Finding the perfect shade of lipstick can be a time-consuming search, and if you’re looking for a neutral colour, it’s certainly not a case of one-size-fits-all.
If you go too light it can wash you out, and too dark can look harsh. Find the right shade and you’ve got a lipstick you’ll wear for years.
To help you meet your perfect match, we’ve enlisted the expertise of Bobbi Brown professional makeup artist Adeola Gboyega. She answered all our burning questions in the quest to find the best nude lipsticks for all skin tones.
Identifying the undertones in your skin are key to picking the most flattering colour for you, says Gboyega. “A simple way to do this is to look at your veins. If your veins appear greener, then you have a warm undertone and if you have blue veins then you are a more cool undertone. If you can’t identify either, then you are most probably neutral.”
If you have more warm undertones, Gboyega recommends lipsticks with orange and brown shades, while cooler undertones will suit more of a blue, pinky tone.
To make sure your lip colour lasts all day it needs to be both moisturising and long-lasting, Gboyega tells HuffPost UK – and how you apply your lipstick makes all the difference. “I would suggest pairing it with a lip liner and apply the liner after your lipstick to ensure a longer-lasting finish. Applying lip liner after gives your lips natural definition and ensures that the lipstick and liner wear off together, so you aren’t left with a line on the lips by the end of the day.”
To help you achieve the perfect pout, here are five or the best nude lipsticks that will suit a range of skin tones.
Bobbi Brown Lip Colour, Sandwash Pink, John Lewis, £19.60
For fairer skin tones, Gboyega recommends this creamy, semi-matte shade. Non-drying and offering full-coverage colour, it will complement pale skin without washing you out.
Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick Shade 8, Superdrug, £5.49
This muted mauve shade with pink undertones is highly creamy and packs a punch with its pigmented formula. It delivers a satin finish, so if you find matte lipsticks a tad too drying, this is perfect. It also promises to provide high-intensity colour for up to eight hours.
Bobbi Brown Lip Color Brownie, Fabled, £19.60
Pale nude shades can make medium and darker skin tones appear ashy and flat, so instead opt for caramel and brown hues such as this one. Gboyega says lipsticks with a warm undertone “will flatter black skin particularly well”.
MAC Matte Lipstick in Taupe, ASOS, £17.50
This lipstick is warmer toned for the green-veined among us, coming in a deep terracotta shade with brown undertones. If you’re looking for a lipstick that goes on with just one swipe, this is it. To ensure your lips don’t get dry, put on some lip balm before applying.
Burt’s Bees Lipstick in Blush Basin, Boots, £9.99
Known for its luscious lip balms, Burt’s Bees range of lipsticks are equally as hydrating. Blush Basin is the perfect understated nude that gives a wash of colour and a slightly glossy finish without the stickiness. It’s sheer but buildable so if you do want a deeper pigment, just layer on until you’re happy with the colour.
Revlon ‘Dare To Be Nude’ Lipstick, Look Fantastic, £7.99
This lipstick leans itself to the orange and brown undertones rather than pinky-peach, making it an affordable alternative to the Bobbi Brown lippie. Creamy and velvety smooth, you won’t have to worry about chapped matte lips.
Huda Beauty Power Bullet Matte Lipstick, Cult Beauty, £22
While you may know Huda Beauty for their cult liquid lipsticks, its new range of matte bullet lipsticks is worth a look in. Easier to apply (and correct), there’s eight shades to choose from. Our top pick is the shade Payday, perfect for complementing cool undertones.
We all work hard to earn our money – so it shouldn’t feel like hard work to spend it well. At HuffPost Finds we’ll help you find the best stuff that deserves your cash, from the ultimate lipstick to a durable iron to replace the one that broke (RIP). All our choices are completely independent but we may earn a small commission if you click a link and make a purchase.