This is the time of year for leaves crunching underfoot and the ripening of rosehips. So, it’s perhaps not surprising that rosehip oil nails are also emerging as the seasonal update to summer’s barely there neutral polishes.

Canadian nail brand Gelcare coined the phrase ‘rosehip oil nails’ to describe a polish that was inspired by the beauty oil. Not only is the shade currently a bestseller on the brand’s website, but it’s given birth to a new riff on a soft rose manicure that can be seen on the tips of content creators seeking an alternative to seasonal burgundies and browns.

You’re wondering, of course, what do rosehip oil nails look like? Imagine a rosy pink colour with a tinge of orange – a shade that some people on Instagram are referring to as ‘warm dusty rose’.

But this isn’t your traditional block colour nail polish. By adding a glossy tint to bare nails, a rosehip oil manicure shares the same DNA as lip gloss nails and jelly nails. It’s sheer, it’s light-reflecting, and it’s low maintenance.

Where it differs is in the finish. Rosehip oil nails are essentially the autumnal twist to rose water nails, which blew up on social media in the warmer months. While rose water nails are a cool-toned pink and watery-thin in texture, rosehip oil nails skew warmer and resemble an oily layer over bare nails.

How to create rosehip oil nails

Step 1: As with all nude nails, cared-for cuticles and nail beds are an essential step. Massage an actual rosehip oil into tatty cuticles for a couple of minutes, as it makes it easier to push back with a yellow stick.

Step 2: Trim your nails by clipping straight across to create short tips. Then file the top edge of the nail into a straight line before rounding the edges to create that part square and part oval nail shape.