Jennifer Lopez Layers Two Nail Colors for the Perfect Milky White Manicure

Of course, we have the shade breakdown.

jennifer lopez at atlas premiere
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Certain nail polish shades are summer staples: CND’s Studio White, Essie’s Bikini So Teeny, or OPI’s Mod About You. Despite the hundreds of thousands of polishes in existence, the dreamiest milky white—not fully transparent or opaque with a subtle opalescence—is hard to pin down. But leave it to Jennifer Lopez to debut the perfect version on the red carpet, by combining two shades: Aprés Nail Official Light & Shadow Gel Couleur in shades Renewal and Daydreaming.

Lopez wore the cloud-like creation to the Los Angeles Netflix premiere of her new movie, Atlas, on Monday, May 20. Her manicure popped against the dark fabric of her Greta Constantine skirt while playing up the drama of her exaggerated emerald cocktail ring.

The elegantly minimal look is the brainchild of the singer's go-to nail artist, Tom Bachik. Bachik dreamed up the “glamorous” manicure to channel Old Hollywood for Lopez, starting with a sleek and elegant oval nail shape. He then used Aprés Base Coat and Non-Wipe Top Coat to ensure chip-free, long-wear color. (And long-wear, it was: Lopez also wore this manicure through her Jimmy Kimmel appearance Monday night).

jennifer lopez hands at the atlas movie premiere

Lopez's manicure had a pearly finish achieved by combining two nail polish shades.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

A layered look isn’t anything new—just look to last year's glazed donut manicure craze for proof. Still, it’s projected to be a big 2024 nail trend again and an easy way to emphasize your personal style.

“Take the season’s pastels, or even a sheer nude, and add a coat of shimmer sparkle, or pearl,” nail artist Miss Pop previously recommended to Marie Claire while predicting the season’s biggest nail trends. “It takes any nail color and subtly makes it look sun-kissed—like you went to Aruba for spring break.”

I have a feeling I’ll be trying out J.Lo’s color combo ASAP, but the summer-appropriate layering options are endless. I’ve assembled a few of my favorite duos for your shopping pleasure, ahead.

For a Milky White

For a Milky Pink

For a Milky Blue

Samantha Holender
Senior Beauty Editor

Samantha Holender is the Senior Beauty Editor at Marie Claire, where she reports on the best new launches, dives into the science behind skincare, and shares the breakdown on the latest and greatest trends in the beauty space. She's studied up on every ingredient you'll find on INCI list and is constantly in search of the world's glowiest makeup products. She's constantly tracking the biggest nail and hair trends to pop up in the beauty space, going backstage during fashion weeks, tracking celebrity looks, and constantly talking to celebrity hair stylists, nail artists, and makeup artists. Prior to joining the team, she worked as Us Weekly’s Beauty and Style Editor, where she stayed on the pulse of pop culture and broke down celebrity beauty routines, hair transformations, and red carpet looks. Her words have also appeared on Popsugar, Makeup.com, Skincare.com, Delish.com, and Philadelphia Wedding. Samantha also serves as a board member for the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME). She first joined the organization in 2018, when she worked as an editorial intern at Food Network Magazine and Pioneer Woman Magazine. Samantha has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs. While at GWU, she was a founding member of the school’s HerCampus chapter and served as its President for four years. When she’s not deep in the beauty closet or swatching eyeshadows, you can find her obsessing over Real Housewives and all things Bravo. Keep up with her on Instagram @samholender.