We’ve done our best to keep it all together these last few months, but our beauty routines sure have changed. For better or worse, we’ve been tasked with taking matters into our own hands when it comes to everything from chemical peels to hair colour. While we’ve gotten pretty good at executing at-home gel manicures, too, we can’t help but think of how nice it could be to use this extra time away from prying eyes to give our nails some breathing room away from that perfect-looking but sometimes damaging cured lacquer.
Fun fact: A number of nail polish brands have upped the ante by improving on their traditional nail polish formulas to look, feel, and perform more like gel, without the need to cure it under a light. And, of course, if you panic-purchased an at-home gel nail kit earlier this year, then you have even more gel nail polish options are available to choose from!
According to the calendar, we still have more than a month until autumn, but time isn’t real anymore, so we’re already taking stock of the best new autumn gel nail colours we’re most excited to wear. Ahead, check out the seven shades we’re pre-emptively swooning over, whether gel or gel-adjacent. Scroll for the mood board and shop the ones that speak to you most.