Harriet Westmoreland drops her first polish collection, inspired by afternoons spent painting nails with her grandmother
Harriet Westmoreland is the original “clean girl”, or at least the aesthetic’s architect. The manicurist’s Instagram account is a tableau of syrupy nudes and lo-fi, magnified nail shots, with each fingertip coated in gossamer-thin veils of varnish. Her style is the archetypal example of “quiet luxury” – her videos show perfect nails dipped in soapy bubbles or dripping with La Mer’s The Renewal Oil, and her clients include brands like Hermès and Chanel, or celebrities like Zendaya. While it’s all very exciting, her skill comes from humble beginnings: “I first fell in love with manicures through a weekly ritual I shared with my granny. We always chose the same shade: a soft milky white,” Westmoreland tells AnOther.
After her account took off (it’s currently at 382K followers), an eruption of sickly sweet “girl” aesthetics followed, like the vanilla girl, the strawberry girl and the cinnamon girl. With each, a sweep of nail trends came and went, but Westmoreland’s original style – shiny, sheer and short – endured. She’s known for meticulous prep and attention to detail (after all, barely there polishes won’t hide a hangnail), and now, she distils her expertise in Westmoreland Cosmetics.
“My Glass Gels give a sleek, glossy finish that feels fresh, juicy, and modern,” Westmoreland explains. Like Korean glass gels, Westmoreland’s formulas offer a high-shine finish, but a carefully curated colour palette sets them apart. “We never use white pigment,” she explains, “which means there’s no ashy cast, no chalkiness, and no dull texture.” The collection, which is called Vanilla Gloss, features five translucent nudes to suit all skin tones, and comes in two formulas: Glass Gels and Glass Polishes. Take the former to your nail technician, and use the latter at home.
Westmoreland Cosmetics is available now.
