Butter nails: the new trend
What are we talking about?
Following on from soap nails, make way for Butter nails, putting yellow nail polish in the spotlight. But not just any yellow. Exit neon yellow or harsh mustard tones—instead, opt for butter yellow: a delicate pastel, sunny, almost creamy butter yellow. A subtle, fresh and refined polish shade that embodies the clean girl aesthetic and quiet luxury vibe.
Where did it all start? A manicure created by celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik for Selena Gomez. Then Hailey Bieber embraced the trend, pairing her butter nails with the iconic butter skin look from her skincare brand, Rhode. The result: glowing, perfectly hydrated skin with matching nails. A winning combination.
@tombachik.
Pastel yellow takes center stage on the runways
It is one of the standout shades of the Spring-Summer 2025 Fashion Week runways. From Jacquemus to Balenciaga and Coperni, every major fashion house showcased its take on this yellow hue. The trend is now taking over the nails of beauty insiders looking for luminous manicures just like their favorite fashion icons.
(@tagwalk)
How to wear yellow nail polish?
Yellow can feel intimidating. And yet, when done right, this sunny shade flatters all skin tones and adds an ultra-modern touch to your look. Here are our favorite ways to wear Butter nails to suit your every mood.
Yellow in color-block style
Nothing beats a solid shade to let yellow shine in all its glory. Great news: our Green™ and Green Flash™ ranges offer a gorgeous palette of yellow polishes to make this new nail trend your own.
Looking for a radiant yellow shade that isn't over the top? Mimosa is a soft pastel yellow, smooth like butter and fresh as lemon! Gorgeous on short, rounded nails, it especially flatters fair skin tones. To wear Mimosa, Lemonade and the whole palette with long-lasting wear, discover our selection of yellow gel nail polish cured under an LED lamp.
Looking for a more shimmering shade? Opt for Lemonade, a tangy pale yellow polish flecked with glitter, like the fizz of an iced sorbet. The perfect shade for medium to dark skin tones.
With Shell, the yellow softens slightly to make way for a nuanced, minimal white. Both raw and refined, this soft shade enhances fair and sun-kissed skin tones alike. Perfect for a barely-there manicure!
More festive, Gold is a velvety glitter gold with a jewel-like effect, like a shower of light on your nails. Perfect for luminous nails day and night, all year round! Dare to wear it on long, almond-shaped nails to enhance its ultra-glam look.
To show off your love for yellow, nothing beats Gold Button (available in Green™ polish only): a burst of sunshine at your fingertips, cheerful, bold and resolutely summery. We love wearing this vibrant yellow shade on short nails with sun-kissed skin!
Get creative with nail art
Yellow nail polish shades are perfect for creating delicate, graphic nail art designs. Here are a few ideas spotted on social media and in our favorite nail artists' studios:
Butter glazed nails: fall for these Butter nails with an irresistible icy finish, super easy to create: apply a coat of Green Mimosa polish, dust on a veil of White Glazed Effect powder and seal everything with Sunshine Top Coat.
(@griffegriffegriffe)
Mimosa & Lisa Lilas ombré: this gradient subtly blends the soft yellow of Mimosa with the gentle lilac of Lisa Lilas, drawing inspiration from flower fields in the South of France for a delightfully summery look.
(@m.o.n.a.j)
Flower nail art: yellow floral designs created with a dotting tool over Pale Rose polish applied as a base for a 100% spring bohemian vibe.
Pearl nail art: pearly shimmers over a pale yellow base, for a precious, textured and one-of-a-kind finish. A lovely blend of the pearlescent white of Moon and the iridescent yellow of Lemonade.
Caring for your yellow manicure
While yellow brightens nails, it can also highlight imperfections if the application is not neat. Three golden rules: prep, protect, hydrate.
Prepping the nail
A great manicure always starts with a clean, healthy base, the result of careful prep. Start by gently filing your nails into your desired shape. Apply a drop of Effective Cuticle Remover to soften cuticles, then push them back with a cuticle pusher for a neat, clean nail contour. Finally, gently buff your nails with the Prep file to smooth the surface and help polish adhere.
Applying Base Coat and Top Coat
Base Coat and Top Coat are your best allies to extend the wear time of your yellow manicure. Applying a coat of Green™ Base Coat (if you chose a Green™ polish) or a coat of Green Flash™ Vitamin Base Coat (if you chose a Green Flash™ polish) smooths the nail plate to make polish application easier. As for Sunshine Top Coat (for Green™ polishes) or Green Flash™ Top Coat (for Green Flash™ polishes), they bring radiance and high shine to your manicure while sealing in color.
Hydrate, always and forever
Remember to massage your nails daily, even when polished, with a drop of Green Oil and/or a little Perfecting Concentrate to deeply hydrate and nourish your cuticles.
Balancing tangy freshness and milky softness, butter nails mark the return of soft, luminous, and resolutely modern shades of yellow. Whether pastel, iridescent, or glittery, yellow brings sunshine to your manicure ☀️ Pick your shade based on your mood, nail shape, skin tone, and even your current playlist! Ready to “butter up” your nails?
