Finding Sheer Pink Nail Colours Is My Forte—This Is the Glassiest Polish I've Ever Tried
After seeing Manucurist's Hortencia shade all over my feeds, I put the sheer pink nail polish to the test. And I wasn't disappointed.
Call me boring, but in a world of ever-revolving nail trends and every nail colour choice at my disposal from my collection of nail polishes, I will always, always come back to a sheer pink manicure. You see, I love dabbling with an occasional French manicure or statement hue; I never regret going for a sheer nail shade. And much like milky nails, they're chic, timeless and go with every outfit or occasion. And over the past few years, I've made it my mission to find the best sheer pink nail colours. From Chanel Ballerina to Essie Sugar Daddy, I've pretty much tried them all.
However, I kept seeing one specific Manucurist nail colour all over my social feeds, and since trying it out for myself, I've been seriously impressed. The shade in question? Hortencia. And it's quickly become my go-to for a glass-like manicure at home.
Manucurist Hortencia
Pros
- Sheer pink that suits everyone
- Glossy finish
- Comes in both nail polish form and in Green Flash—a gel nail alternative that cures with a lamp
Cons
- Needs at least two coats for the best result
Hortencia is a pretty, sheer pink shade with a delicate blush tone that gives a "you nails, but better" effect. It subtly brightens the nail plate, but remains sheer and glass-like to make your nails look healthy and incredibly shiny. I often see it being used as the base for nail art or a French tip, but I love it on its own for a classic neutral mani.
One coat is almost clear, and two adds a tint of pink, but for me, three coats is the sweet spot for a slightly milkier pink finish. It comes in both Manucurist's regular nail polish and in the Green Flash formula, which is a gel nail alternative that you "cure" with the Manucurist Green Flash LED lamp for a longer-lasting, gel-like manicure.
I opted for the Green Flash formula and topped it with the Manucurist Xtrem Flash Top Coat. And honestly? I've actually had friends mistake it for a gel manicure. It makes the nails look so plump and glossy, and it can last up to 21 days, which is seriously impressive.
What makes it so versatile is that it looks great worn alone, but it's also a great base for other nail art. Above, manicurist Mateja Novakovic has paired it with Manucurist's Pink Glazed Powder (£9) for a beautiful pink chrome finish. And below she's used it as a base for micro nail art—how chic are those hearts?
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The sheer pink shade in Manucurist's gel formula that you'll wear time and time again.
If you opt for the Green Flash formula, why not try the LED Starter Kit? It promises a long-lasting, chip-free manicure for up to three weeks, and you can pick any shade in the kit.
This is the nail top coat I swear by when using the kit. It looks and feels like a gel manicure whilst remaining easy to remove and gentle on the nails.
How We Tested
I've been wearing the Manucurist Green Flash nail polish in the shade Hortencia for the past week to see how well the formula lasts on the nails. I've also been experimenting with how it looks with multiple coats versus a single coat. I tested the Green Flash version, which I tested alongside Manucurist's nail lamp to cure the polish into a long-lasting finish.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products, including some skincare, makeup, hair and nails, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.
