearl gel polish set is an ESSENTIAL for everyone! Apply gel top coat for a gorgeous shimmery and sparkly finish. Not only suitable for daily life but also for various parties.
  • UV Gel Nail Polish Set: This gel nail polish item is UV gel. It is still sticky after curing. It must be used with a base coat and top coat! This item does not include base&top coat, which needs to be purchased separately.
  • Nail Lamp Required: Beetles reflective glitter gel nail polish needs to be cured under UV/LED nail lamp. With proper application, this low odor flash diamond gel polish can keep perfect for more than 4 weeks.
  • Warning: May cause an allergic reaction by skin contact. Read directions for use carefully. Professionally formulated and only used for nails. Avoid contact with eyes, mouth, and skin. In case of contact with them, rinse immediately with water. If there is any incident, contact the doctor immediately. Stop using the product if redness and itching develop. Keep out of the reach of children.

​So, this polish set has six colors. The blue and pink are perfect for a light summer just as they are. The white is probably also pretty good because it’s pearlescent — a pure while isn’t great for light summers, but the dimension will make it work.

The tan and the peach (the fourth and sixth colors in the photo) are not going to be great shades for any summer woman because they have warmish yellow undertones. BUT I have a trick for this. Adding 3-5 drops of the blue polish will rebalance the undertones and give you a soft and cool version of that color. Go slowly! Add a couple drops and shake, add a couple drops and shake.

 If you’re not too sure about this idea, you can do a tiny test batch on a piece of foil by adding 10 drops of the main color and a drop of the blue and mixing with a q-tip. That way you know if you’ll like the direction the color is going in. 

This works on any color but I would suggest staying within the same brand of polish! For light summers, it can also be helpful to commit to one brand and keep a bottle of white nail polish on hand to lighten colors into your palette. 

For the gold-ish/ yellow nail polish…I don’t think adding blue will work for that one, but you can try! Go one drop at a time. Because the color is so warm it may not work. (If you try it, send me a picture!!)

Pearlescent is just such a perfect summer manicure finish!

Beetles Gel Nail Polish, 15ML Glitter Nude Pink Gel Polish Shimmery Pale Pink Gel Nail Polish Mermaid Pearl Polish Soak Off Uv Led Nail Lamp Translucent Gel Polish Nail Art Gift for Women Girls 0.5Oz
  • Personal Style: Beetles Glitter Nude Pink Gel Polish, Elegant shades of popular and trendy colors suitable for all seasons and daily routine life!
  • Environmental & Healthy: Beetles gel polish set is made from 9 Toxin Free Ingredient which makes it safe and has low odor. No harsh ingredients or adhesives that lead to damaged nails.
  • Easy Application & Good Tenacity: With proper application, last at least 4 weeks, this gogeous gel nail polish set is perfect for all daily working or dating, party or ceremony activity.
  • Ideal Gift for Her: They are appropriate for any holiday or special event, such as birthday, holiday, anniversary gift. Suitable for various nail enthusiasts, whether beginners or professional nail therapists, this product can be used.
  • WARNING: May cause an allergic reaction by skin contact. Read directions for use carefully. Professionally formulated and only used for nails.

This was my very first gel polish color when I started learning! And if you’re looking to get into gel polish I cannot recommend this strongly enough. It’s absolutely the best way to learn because it’s so forgiving and if you mess up it’s very hard to tell. 

This particular shade of pink is super sheer but buildable. It’s barely-there with a bit of sparkle on light skin and a chic visible pink on darker skin tones. 

modelones Milky Pink Gel Nail Polish, 15 ML Nude Pink Tones Baby Pink Bubble Bath Nail Art Translucent Jelly Gel Polish Design for Women Girl Nail Lovers Gift Salon DIY Summer Gel Manicure
  • Bubble Bath Pink: Includes 1* 15ML (0.5fl oz) pink gel polish. Enjoy the nail art from the comfort of your own home! This clear pink jelly-colored gel is perfect for nail lovers with different skin tones.
  • High Glossy Shine & 28 Days No Peel-off: Say goodbye to air bubbles and peel-offs with Modelones patented “Inspire Gel” technology and incredible gel finish. Our exclusive easy-apply brush ensures a professional, quick, and even application. Just spend 3 minutes for a manicure that lasts over 28 days with unrivaled shine.
  • Healthy & Certified Cruelty-free: Modelones Pink Gel Nail Polish Set boasts 11 toxin-free, low-odor ingredients that are safe and healthy. Free from harsh chemicals and adhesives, it prevents nail damage and is anti-chipping. Perfect for any occasion, you can DIY your nails anytime with confidence.
  • Easy Application & Ideal Gift: Smooth, self-leveling, and easy to apply, this nude pink gel nail polish is perfect for all nail types. Ideal for beginners to create any nail art. A perfect gift for any holiday or special occasion, such as birthdays, festivals, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day,etc.
  • Care for You: This Pink Nail Gel Polish may cause an allergic reaction upon skin contact in rare cases. Please test before use. Note: This is a UV LED gel and remains sticky after curing. Use with a base coat and top coat (not included, must be purchased separately).

And then its inverse: this deeper pink might read as nude on darker skin tones and a gentle statement color on lighter ones. 

MelodySusie Thick Blue Gel Nail Polish,0.5fl oz Macaron Blue Color Soak Off UV LED Spring Summer Baby Blue Gel Polish Gift for Women Nail Art Manicure Salon DIY Nail Design Decoration at Home-253
  • Melodysusie thick gel:Only a thin layer of gel is needed for perfect coverage. If you apply too much gel, you will need to cure it under UV light for 30+s.The brush is ergonomic and provides smooth coverage, not only suitable for professional nail salons, but also for beginners. For a small fee, you can get professional salon-style manicures at home!
  • Curied with UV Led Nail Lamp: This is UV gel. It must be used with UV light, a base coat and top coat! This item does not include base&top coat, which needs to be purchased separately. Average UV LED light curing time 90-120 secs.
  • Health-Conscious & Low Odor: Prioritizing your health, our gel nail polish is formulated with a toxin-free ingredient list, reducing the risk of nail damage and keeping the odor minimal. Perfect for those sensitive to strong smells, our polish ensures a safer, more pleasant manicure experience.
  • Premium& Durable Formula: Our gel nail polish is crafted to offer a high saturation and high-gloss finish that lasts up to 21 days. The formula is designed for maximum durability and resilience, ensuring your nails stay beautiful through daily activities.
  • Safety First:May cause an allergic reaction by skin contact in rare cases. Do a test before using it to check for any reaction.Stop using immediately once feeling uncomfortable.Avoid the gel nail polish contact with eyes,mouth and skin.If this phenomenon occurs,wash immediately with water.If you feel unwell, contact the doctor immediately.Please also keep out of the reach of children.Any problem, please contact us!

A gorgeous, chic pale blue that’s not quite pastel colors. This one, too, will read as a statement on you!

Sale
beetles Gel Polish 15ml Lilac Purple Nail Gel Soak Off Uv LED Nail Lamp Gel Polish Nail Art Manicure Salon DIY Home Solid Color Gel Gift for Women Girls
  • Personal Style: Elegant shades of popular and trendy colors suitable for all seasons and daily routine life!.Color Number is: a647.
  • Healthy: 10 Toxin Free Ingredient makes it safe and has low odor. (PLEASE NOTE: We strive to make our digital color swatches as accurate as possible to the actual product color but due to different monitor settings and electronic devices colors may differ slightly.)
  • Easy Application and Good Tenacity. With proper application, last at least 3 weeks.This item is UV gel. It is still sticky after curing. It must be used with a base coat and top coat! This item does not include base&top coat, which needs to be purchased separately.
  • Reminder: Cure under LED/UV light for 90-120 secs. Base and Top coat required.If gel feels thick or tacky, place in hot water for 1-2 minutes, remove from water and shake well.
  • What you get: Gorgeous shades of Gel Polish, hassle-free and friendly customer service.
 

and a pretty lilac option that has the softness that a light summer needs.

Dip nail polish options for light summers

Kiara Sky Long Lasting Nail Dip Powder Purple Tones 1 oz, Chit Chat Lilac
  • BUILT TO INSPIRE. We understand the importance of providing easy-to-use, quality products to all the nail artists of the world. Our goal is to share our professional knowledge and continue educating and inspiring future talented nail artists.
  • NAIL DIP POWDER. Get stronger, lightweight and natural long-lasting nails with our easy-to-use dip powder. Kiara Sky Dip Powder is formulated without harsh chemicals and with added vitamins and calcium to strengthen natural nails.
  • PRO BEAUTY. Showcasing a collection of dip powders, gel polishes, nail lacquers, LED lights, pedi packs and color collections, Kiara Sky is made by professionals for professionals with a passion for top products and colors that pop.
  • Made in the USA (DOES NOT COME SEALED BY THE MANUFACTURER)

Okay, I’ve linked a lot of pinks today but this one has a little purple and a little more brightness in it. It wouldn’t work for a soft summer but it’s a light enough color that most light summers will probably make it work.

Revel Nail Dip Powder – Pink Powder Dip Nail Polish, Chip Resistant Dip Nail Powder with Vitamin E and Calcium, DIY Manicure, Erica
  • PROFESSIONAL QUALITY: Easy to use super fine dip powder is infused with Calcium and Vitamin E to provide the premium quality that lays smooth with maximum shine. With a wide range of colors you can create any nail art or design. Perfect for every occasion!
  • LONG LASTING: Our dip powder can last from 3-5 weeks, just as strong as acrylic nails white outlasting gel nail polish. Formula is crack and chip resistant ensuring your at home DIY manicure lasts weeks to come while keeping natural nails healthy and strong.
  • NO NAIL LAMP NEEDED: Our nail dip powder provides protection and long-lasting color with a lightweight, natural feel. When you choose a Dip Powder manicure, there’s no need for UV lights or hard gel applications. Get longer, stronger, more natural feeling nails with a durable finish and shine that lasts.
  • REVEL NAIL: We strive to offer the highest quality products. Our products are made in the USA, calcium and vitamin E fortified, non-toxic and low odor, vegan, cruelty-free, and water and crack resistant.

​If you want a true sheer pink in dip, though, Revel’s Erica is a classic for a reason.

Revel Nail Dip Powder – Sparkly Dip Powder for Nails, Sheer Dip Powder for DIY Nails, Professional Nail Dipping Powder & Dip Powder Colors, Nail Art Supplies – Margo, 1 Oz
  • PROFESSIONAL QUALITY: Easy to use super fine dip powder is infused with Calcium and Vitamin E to provide the premium quality that lays smooth with maximum shine. With a wide range of colors you can create any nail art or design. Perfect for every occasion!
  • LONG LASTING: Our dip powder can last from 3-5 weeks, just as strong as acrylic nails white outlasting gel nail polish. Formula is crack and chip resistant ensuring your at home DIY manicure lasts weeks to come while keeping natural nails healthy and strong.
  • NO NAIL LAMP NEEDED: Our nail dip powder provides protection and long-lasting color with a lightweight, natural feel. When you choose a Dip Powder manicure, there’s no need for UV lights or hard gel applications. Get longer, stronger, more natural feeling nails with a durable finish and shine that lasts.
  • REVEL NAIL: We strive to offer the highest quality products. Our products are made in the USA, calcium and vitamin E fortified, non-toxic and low odor, vegan, cruelty-free, and water and crack resistant.


I also love Revel’s Margo, which will read as a glitter polish with a few coats! Sweet, chic, understated. 

SNS Nail Dip Powder, Gelous Color Dipping Powder – Barely Touch (Natural, Nudes/Pastel, Cream) – Long-Lasting Dip Nail Color Lasts 14 Days – Low-Odor & No UV Lamp Required – 1oz
  • EXQUISITE SHADES: SNS Nail’s Core Colors is our timeless color palette that is made with fine grain powder that helps create a richer and more vibrant color. Our skin-friendly, low-odor formula dries instantly and creates a stunning, mirror-like finish without needing UV light. Color: Barely Touch (natural/nudes, pastel, cream)
  • GET LONG-LASTING COLOR AT HOME: Bring the nail salon experience home with our flexible, yet strong dip powder that lasts up to 14 days or more and is chip resistant. Please note that the dipping powder color may appear lighter in the jar compared to the final result on nails, similar to the difference between wet and dry eyeshadow.
  • STRONGER & MORE FLEXIBLE NAILS: Only SNS brings you bases and topcoats formulated with the Nutri-Plus System. Enriched with nutrients that nourish the natural nail and surrounding cuticles, packed with Vitamins A, E, D, B5, plus calcium and zinc
  • 10 FREE: Our dip powders and adhesives are formulated to be 10 Free, meaning free from a variety of harsh chemicals. SNS dip powders are formulated to be hypo-allergenic and are enhanced with ingredients to support nail growth
  • HEALTHY, BEAUTIFUL NAILS: Color creation is an art, and it takes decades to perfect. Over the past 30 years, SNS Nails has developed unrivaled mastery in nail color creation. You can recognize SNS by the extra richness and depth of the colors, and the way they radiate in that head-turning way

Okay, this one looks warm in the photo above. I know. And I know you’re thinking “this girl doesn’t know what she’s talking about”. But if you look at the review photos, some absolute queen has swatched six colors from this brand. This shade is cool and so lovely!

SNS Nail Dip Powder, Gelous Color Dipping Powder – Faded Blu Santorini (Baby Blue) -Long-Lasting Nail Color & Polish Lasts 14 Days – Low-Odor & No UV Lamp Needed
  • Instant Classic Hues: SNS Nail’s Say Yes Dip Powder Collection helps make your special day a little more special. The fine grain dip powder helps create a richer and more vibrant nail color. Our skin-friendly, low-odor formula dries instantly and creates a stunning, mirror-like finish without needing UV light. Color: Faded Blu Santorini (baby blue)
  • Get Long-Lasting Color at Home: Bring the nail salon experience home with our flexible yet strong dip powder that lasts 14 days or more and is chip resistant.
  • Stronger & More Flexible Nails: Only SNS brings you bases and topcoats formulated with the Nutri-Plus System. Enriched with nutrients that nourish the natural nail and surrounding cuticles, packed with Vitamin A, E, D, B5, plus calcium and zinc.
  • 10 Free: Our dip powders are formulated to be 10 Free, meaning free from a variety of harsh chemicals. We are also hypo-allergenic and enhanced with ingredients to support nail growth
  • Healthy, Beautiful Nails: Color creation is an art, and it takes decades to perfect. Over the past 30 years, SNS Nails has developed unrivaled mastery in nail color creation. You can recognize SNS by the extra richness and depth of the colors, and the way they radiate in that head-turning way.

Gosh this is a lovely color! Click through these options for a bunch of lovely light summer options –I also love Calla Me Lily for a light summer! 

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