I Tried “Lip Gloss” Nails: See Photos

For the last few months, I’ve been seriously neglecting my nails. I used to get a manicure like clockwork every two weeks, but I decided to take a small break from gel back in October, and the small break turned into a full three months of completely bare nails. Although there’s nothing wrong with bare nails, I knew I wanted to get back into my routine ASAP. The only question was where to start.

Then I spoke with celebrity nail artist Holly Falcone about 2023 nail trends, and she mentioned one look in particular that piqued my interest: “lip gloss” nails. Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. “Ultrashiny, glossy, almost jelly-like finishes are trending this winter,” Falcone previously told POPSUGAR. “Try them with a basic black topped with a very shiny, almost wet-looking top coat, or a sheer pink color for that lip-gloss nail trend.”

Typically I stay away from darker polishes, so I knew the black option wouldn’t work for me, but as a lover of everything neutral, I was sold on the sheer pink version. I had previously tried “glazed doughnut” nails and even the “’90s supermodel” manicure and loved them both, and since this trend seemed similar, I had a feeling I was going to be wearing it monthly.

To try the trend for myself, I went to my local nail salon and shared an inspiration photo with the nail tech. I suggested a few colors I thought would work for the trend, and originally I thought I would opt for one of my favorite go-to neutral colors from OPI. However, the manicurist insisted I try the IBD Just Gel Polish in Seashell Pink ($10) instead, and while I initially thought the color would be too pink, once everything was said and done, I realized she was spot on.

Because my nails had been neglected for the last few months, getting them back in good shape was a process. My cuticles needed some TLC, and my fingernails were so chipped and broken we had to trim them extra short.

After spending a lengthy amount of time cutting and shaping my nails into squares with rounded edges, the tech finally applied a base coat. From there, she used a thin layer of the IBD Just Gel Polish in Seashell Pink and let it cure. The initial color was impossibly glossy and shiny, but it was a little sheerer than what I was looking for, so we decided to add another layer. After swiping on one more coat, letting it cure, and adding a top coat, I was finished.

The final result was the most beautiful, sheer (but not too sheer), glossy pink color of my dreams. It genuinely looked like I had swiped a layer of my favorite lip gloss on top of my nails, and I was obsessed with the result.

Although I was initially a little nervous to test out a color that I had never tried before, I think I’ve found one of my new go-to shades. It’s elegant and sophisticated all while being fun and flirty at the same time. If you’re excited to test out “lip gloss” nails for yourself and your local nail salon doesn’t have this exact color — don’t fret. The OPI Bare My Soul ($21) and OPI Love Is in the Bare ($21) would work as well.