The Ultimate Guide to Every Type of Sheer Manicure, From Soap Nails to Jelly Manis

1@overgloweditDesigned to mimic the look of freshly washed skin and nails, soap nails are created using light-pink, soft nail colors. Think of it as your nails after an everything shower. It’s squeaky clean and fresh.2Jelly Nails@essieJelly nails are the cool younger sister of sheer manis. These typically involve jelly polishes, but you can also DIY by mixing your favorite shade with a clear top coat to sheet out the color. It’s meant to look like a tint: a teensy bit of color suspended in a sheer base. The cool thing with jelly nails is that they can be in any color: Blue, green, pink, red, orange, yellow—you name it. You’re not limited to neutrals here.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Milk Nails@iramsheltonNot quite white, but not quite as sheer either, milk nails have an ivory base but in a formula that looks cloudy on your fingers. It’s not opaque, but the white base is definitely visible. FWIW, milk nails are one of the most common bridal nail trends of 2026.4Naked Nails@paintedbyjoolsSo, naked nails can just be truly naked nails. Consider the bare nail trend happening right now. But it also can represent nails that look naked. Like your nails but better, naked nails usually incorporate polishes that help strengthen your nails and/or fill in ridges so your nails appear healthier.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Ombré French Tips@nailsbyzolaYup, your French tips can be sheer too. This ombré look keeps nails looking fresh and clean with a soft-pink base, but the addition of a milky-white tip adds a little differentiation that’s still minimal.6Coconut Latte Nails@chummy.nailsA new take on a milky white, coconut latte nails are a far cry from the bright, cool-toned White Out you spread on your nails in middle school. The creamy, ecru base is warmer in tone, resembling the subdued color of a tropical pina colada (or a coffee with lots of coconut cream).Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Milky Rosé Nails@gelcareWhat do you get when you combine milk nails with a brighter pink? Milky rosé, of course. There’s a bit more intensity to this shade, veering toward mauve and baby pink hues rather than the blush tones of soap nails. But of course, it’s still diffused with a milky undertone that keeps things muted.8Champagne Silk Nails@tombachikWorn by both Jennifer Lopez and Sabrina Gomez for Taylor Swift’s wedding, this take on a sheer white nail color gets its name because it’s ultra glossy. It makes your nails look silky smooth and healthy, with a delicate color that’s totally black-tie appropriate.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9BB Cream Nails@gelcare.officialOn your face, a BB cream smooths, blurs, and evens out your skin tone, all the while supporting your skin with hydration in the process. And that’s exactly what a BB cream nail polish does too. They’re usually skin color in some way, with a glossy finish that mimics the glow you get from a skin tint.10Lip Oil Nails@raelondonnailsLike a shiny lip gloss for your nails, this manicure features a soft pink color with a reflective shine. Typically, this is done with a soft brush of chrome powder on the nails, but a shimmery polish works too.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Syrup Nails@lolo.naileditSyrup nails are similar to jellies, but with a bit less color vibrancy. They’re also super shiny. Like dripping maple syrup on your nails.Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.