For most of my life, I’ve been a red nail polish devotee. There was a time when I only ever painted my nails red and you’d never see me with any other color on my fingertips. I still love making a statement with bold nail polish colors, but in the past few years, I’ve learned to embrace softer, more subtle nail polish shades. 

While I’d argue that when it comes to nail polish, red is a neutral, there’s something to be said for truly neutral nail colors. These nail colors, particularly in sheer washes, go with absolutely everything. Sheer nail polish is perfect for any occasion, it goes with everything in your closet, and it’s kind of like a filter for your nails—they’ll look low-key but still polished. 

Keep reading for the best-selling and editor-favorite sheer nail polishes, separated into categories for every color.