Cover Rihanna dotted her fingertips with dreamy white lilac (photo: Getty Images)
Rihanna dotted her fingertips with dreamy white lilac (photo: Getty Images)
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Despite their unique and contrasting fashion styles, two IT girls, Rihanna and Selena Gomez, have both chosen to adorn their fingertips with a soft, dreamy milky white lilac purple. Quite the coincidence?
In recent years, the fresh, trendy lilac purple has stood out in the spring-summer palette and continues to be reinterpreted by fashionistas. Purple nail designs remain on-trend this summer. Championing the look are Rihanna and Selena Gomez, whose lilac purple nails, mixed with a hint of milky white, add a gentle, elegant and refined tone to the seasonal colour story. As part of the pastel purple family alongside lavender, the cool lilac shade helps balance a delicate and romantic mood.
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A touch of minimalism
Derived from the lilac flower, lilac belongs to the fresh pastel palette, blending purple with either pink or blue. The balance of pink and blue creates various lilac shades, all of which maintain a gentle and romantic essence. Notably, the milky white element in the lilac milk nail design enhances the purple’s translucency. This colour is often described as a dreamy, hazy purple with a matte white top coat. It is a highlight of the summer palette, understated yet eye-catching, sophisticated and luxurious.
Above Lilac purple is frequently blended with pink or blue (photo: IG/@nailsxmina)
Lilac purple is frequently blended with pink or blue (photo: IG/@nailsxmina)
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In her role as “Smurfette” in the animated film Smurfs (2025), Rihanna appeared at the Brussels premiere in a pastel blue chiffon dress by CHANEL, perfectly complemented by lilac nails. Her striking “jewellery” tips were expertly crafted by nail artist Jenny Longworth, who began with a BIAB gel base, followed by a transparent milky white coat in the shade Diana Lilac from The GelBottle Inc. This pastel tone is gentle and neutral, less bold than butter yellow but soft enough to pair effortlessly with various outfits. To add shine, Jenny applied an Extreme Shine Topcoat and used Cuticle Essence nail oil to keep the surrounding cuticles healthy and hydrated.
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Meanwhile, Selena Gomez opted for a milky lilac nail colour during a taping of ABC’s The Match Game. The soft purple hue stood out against her black Miu Miu dress, reminiscent of the lavender nails she debuted in March this year. Tom Bachik, Gomez’s longtime nail artist, described the shade as a dreamy lilac perfect for summer. He revealed he shaped Selena’s nails into an almond form using a Tweezerman nail care kit before applying Aprés Gel Colour’s Aster Family polish.
Variations in each shade
With its multi-tone palette, lilac suits a wide range of skin tones and can be customised accordingly. Light to cool complexions pair almost perfectly with any lilac shade. Meanwhile, pinkish or warm lilacs help neutralise yellow undertones on medium skin, while olive tones bring a healthy, fresh glow to the hands. Like other bright pastels, lilac through to soft milky lilac creates a striking contrast on darker skin. Adding a touch of metallic enhances personality without sacrificing softness.
Above Replacing traditional white, the nail tip is accented with lilac purple, offering an elegant, classic yet fresh look (photo: IG/@matejanova)
Replacing traditional white, the nail tip is accented with lilac purple, offering an elegant, classic yet fresh look (photo: IG/@matejanova)
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Lilac purple lends itself to a variety of styles, from minimalist to sophisticated. Plain nail designs, as favoured by Rihanna and Selena Gomez, or French tips, add elegance and luxury without appearing ostentatious. Pairing lilac purple with colours from the colour wheel allows for harmonious or contrasting effects. Lilac combined with neighbouring shades such as lavender, pastel pink or pastel blue suits those seeking femininity and refinement. In particular, milky white lilac, a pastel tone, blends beautifully with soft hues like baby pink, baby blue, nude, cream white and light grey, creating the ideal palette for a gentle, luxurious ‘clean girl’ aesthetic.
Above Creating a random colour palette across the fingers is a unique idea for summer nail designs (photo: IG/@lolo.nailedit)
Creating a random colour palette across the fingers is a unique idea for summer nail designs (photo: IG/@lolo.nailedit)
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By contrast, lilac purple stands out strikingly alongside opposing colours such as yellow and green, evoking a youthful and modern spirit. Additionally, chrome, 3D or purple glitter effects add a magical depth, reminiscent of a miniature galaxy sparkling on the nails.
The soft, fresh shade of milky white lilac purple has inspired nail designs that are minimalist, elegant and distinctive. Bridging summer and autumn, gentle lilac purple balances and softens warm tones, offering poetic combinations for the season.
