Once the ombré was “perfect” — or, as perfect as it was going to get — I went ahead and sealed it all with a layer of non-UV gel nail polish, and voila! While I loved the result, I did notice that the powder inside the polish started to ever so slightly crack the next day, but maybe it was because the shade I picked had a little bit of glitter in it. I’d try this again with a fully matte shade or even a different shade of nail polish if you are more skilled than I am!
Donya Momenian, Associate Fashion and Beauty Editor
To try the blush nail trend out myself, I opted for a light pink, almost neutral shade of polish and a mix of dark pink powder blush and red creme blush. I started out with two coats of the polish, letting each dry for a few minutes before moving on to the next step.
Once the last coat was dry, I went in with a small brush coated with creme blush, remembering to tap off the extra product before applying it to the nail. I first applied the red blush to the center of the nail and tapped outwards to create a fading effect. To soften the edges a bit more, I used light pink powder blush and blended. The powder blush was much fainter than the creme, so if you’re looking for a softer or stronger effect, it would be best to choose accordingly.
After giving the blush a moment to settle, I put a layer of top coat over my nails. This step was crucial since it locked the blush in place and gave the manicure a nice, shiny finish.
If I were to do it again, I would have gone for more of a pink hue than neutral to get a more cohesive look and a stronger overall blush effect with less of a contrast between the blush and the nail polish. I also think a smaller brush would be much easier to control and keep the blush in the center of the nails. Overall, it was a fun DIY and it has a cool look, but in comparison, I think jelly nails are easier and sleeker.
