10 Nail Colors Celebrities Over 40 Are Obsessed With

When I ask celebrity nail artist Mazz Hanna to name the nail colors that help make your hands look more youthful, she quips: “I would like to take a moment to quote Aaliyah and say, ‘Age ain’t nothing but a number.’” But ever since I read in some magazine in high school that you can always tell someone’s age by their hands, I have obsessed over how much more wrinkly and sun-damaged my hands look than my face. However, I know I’m not the only one experiencing this anxiety: Google “how to make your hands look younger” and the internet yields almost 200,000 results.

Since nail polish is essentially makeup for your hands, I decided to reach out to the most seasoned “hand makeup artist” I know, Mazz, whose clientele includes Julia Roberts, Selma Blair, Idina Menzel and so many other stunning actresses over 40. “Which colors do your clients over 40 request the most?” I ask her urgently.

Mazz quickly put my age-related consternation into perspective with the sentiment that young-looking hands are really never top-of-mind for her… or her clients. “When it comes to nail polish, the options are truly endless regardless of age,” she tells me. If you want to make your hands look healthy and moisturized, that is cool.  “Hydrated, nourished cuticles are super flattering to the hand,” Mazz says, recommending the Amethyst Infusion Cuticle Oil from her (celebrity beloved) crystal-infused skincare line. But when it comes to nail polish, there are no rules about which shades age you and which make you look 10 years younger. But where nail color is concerned, “It is all about what makes you feel beautiful and confident in your own skin,” says Mazz.

All that said, Mazz still has a few choice colors that her clients over 40 always ask for — from subtle nudes to whimsical blues to versatile metallics. Want to know the go-to nail shades of stars like Julia Roberts and Selma Blair? Read on for 10 nail products celebs over 40 can’t stop requesting.