How to Choose the Right Nude Lipstick

Co-authored by JoAnn Solomon

Last Updated: September 15, 2021 References

When picking out a nude lipstick, start by testing it on your hand to see how it looks against your skin. The color must blend in well to your skin tone, though often you'll want to go slightly darker than your skin to help define your lips. Once you've found the perfect lipstick, you need to follow a few basic guidelines when applying it for the best effect.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Finding the Right Shade

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Test it on your hand. Testing out a nude before you take it home is essential, but you don't want to apply it to your lips (too many germs!). A good place to try it out is the back of your hand, where you can see how it looks against your skin before you purchase it.^{[1]
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- You can also try it on your inner wrist, which may match the color of your face and lips more closely.
- At some department stores where the testers are closely monitored, an associate may be willing to scrape off the top level of the tester for you. Then, use an applicator to try the color on your lips. Never use the tester lipstick directly on your mouth.^{[2]
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Match the color to the outer edge of your lips. Often, the outer edges of your lips will be slightly darker than the rest of your lips, particularly if you have a darker skin tone. When looking at the color, make sure you match the outer edge of your lips. Otherwise, it can leave your lips looking washed out.^{[3]
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Stay in the same shade range as your natural lip color. When picking out a color, think about your natural lip color. Try to pick something that is similar. You want it to work with your lip color rather than against it, as it will be more difficult to achieve a nude effect with a lipstick that works against your natural color.^{[4]
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- That is, if you have naturally rosy lips, try to pick a nude with a hint of rose.
- If your lips have brown tint, find a similar tone.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Complementing Your Skin Tone

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Try a hint of pink for fair skin. If you have fair skin, you may be tempted to pick a tan nude. However, that can really wash out your face. Instead, pick a nude that has a hint of pink. It should still be very soft, but it will help keep you from looking too pale.^{[5]
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Go a bit darker if you have light olive skin. If you're not totally fair but still light-skinned, you can go a bit darker. If you pick something too soft, your lips won't have any definition. Pick a light pink or beige with enough definition to distinguish your lips from the rest of your face.^{[6]
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Try a golden beige for medium skin. If your skin is in the medium range, try a more golden hue. Make sure that the color you choose is slightly darker than your skin tone, so you have definition. In addition, try not to pick something to heavy, texture-wise.^{[7]
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- If you want slightly more color, you can go with a peach undertone. Salmon can also be an appropriate color.
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Pick darker than you think for dark skin. Often, if you try to pick a "nude" for darker skin, you'll choose something that's too light. Make sure that the color you choose matches your skin tone or is a bit darker.^{[8]
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Research source} For a bit of shimmer, go for a bronze or gold undertone.^{[9]
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Blend colors for the perfect nude. If you can't find what you like, you can blend colors instead. For instance, for a dark nude, try coloring in your lips with a brown pencil, then adding a brown lipstick with a hint of rose on top. Make sure to blend them together well.^{[10]
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- To create a completely nude shade, make sure you are matching the color to the outer edges of your lips.
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Consider the tone of your skin when selecting a color. Look at your complexion to see if you have more cool bluish undertones or warm yellow undertones in your skin. Choose a shade of nude lipstick with similar undertones to your skin to complement your complexion best.^{[11]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Using Nude Lipstick

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Exfoliate before applying the lipstick. Nude lipsticks tend to show every nook and cranny on your lips, which is a problem if you have dry lips. Therefore, it's important to take care of dry lips before you apply a nude lipstick. For instance, you could try using a lip scrub to smooth out your lips first, giving you a more polished look.^{[12]
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Add a moisturizer. Moisturizing can also help smooth out your lips before applying a nude lipstick. After using a lip scrub, apply a moisturizing lip balm. That way, you have a nice, soft base to apply the lipstick over.^{[13]
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Consider a coverup. If you're trying to truly wipe our your lip color, you may need to add a bit of concealer to your lips before applying the lipstick. The concealer will help block out your natural lip color, helping you achieve the nude look.^{[14]
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Create a sheen with gloss. Nude lipsticks can be a bit flat, so adding a bit of gloss can help them shine a bit. However, you don't need too much. Just apply a bit to the middle of your lips for a tiny bit of pop.^{[15]
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Expert Q&A

Question

How do I pick the right shade of lipstick?

JoAnn Solomon
Master Beauty Consultant & Celebrity Makeup Artist
JoAnn Solomon is a Celebrity Makeup and Hair Artist, Beauty Consultant, and Founder of JoAnn Solomon Beauty, a beauty service in New York, New York. With over 15 years of experience, JoAnn specializes in beauty consulting and writing, makeup and hair artistry, product training, and creative directing. She is a licensed cosmetologist and esthetician and is certified in Airbrush Makeup. JoAnn has been published in Glamour Magazine and Lipstick.com. She is also a beauty contributor for Condé Nast, The List, Essence, Style Bistro, Family Circle, and Nylon Magazine. Her looks have been showcased in editorial, fashion, television, and red carpet events. A few of JoAnn’s celebrity clients include Beyoncé Knowles, Dr. Joe Biden, Alicia Keys, and Quincy Jones.

JoAnn Solomon

Master Beauty Consultant & Celebrity Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

For a nude lipstick, you want to go with something that's at least one shade deeper than your natural skin tone, so that it doesn't completely wash you out. I would suggest going one to two shades deeper. Also, if you have light blue eyes, you want to go with a cooler tone. If you have brown eyes, you might want to go with a little bit of a warmer nude, with a little bit of a beige or reddish nude undertone.
Question

How can I choose the right coral lipstick?

Community Answer

Make sure it fits your skin tone, and make sure the lipstick isn't too bright but also not too dark.