When I Want My Nails to Look Understated and Healthy, These Polishes Deliver

Prefer a subtle sparkle to glittery nails? The best shimmer nail polishes deliver the prettiest twinkle to your nails, and these nine are our favourites.

A collage of shimmer nail polishes
(Image credit: @iramshelton, @matejanova)
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Although part of my job is writing about nail trends for a living, I only ever dabble in a small amount of nail art. Usually, you'll find me wearing a sheer pink manicure or sheer white nail polish (milky nails, princess nails—whatever you call them, I'm a sucker for a minimalist mani). So when it comes to the party season, I like to call upon the best shimmer nail polishes to give a nod to the festive season without going OTT. As much as I adore a festive manicure or Christmas nail design, I've never been a glitter nail polish person.

Thankfully, shimmer nail polishes have come a long, long way from the Y2K frosted finishes. Instead, today's formulas offer a semi-sheer sparkle with tiny flecks of pearl and glitter that add an iridescent glow to your nails. They're perfect if you don't want to go down the glitter route, but you still crave a little sparkle on your nails. They're like a highlighter for your nails, and they catch the light in the prettiest of ways.

Having scrolled through the IG feeds of my favourite nail techs, I've found the best shimmer nail polishes that you'll want to wear for the party season and beyond.

Best Shimmer Nail Polishes

1. Manucurist Active Shine Nail Polish

Mateja Novakovic wearing Manucurist Active Shine Nail Polish

(Image credit: @matejanova)

If you love a subtle sparkle, allow me to point you in the direction of Manucurist's Active Shine nail polish. This sheer polish has tiny flecks of glitter that work beautifully layered on its own (two coats are optimum) or applied over your regular nail polish for a shimmering finish. It's also infused with ingredients to help strengthen and repair your nails as you wear it. It looks particularly classy on short nails.

2. Essie Gel Couture Top Coat in Diamond Dust

A sheer sparkly manicure by Iram Shelton

(Image credit: @iramshelton)

I've long sung the praises of Essie's Gel Couture Top Coat—it looks and feels like gel, and makes my nail polish last for well over a week—but I have my eyes on the shimmer version for the party season. Aptly called Diamond Dust, it contains fine silver pigments to make your nails sparkle. It's ideal to layer over your nail polish, but I love how chic it looks worn alone, too.

3. Manucurist Green Flash Polish in Moon

Mateja Novakovic wearing Manucurist Moon Nail Polish

(Image credit: @matejanova)

Manucurist's Moon nail polish might just be the prettiest pearly hue I've laid eyes upon. It's more pearly than glittery, so it's a great shade to try if you want something more pearlescent on your nails. It comes in both Manucurist's Green Polish and the Green Flash formula, which pairs with Manucurist's LED kit for a longer-lasting finish.

4. Nails Inc Nail Polish in Glowing Somewhere

Iram Shelton wearing Nails Inc Glowing Somewhere Nail Polish

(Image credit: @iramshelton)

I love this shade by Nails Inc. With its milky pearl hue, it has a iridescent finish that quite literally makes your nails glow. One coat delivers a subtle shimmer, while two gives a more pearlescent milky glow to your fingertips.

5. Chanel Le Vernis in Beach Icon

A pedicure by Milly Mason with Chanel Beach Icon nail polish

(Image credit: @millymason_)

Trust Chanel to create one of the most beautiful shimmer nail polishes. This shade is limited edition, so it's best to snap it up while you can, but I adore the pretty shimmer it delivers to the nails. It even makes a great December pedicure colour.

6. Gelcare Gel Polish in Polar Mist

Hand wearing Gelcare Polar Mist

(Image credit: Gelcare)

How stunning is this shimmer gel polish? This sheer polish has tiny flecks of silver micro-glitters that catch the light so beautifully. It's all I want to wear on my nails right now, and I love the effect on bare nails.

7. OPI Nail Polish in Chiffon-D of You

Iram Shelton wearing OPI chiffon-d of you

(Image credit: @iramshelton)

Chiffon-D of You is one of my favourite OPI nail colours when I want a shimmery pink manicure. It has a pearly finish that resembles chrome nails with a pretty, creamy pink hue that looks delicate on the nails.

8. Dior Dior Vernis Top Coat in Circus

9. H&M A.S.A.P Quick Dry Nail Polish in I Fancy a Donut

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Eleanor Vousden
Eleanor Vousden
Beauty Editor, Who What Wear UK

Eleanor Vousden is the beauty editor for Who What Wear UK. She was previously deputy editor at Hairdressers Journal, health writer at Woman & Home and junior beauty editor at Powder. She has also contributed to Wallpaper and Elle Collections.

With a degree in fashion journalism from the London College of Fashion, she has 10 years of industry experience and has been highly commended at the BSME Talent Awards for her work on Powder and also contributed to the title winning Website of the Year at the PPA Awards.

Eleanor’s journalistic focus is providing readers with honest and helpful beauty content. She has interviewed celebrity makeup artists, hairstylists and dermatologists throughout her career, as well as celebrities such as Hailey Bieber, Sarah Jessica Parker and Scarlett Johansson.

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