When we need nail inspo, we scroll through Instagram. We do a deep dive into the accounts of celebrities, influencers, and most importantly, professional nail artists. And lately, as we’ve been scrolling through the aforementioned accounts, we’ve noticed a trend—that is, people are opting for a very specific and very surprising shade of nail polish: brown.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a standard solid-colored manicure or a detailed, designer set; we’ve been seeing brown nail polish everywhere. It seems that these shades—which range from light cappuccino colors to rich dark chocolate hues—are the color du jour. And after seeing it enough, we totally understand why. After all, brown nail polish is neutral, so it pairs well with everything (we’re talking about every color, outfit, and situation). Plus, it’s surprisingly sophisticated. Need some proof before you commit? No worries. Ahead, find our 18 favorite brown nail designs on Instagram.
One of my favorite things to do is browse through the beauty counters at department stores. It’s a source of endless inspiration—there’s makeup, skincare, fragrance, and more as far as the eyes can see. It reminds me of being a kid and going to a makeup counter with my mom.
The thing about beauty counters is that they can feel overwhelming. It’s hard to know what to pick when you’re faced with so many choices. If you’re looking for new beauty products in 2023, I talked to Autumne West, Nordstrom’s national beauty director, to learn what she recommends. Keep reading to see her curated edit of Nordstrom’s beauty section. After all, she does know it the best.
For the scoop on all things nail-related, I turned to celeb manicurist and content creator Hannah Lee. Her star-studded client list includes the likes of Zendaya, Gal Gadot, Zoe Saldaña, and Jennifer Lawrence. When it comes to content creation, Lee does it all: from lighting, filming, taking pictures, and editing her work into videos. Lee’s prediction for viral nail trends in 2023? She thinks it will be chrome nails but “in a way where it’s more subtle like [with] little accents like a French tip or negative space” and airbrushed nails. For the latter, she highlights the growing popularity of aura nails (nail art featuring a circular ombré or gradient design that resemble aura photos).
If I’m going to get nail art done, I want it to look as aesthetically pleasing as possible. If nail art is too busy, it can start to feel overwhelming on your fingertips. For this reason, it’s a good idea to choose your nail polish designs carefully.
With so many nail inspirations out there, it can be tough to decide what you want to try on your own nails. That’s why I reached out to nail experts to find the absolute best nail trends out there that will make your nails as aesthetically pleasing as possible. Amy Ling Lin, founder of Sundays Studios, and Jin Soon Choi, runway nail artist and founder of JinSoon, weighed in on their favorite nail designs. Screenshot these and save them for your next nail appointment—you won’t be disappointed.
Designed with high-performance, durable wear top of mind, you’d never know each formula is carefully made with natural, non-traditional polish ingredients. Not to mention, there’s a variety of finishes to choose from including matte, pearl, and glitter, and the precision brush makes application mess-free and easy-breezy. In our eyes, no Zara shopping cart is complete without a few of the brand’s best nail polishes, so we took the guesswork out of the selection process by highlighting all of our favorites below. Keep scrolling! 10 of the best Zara nail polishes are just ahead.
Like most folks out there, I give myself a free *extra AF* pass on my birthday. It’s the one day a year that I can truly go over the top and no one can really say a thing about it (thank you, based birthday gods). Something I struggle with, however, is finding what to wear on this special day—and I’m not just talking about clothes. My birthday is next week (the big 3-0), and of course, the first thing I did was proceed to Google “birthday nail designs” to get ideas for my celebratory manicure. I didn’t find much I was inspired by and thus, this article was born. I decided to tap three nail artists for some fresh ideas.
“For birthday nails, usually everyone wants designs that are a bit more special and personal to themselves,” says LeChat Nails Educator and nail artist Hemi Park. “For example, astrological sign-inspired mani or hand-painted favorite characters (like Disney) can be typical, or vacation destination-inspired designs have also been popular. I usually recommend going bold with color choices or patterns on shorter nails. Seeing current trends, choosing reflective glitters and French tip nails with bold accents can really make your nails pop. They’re also super fun to wear while celebrating your birthday week or month.”
That statement alone gave me a plethora of inspo, but Park actually didn’t stop there. “Any designs with exciting elements like thermal or reflective glitter polish [are great]. My favorite is the LeChat Nails Sky Dust Collection, which is absolutely wonderful for party season as well. Especially for the season of fun photo sessions, I recommend trying out reflective glitter on the nails because those glitters stand out under bright lighting and camera flash. I also personally love incorporating reflective glitters in a plaid design to add little glee.”
For more design ideas, keep on scrolling! There’s something for every birthday queen.
I love nail polish, and when I say that, I mean it. I have over 100 in my collection (yes, I counted), and that number used to be much higher until I took it upon myself to make cuts. It saddened me to do so, but I had to. At the time, my collection was taking over an entire shelf in my closet, and I needed that space for other things, like, well, clothes.
So, I consider myself a connoisseur of nail polish, and I like to collect only the colors that make me happiest—whether that’s a soft French-inspired pink, a vivid seaside blue, or a perfect cherry red.
Lately, I’ve been reaching for all of those shades (and more) thanks to one, underrated nail polish brand called Habit Cosmetics. The brand sells some of its nail polishes at Target, but I’ve discovered that not everyone knows about it. And that’s a shame because it has some of the best nail polish shades in the game. Keep scrolling to shop my favorite shades.
For most of my life, I’ve been a red nail polish devotee. There was a time when I only ever painted my nails red—you’d never see me with any other color on my fingertips. I still love making a statement with bold nail polish colors, but in the past few years, I’ve learned to embrace softer, more subtle nail polish shades.
While I’d argue that when it comes to nail polish, red is a neutral, there’s something to be said for truly neutral nail colors. These nail colors, particularly in sheer washes, go with absolutely everything. Sheer nail polish is perfect for any occasion, it goes with everything in your closet, and it’s kind of like a filter for your nails—they’ll look low-key but still polished.
Keep reading for the best-selling and editor-favorite sheer nail polishes, separated into categories for every color.
Say hello to Unfiltered, a fresh beauty series where you’ll get an exclusive glimpse into the dressed-down beauty routines of our favorite celebrities and content creators. They’ll reveal their guilty-pleasure beauty practices, the five-minute-routine product lineup they can’t live without, the one good-skin tip they’ll be forever thankful for, and so much more. To bring every conversation full circle, we ask each celebrity to send us a selection of self-shot, filter-free photos of their choosing to capture the essence of their Unfiltered beauty philosophy.
Up next, we’re getting to knowactor Brianne Howey, who stars as Georgia on the Netflix hit show Ginny & Georgia. Below, she’s answering all of our rapid-fire questions and sharing her favorite products, best-kept wellness tips, and more. Enjoy!
If you had to leave the house in five minutes, what are a few staple beauty products you’d apply or bring with you?
I would definitely bring under-eye concealer—100%, that’s a must for me. I would probably bring a brow gel just to keep the girls in place, and I am obsessed with the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion ($17). So for emergencies, I would definitely keep that with me.
Do you have a favorite brow gel? You have really, really nice brows.
Anastasia! It’s always my go-to.
How about skincare—can you walk me through your morning and evening routines?
Of course. First off, tools. Twice a week, I love using my Clarisonic ($135). I think it’s a must. And then I’ll do a couple of masks a week depending on what’s going on. I love the Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial AHA + BHA Mask ($80)—obsessed. And then the Eminence Organic Skin Care Eight Greens Phyto Masque ($59).
That’s the one that heats up and feels really spicy on your face, right?
Yes! You’re a little bit pink or red afterward, but it clears up everything. So the Clarisonic, the masks, and then I also use a facial steamer a couple of times a week, and I swear it immediately reduces fine lines.
Because I utilize these tools and these masks, I feel like I can keep my daytime and nighttime routine simple. I’ll do a really clean foaming cleanser and sunscreen in the morning, and then at night, I’ve been using a lot of this brand called U.SK Under Skin, especially the serums, a light moisturizer, plus the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion anywhere and everywhere. [Laughs]
Do you have a favorite sunscreen? It can be so hard to find a good one.
I love Supergoop! They have an amazing tinted one, and they also have a really great regular one that’s clean and never makes me break out. Sunscreen can be really tricky, especially if you’re layering makeup over it, but the tinted one is really perfect if you’re on the go.
Agreed—love Supergoop! How does your own approach to beauty compare with that of your character on Ginny & Georgia?
I would say it’s pretty different. Georgia loves utilizing fun colors and loves playing dress-up. She loves matching with her outfits and having everything be on theme, whereas I keep it pretty simple for the most part. I try to keep it fast. I don’t want to use up too much time, so I’ll on throw my Clé de Peau Beauté concealer ($75)—I’m obsessed with it—and then some BareMinerals foundation ($35), which I just brush on really fast. Some Anastasia brows, and then I love Laura Mercier’s Caviar Stick Eye Shadow ($32). It’s just super easy to swipe on. If it’s nighttime, I throw on a black liner (I like gel formulas because they go on so smoothly) and then some blush! I love my Laura Mercier blush ($34), but Drunk Elephant also has these Rosi Glow Drops ($36) that add a nice tint and glow to your skin.
What about mascara? I’m a big lash girl, so I’m always nosy and want to know what people are using. [Laughs]
Yes! You know what I love? Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Lengthening Mascara ($28). It goes on so well, it doesn’t clump, and it also washes off fast and easily. It’s super simple. I don’t know if the magic is in the bristles of the brush or what.
I swear Benefit has some of the best mascaras, and I love that one too. Do you have any favorite makeup or beauty tips that you’ve picked up while on set?
I really like keeping any facial tools or eye patches in the fridge. When you apply them, the coldness really reduces any puffiness and redness, so I love doing that. Also, for season two, our makeup artist used a really fine brush to apply the under-eye concealer. It’s not something I had ever done before, but I actually think it helps a lot with preventing creases as opposed to a sponge. Oh! Another fun little trick is to put white eyeliner on the inner-lower rim of your eye. It really makes them pop.
I’m sure that’s especially helpful when you have early call times or a crazy schedule without a lot of sleep.
I will take all of the help I can get! All of the eye patches, all of the brightening, whitening—yes!
What about hair? Do you have any nonnegotiable products or practices that keep it strong?
I love using Oribe. I love the Gold Lust Dry Shampoo ($48) and the Dry Texturizing Spray ($49). For shampoo and conditioner, I’m using Pureology’s Hydrate collection right now. It’s just wonderful, and it smells amazing. We wrapped up shooting for season two a couple of months ago, and they have hot tools on your hair multiple times a day in between takes and constantly switching up looks. You’re also getting your hair color-treated a little more frequently to help with continuity. So when we wrapped, I took it down a few notches just to bring some new life back into my hair and let her breathe a little bit. I stopped getting as many highlights and just let it be a little more natural. I’ve been having some fun with that, and it’s also nice to just mix it up a little bit.
That said, I do have the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer ($429), which is a complete game changer. I have surprisingly thick hair, and it used to take me 45 minutes to an hour to dry my hair, and now, I can get it done in like 25 minutes.
It’s so good! It’s spendy but a really smart investment if people can do it. We’re super obsessed with fragrance at WWW—do you have a signature scent, or do you switch it up?
I love Jo Malone London Grapefruit Cologne ($80). It’s clean, simple. … I don’t want anything too loud. I feel like it works day to night, and I just love it.
It’s such a classic. Hmm, okay. How about some high/low? What’s the most affordable beauty product that you can’t live without, and what’s the most expensive?
I love the Dr. PawPaw Multi-Purpose Balm ($6). It comes in a red tube. … I think I’m addicted to it! I put it on everything because it’s not just for your lips. I love it for skin everywhere. We shot season two in the winter, and it’s just so moisturizing and wonderful. For most expensive … I think La Mer. I have a La Mer eye cream that I love. I just love it so much.
Your Instagram is full of travel highlights—what are some treasured products or pieces of beauty wisdom you’ve picked up in other areas of the world?
You know what’s so funny is that I didn’t really notice this until I was in Paris, and of course, I bought a bunch there, and now that I’m home, I’m like, “Oh my gosh, I could have also gotten it here.” But Caudalie! Amazing! They have this gorgeous face mist that I can’t get enough of. And what else… Biologique Recherche. I just feel like it’s a lot easier to get when you’re in Europe. It’s a hunt when you’re here, but I love grabbing that when I’m abroad. I discovered it when I was shooting in London, actually. I was getting a facial, and that’s what the esthetician was using.
It’s such a nice line! They actually just opened their first flagship store in the U.S. here in L.A. last year, which I’m super happy about. The facials are amazing. Okay, switching gears. Beauty and wellness are so intertwined—do you have any sacred self-care rituals or tips for staying centered when life starts to feel especially stressful?
In the last couple of months, I started doing acupuncture, and it’s an enormous game changer to help with stress. Sleep is something that I’ve always struggled with. I’ve always had a little bit of insomnia, and I can get really anxious at nighttime. The acupuncture not only helps long-term, but that 30 minutes when I’m doing it is almost like a gateway for me to meditation. Meditating can be an incredibly intimidating exercise, so it sort of forced me to stay still in the moment and focus on breathing. When that time is already carved out for you, it makes it so much easier.
Definitely—I’m personally so intimidated by meditation even though I know it’s so life-changing for people. I sit down for two minutes and immediately start to squirm. [Laughs]
Right! You get distracted, and then your pet’s there. [Laughs] … It’s so hard! I have so much admiration for people who do it. But I guess that’s why they call it a practice. I really respect people who take it very seriously.
Completely. Okay, so let’s say you have a whole day. You’re not working and have absolutely nothing to do and are devoting it entirely to self-care. What would you do, start to finish?
I would … take my dog on a walk. I love getting to spend time with Bodie, especially if it’s not rushed and we can take our time. I love starting off my day like that. Then, I will make a nice breakfast—like actually take the time to make some delicious scrambled eggs and actually cut up some fruit. Maybe even sit outside to enjoy it. Then, Pilates. I love doing Pilates classes. It just feels so good to stretch and to tone. I feel like Pilates is what helped me get through COVID. It really helped with my mental health. I would take a nice shower and lather myself with a lot of body oil—Osea’s Undaria Algae Body Oil ($52) and Body Butter ($56). Especially if you mix them together, [they’re] phenomenal. I would indulge in a book. That always feels like a luxury if I have time. I’m reading The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan right now. It’s actually really dark, but I also really love dark content.
I’m such a huge book lover and have seen so many people buzzing about that one. It’s on my list.
Oh my gosh, okay. It’s really heavy. It’s like The Handmaid’s Tale for mothers, but it’s very thought-provoking and provocative, and I have also cried quite a bit while reading it.
I’ve been warned!
Yeah, yeah, it’s heavy—I’m about 20 pages away from finishing it and just gutted. But then I would go out to eat dinner either with girlfriends or with my husband. That always feels like such a treat—not having to make dinner or do the dishes. And then I love going to the movies. I feel like that really got robbed during COVID, and the novelty will never wear off for me.
Me too—nothing else compares. Okay, this is actually my last question! What’s your Unfiltered beauty philosophy in seven words or less?
Here’s the thing about January Jones: she always looks effortlessly incredible. At 44 years old, the star is always serving aspirational beauty looks. I constantly wish I had access to her entire beauty routine, because I’m pretty confident that that would make me unstoppable.
Luckily, Jones is known to share her beauty secrets on Instagram from time to time. This year, she shared her favorite beauty products for 2023. “I was going to just do a short list to bring on a deserted island, but I have no plans to be on a deserted island this year,” she says. Keep reading for the 27 products Jones will be using in 2023 (and that we will now be using too).
A manicure and OPI nail polish go together like peanut butter and jelly, or Beyoncé and Jay-Z. The combo just makes sense. In fact, we’d argue OPI just might be the most iconic and well-loved nail polish brand of all time, easily boasting some of the most in-demand cult colors within the nail realm. And when you think of how many nail polishes there are out there, that’s pretty damn impressive.
Even if you’re not a nail polish person (don’t worry; we won’t judge), chances are high that you’ll recognize fan-favorite shades like I’m Not Really a Waitress, Lincoln Park After Dark, or Cajun Shrimp. And if not, don’t stress. We’re about to serve up a covetable list featuring 20 of the best-selling OPI nail colors of all time. Curious to know which OPI colors nail polish lovers everywhere hoard obsessively? Keep scrolling!
In case you’re new around here, we Who What Wear beauty editors are very into fragrance. With every new fragrance launch, we’re always falling over each other on Slack to discuss the absolute best new launches and the classics that we can just never quit.
When it comes to perfume, I feel like I’m always coming back to some of my tried-and-true favorites. What can I say? At this point, I know exactly which fragrances will earn me tons of compliments per wear.
In 2023, however, I’m trying to branch out as much as possible with my fragrance choices. So many perfumes are incredibly interesting and unique, and it’s high time that I put them center stage. My resolution is to wear a different fragrance every day for the first week of 2023 to test out some of the quirkiest fumes—see the seven I’ll be testing below, plus some of each brand’s more toned-down counterparts.
Nail polish is one of my all-time favorite things. I’ve been known to match my nail color to my mood, my outfit, you name it. One thing about many nail polishes that bothers me, however, is that many of them are not sustainable.
Enter Ela + Mila, an eco-friendly nail polish brand that also has every color under the sun. Named after one of the founder’s twin daughters, this brand has slowly been gaining momentum in the nail space.
While you’ve probably heard of seven-free or ten-free nail polishes, Ella + Mila is a whopping 17-free, meaning that all the polishes contain no acetone, animal-derived ingredients, bisphenol-a, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, gluten, glycol ether of series e, nonylphenol ethoxylate, parabens, phthalates, styrene, sulfate, toluene, triphenyl phosphate, or xylene. If chemical-free nail polish is important to you, this brand is well worth your attention. Keep reading for the ten best colors Ella + Mila has to offer.
Nearly 20 years later, Nordstrom is still my beauty haven. But now, I can look at reviews before I purchase anything,unlike choosing blindly and hoping for the best at a physical store. There was a time when I loved trial and error, but these days I want to know what works for a range of people because it, at the very least, gives me what I’d call a beauty baseline. I mean, if a product has worked wonders for 20 people, then it just might work for me! With this in mind, I searched for all of the best beauty products at Nordstrom boasting rave reviews. Even as a beauty editor, many of these weren’t on my radar. (But they are now!) Keep scrolling for 20 of the most well-reviewed products at Nordstrom.
Nordstrom is my holy grail when it comes to great items I can grab that are under $100. Not to mention it has free shipping and its returns are so easy. It’s just the obvious choice when I need something affordable and chic. Whether I need a great candle for a housewarming gift, I’m looking for beauty items in mini sizes to use as stocking stuffers, or I want to grab an easy gift for an office holiday party, Nordstrom has it all. It’s pretty clear how much I love to shop at Nordstrom. I check its website basically every day. While on the hunt for some new affordable items to order for the holiday season, naturally Nordstrom’s site was the first one I went on. I found 30 under-$100 great items from home to beauty and fashion.
We’re pretty eyeliner obsessed—from the best waterproof liners to drugstore pencils, no liner goes underappreciated around here. But even the best pencils eventually go dull. And anyone who has ever ruined one of their favorites knows that when it comes to eye pencil sharpeners, there is definitely a class above the rest. Not only will a great sharpener keep your pencil pointy and precise, but it also reveals a fresh layer of product, which can help reduce the spread of bacteria.
According to celebrity makeup artist Allie Renee, a great eye pencil sharpener is an unsung hero in your tool kit. “Cosmetic pencil sharpeners are the most sanitary and efficient way to keep your products performing at their best,” she says.
So what separates the good sharpeners from the great ones? I’m glad you asked. “Because pencils come in many shapes and sizes, I like to have a sharpener with two size options,” Renee says. “A sharp blade is a must, too! I also look for something with a housing that can be removed or opened so I can clean it.”
Better yet, even prestige sharpeners tend to be fairly inexpensive. You only have to spend a few dollars for a tool that will last years and that will keep your eye, lip, and brow pencils in fighting form.
Simply put, says the makeup pro, “It’s a must-have in your beauty collection, even if you rarely ever think about it.” If you’re in need of an upgrade, keep scrolling for 10 of the very best eye pencil sharpeners, plus pencils to pair them with.
Beauty trends will always be fleeting—but none are more fleeting than TikTok beauty trends. TikTok beauty trends come and go so quickly that it feels like whiplash. Unlike other beauty trends, they can often feel like a very specific moment in time—they’ll trend for a couple weeks before burning out completely.
Although there are many trends from 2022 that won’t make the cut for 2023, there are a few with staying power. Below, see the trends that originated on TikTok that we anticipate will keep going strong in the new year.
Let’s just state the obvious: Nail wraps have a reputation for being a real pain in the you-know-what. Although these mani alternatives may have a bad wrap (heh), there are actually some serious pros to using them that far outweigh the cons.
First, they allow you to change up your nail color at the drop of a dime. Second, they’re a far more reasonably priced alternative to a professional mani. Hi—if you’re like me and casually drop $100+ at the nail salon each visit, you’ll be saving some serious cash in the long run. Not to mention the fact that they’re the fastest way to create your own at-home nail art that’s on the level of the below artists. The best nail polish strips will do that in next to no time.
Tinted moisturizers, BB creams, CC creams… Call them what you like, but they’re (typically) pretty interchangeable in terms of formula and are a great product alternative if you’re A) looking to give your skin a break from heavier foundations at the moment or B) just happen to prefer lighter, skincare-enhanced formulas. Another perk? The drugstore is secretly overflowing with top-rated formulas that perform just as (or sometimes better!) than some of the pricey, wider-known formulas.
We’re all about getting the most bang for your buck without having to sacrifice the finish, durability, or end result of our makeup application. So we took to beauty retailers like Amazon and Ulta, which feature a wide range of both high-end makeup brands and more affordable drugstore labels. Then, we searched for the top-rated, drugstore-priced tinted moisturizer formulas that had similar (if not nearly identical) ingredient recipes as more expensive names. Spoiler: We found quite a few! Below, we’re sharing nine of the best drugstore tinted moisturizers to try if you’re looking for an expensive-looking finish sans sticker shock. Keep scrolling!
