20 Best Festive Holiday Nail Colors of 2023

Best Splurge

Hermès Les Mains Hermes Nail Enamel in Bleu Encre

Best Splurge

Hermès Les Mains Hermes Nail Enamel in Bleu Encre

Midnight blue makes for a perfect winter shade, with its depth and fullness that can make any nail pop. We especially love this shade from Hermès, which provides full creamy coverage and long-lasting wear. (Plus, it makes for one of the chicest holiday gifts).

Best Red

PLA Gel Polish in Very Merry Kissmas

Best Red

PLA Gel Polish in Very Merry Kissmas

A bright red can be worn all year round, but there's something especially festive about this wonderful shade. This PLA polish is a bright neon take on the classic color and it boasts a formula—as with any PLA polish—that is free from harmful ingredients such as formaldehyde, parabens, phthalates, resin, and more.

Best Sparkle

Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in 171 Sequins

Best Sparkle

Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in 171 Sequins

Is it even winter without some shimmer? We always know to turn to Chanel for a classic black shade, but if want to subtly elevate the look you go for this glitter finish that's just lovely.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Best Clean Polish

Gitti Nail Lacquer in No. 186

Best Clean Polish

Gitti Nail Lacquer in No. 186

Since making its debut in the US this past summer, Gitti polish has been at the top of everyone's list. Made with an 82 percent plant-based formulation that is also free of 30 known toxic ingredients, this polish gives your nails great color coverage as well as providing beauty lovers with one of the cleanest polishes out there. Our pick this winter is this bright deep plum called No. 186.

Best Gold

Sally Hansen Insta Dri Nail Lacquer in Go For Gold

Best Gold

Sally Hansen Insta Dri Nail Lacquer in Go For Gold

Shiny and warm, gold is the classic metallic to turn to in any winter. This one from Sally Hansen dries in about a minute, so you can move right on to gift wrapping and other important winter things.

Best Shade Name

Butter London Patent Shine 10X Nail Lacquer in Boozy Chocolate

Best Shade Name

Butter London Patent Shine 10X Nail Lacquer in Boozy Chocolate

This rich chocolate brown makes for a great everyday option and comes in a glossy sheen for those that what their nails to really shine. Plus, foodie beauty was one of the biggest trends this year, and this shade of chocolate fits perfectly.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Best Long-Lasting

JinSoon Nail Lacquer in Obsidian

Best Long-Lasting

JinSoon Nail Lacquer in Obsidian

Tiny silver flecks brighten up this deep JINSoon black shade. Plus, it also has one of the best-staying powers of any polishes out there (with a formula that is 21-free), so turn to this when you want your mani to last as long as possible.

Best Brown

Tenoverten Nail Lacquer in Cliff

Best Brown

Tenoverten Nail Lacquer in Cliff

There's just something warm and inviting about terracotta. In summer, this would look like the perfect beachy neutral. But in winter? It's giving gingerbread in the best way.

Best Bright Shade

Ciaté London Plant Pots Nail Lacquer in Iced Frappe

Best Bright Shade

Ciaté London Plant Pots Nail Lacquer in Iced Frappe

A light lavender shouldn't only be worn in spring. What's cool about this pastel is that it's also a bit silvery, so the metallic vibe helps brighten things up.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Best Muted Shade

J.Hannah Nail Lacquer in Compost

Best Muted Shade

J.Hannah Nail Lacquer in Compost

We can't stop looking at this muted olive that will most likely earn a permanent spot in our nail color rotation this winter.

Best Iridescent Shine

Olive & June Nail Lacquer in Sugarcoat

Best Iridescent Shine

Olive & June Nail Lacquer in Sugarcoat

Have slight Barbiecore fatigue but still want to incorporate pink this winter? This is the perfect shade for you. This buildable sheer coverage is a sweet and fun pink that's not overwhelming.

Best Velvet Effect

Nails Inc. Magnet Effect Nail Polish in Play The Field

Best Velvet Effect

Nails Inc. Magnet Effect Nail Polish in Play The Field

Now 50% Off

An emerald green is stunning on its own, but what makes this one perfect for winter is the cool velvet effect. The polish comes with a magnet that helps add texture to the polish as it dries.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Best Metallic Orange

Orly Nail Lacquer in Light My (Camp)Fire

Best Metallic Orange

Orly Nail Lacquer in Light My (Camp)Fire

This warm copper with a metallic sheen gives foliage vibes. As an added bonus, you don't need a base or top coat to ensure this stays on.

Best Glitter

OPI Nail Lacquer in Hot & Coaled

Best Glitter

OPI Nail Lacquer in Hot & Coaled

For all-out glitter, we love this OPI shade. It brightens up a black base with glitter specks of purple, pink, silver, and turquoise for something really fun.

Best Silver

Mooncat Nail Lacquer in Outlaw Country

Best Silver

Mooncat Nail Lacquer in Outlaw Country

If Beyoncé taught us anything, it is that 2023 is the year of silver. This creamy full-coverage metallic shade has silver shimmer for added drama and makes for one of the prettiest shades this winter.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Best Retro Red

Essie Nail Lacquer in Vintage Vanity

Best Retro Red

Essie Nail Lacquer in Vintage Vanity

Inspired by Old Hollywood glamour, Vintage Vanity is a luscious red with a retro feel. It's a new take on a classic shade.

Best Gemstone Green

Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in Wild Thing

Best Gemstone Green

Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in Wild Thing

We love this polish for the creamy gemstone green shade and the impressive formula that contains nourishing ingredients like keratin, biotin, and green tea extract.

Best Winter White

Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer in White Lightning

Best Winter White

Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer in White Lightning

We love a winter white. This shade from Dazzle Dry goes on bright and lasts for about two weeks of wear.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Best Black Shade

Mischo Nail Lacquer in Run The World

Best Black Shade

Mischo Nail Lacquer in Run The World

This creamy black polish is great year-round, but we especially love it in the dark days of winter on both fingers and toes.

Best Holographic

Zoya Nail Lacquer in Twinklette

Best Holographic

Zoya Nail Lacquer in Twinklette

This rose gold shade is infused with pink shimmer flecks for a holographic effect. You can wear it alone or layer it with another polish for instant drama.

Audrey Noble is a freelance writer and reporter. She writes celebrity profiles and does deep-dive features about the ways race, gender, sexuality, and other forms of identity impact society via the beauty industry. Her previous work experience includes editorial positions at Vanity Fair, Refinery29, and Allure. Her writing can also be seen in Vogue, Harper’s BAZAAR, Bustle, HelloGiggles, and more. You can keep up with her on Twitter.

Watch Next

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qa3RqZyrq5KWx6Kt0WeaqKVfl7KiwdOyZqeZmaHAcLOTbWxvZ5KawLV51qKlrZ2iYrWwuMidmLJlnpa2rXnPqKOiq5hk