We can count on Selena Gomez for supplying us with a host of beauty inspiration at any given time, from Rare Beauty’s lineup of makeup must-haves to her always-chic manicures. And last night she stepped out for her annual Rare Impact Fund Gala in what might be one of my favorite nail looks from her yet—a deep wine red.
As soon as I saw the perfect fall shade, I asked her beloved nail artist Tom Bachik for all the details on the look, including the exact $12 polish he used and the inspiration behind the bold hue.
“We needed a shade that went with both her gorgeous Prada gowns for the night and Sel wanted a bit of color,” he explains. “We chose a deep Bordeaux jelly red from Olive & June that gives the same depth of color as the stones on her red carpet gown.”
As for the exact polish, Bachik used Olive & June’s SC Polish for Selena’s most recent fall manicure. “This is such a great shade because of it versatility; it’s not too warm (orange) or too cool (purple),” Bachik explains. “It has a brightness to it while the semi-sheer effect gives it depth and dimension, it’s the best of both worlds since jelly effects and jewel tones are both trending.”
After grooming and prepping the nail, “I typically use 2 coats as that’s normally how the colors are designed,” Bachik says. “But I’ll adjust to meet the look I’m going for, sometimes a single coat is perfect, or I’ll do three to get more depth.”
At-home gel makes it so easy to DIY a salon-level set, and he finished the look off with the brand’s clear top coat for some added shine. And no worries if you’re a regular polish devotee, the brand’s Blackberry Jam is a perfect deep red alternative.
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Meet the Expert
Tom Bachik is a celebrity manicurist who works with Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez, Anne Hathaway, and more.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.