In my freshman year of high school, I was a decade ahead of the ‘nude lip’ trend. My favorite lipstick was a gift-with-purchase frosty champagne number from my mom. An older girl in my science class told me she loved the color, so I took that as encouragement to liberally apply that stuff every day.
The matte golden hue didn’t do my light olive skin any favors, especially since I wore it with an otherwise naked face. I hadn’t figured out the most important rule of makeup: Light lip, dramatic eye; dramatic eye, light lip.
Bless my heart.
15 years later, finding a flattering nude lip color is still a challenge. They either wash me out completely, don’t complement my skin tone, or go on chalky.
After a lot of purchase trail-and-error, here are my current favorites!
Butter London Lippy Tinted Balm in Teddy Boy – Medium coverage rosy nude with subtle lipstick finish.
Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Park Avenue Princess – Radiant bronze nude with a little shine and lots of moisture.
Too Faced La Creme Color Drenched Lip Cream in Nude Beach – Hydrating creamy nude peach.
L’Oreal Collection Privee Perfect Nudes – Beautiful budget-friendly range of moisturizing nudes for every skin tone; I like ‘Julianne’s Nude.’
Too Faced Perfect Lips Liner in Neutral Nude – The perfect base for all the above.
The Comments
Juliany Diaz De Villegas
Honestly thank you for this post…I thought I was never going to be able to wear nude lipstick because I am so pale…Now I’m considering buying one in the future.
Indi
I’ve tried the TooFaced lipstick and the texture is amazing but the color doesn’t suite my skin tone! thank you for the other ideas! oh and this makeup bag looks gorgeous!
Racheal J Hoelle
I love that this is something you posted because the color of your lips is everything!
nestnorthwest
I like lots of the subtle Mary Kay glosses for a nude look. They are as thick and sticky as clinique which I do also use. PS…I don’t sell MK:)
nestnorthwest
nestnorthwestThey AREN’T AS THICK….oops!
sarraeller18
Recently I have been loving nude lips as well. I recently bought the Tarte park ave princess and I love it!
jenniferlee01
i love your blog!! it’s inspiring :) do you mind taking a look at mine? thanks!
exquisitebuhle
Nude lips work perfectly especially for work.They just create that natural look and are just perfect for make up beginners too.It takes a bold someone to experiment with make up .
The Nadia M.
Try NYX products! I’m in a craze over their Matte lipsticks and lip liners! Ulta usually has bogo 1/2 off of them PLUS you can use thier coupons towards them!
Carolina E.
Have to try the nude color out ,thanks for info!!
fbigred
I’ve always had the worst time trying to find a nude lipstick to go with my ghostly complexion, thank you so much for the links, I will have to try them out!
WhiskeyWeather
I love the Park Ave princess :)
Pucker-up: Summer Lip Shades | feliz cyntia
[…] and I am thinking of trying the L’Oreal from a drugstore as it was brought to my attention here. Back to NYX, this goes on so smooth like a lip gloss but it’s an actual lip-stick which I […]
Jackie Yeary
Oh man! I totally feel your pain when it comes to finding the right nude shade. I typically need a shade with at least a little pink- otherwise I look sick. Clinique “Sweet Honey” has been my favorite for years, but I also just discovered Marc Jacobs “Eat Cake” and I’m in love.
Love your picks!
Kayla Draper
I love the Tarte one! It is definitely on my list of things to get! Great post!
kfwilliams2015
Yay! Thanks for this :D Nude lipsticks are my absolute favourite! I am so terrible with all the beauty, makeup, girl stuff… So a helping hand is always appreciated!!! I have been using a Rimmel one that I like quite a lot but I will definitely be checking out the ones you have recommended :)
Catherine
Nice post! My skin is so pasty white that it’s really difficult to find a great nude shade. I’m going to check out the Two Faced! Lately my nude of choice has been chapstick….I actually had a couple of glosses in my post today–about my naked face! http://atypical60.com/2015/07/16/whats-on-your-summer-face-mines-kinda-naked/
ayshaaacx
hey check out my blog https://ayshaaacx.wordpress.com
DymondM
I hate that I can’t find a “nude” lip color because there aren’t many brown or darker toned lip colors geared towards WOCs. :/
Keira Lennox
DymondMCheck out Bite Beauty’s Butter Cream Lipsticks at Sephora. They’re super moisturizing and come in a beautiful range of shades. I wear it in ‘heather’ a lot!
http://www.sephora.com/butter-cream-lipstick-P393822?skuId=1685759
lindseeanne1
You can’t go wrong with a nude color! I nominated you for an award here! https://thegingerlife1.wordpress.com/2015/07/16/infinity-dreams-award/
tessgalen
Wearing Butter London Teddy Boy right now! It’s my new favorite everyday color!
quinnlashon
definitely trying out some of these. i love the nude lip look.
http://www.quinnlashon.com
Amber • Carolinian Explorer
Oooo I love all of these! Great post!
Josephine
The perfect nude is really one of the hardest struggles!
Red Velvet Snow Blog
I have been on the hunt for the perfect nude!!! This post is exactly what I needed! redvelvetsnow.wordpress.com
Pretty Petite Blog
I love the Too Faced lip cream as well! Nude lips are always a good idea but complimenting them with the rest of your makeup is a must!
Xo
Pauline
http://www.prettypetite.org
cynvoy
I have olive skin too and struggle with this. Can’t wait to try the L’Oreal!
felizcyntia.com
mrskatylong
Lovely! These are gorgeous products – great post!
Liz
I can never have too many nude lip products. Excellent spread!
Amy's Fashion Blog
so will have to try these out
http://www.amysfashionblog.com/blog-home/
The Model Well Fed
Love a good nude! Looking forward to trying Tarte’s! The world needs to know the dos and don’ts of nude as it is a tricky color…next post idea perhaps :)
sophandglory
The Model Well FedI love that! Have you tried the new rimmel Kate moss nudes there amazing!!x
Keira Lennox
sophandgloryI haven’t! I really like Rimmel’s lipsticks; they make one of my all-time favorite reds. I’ll check them out!
Keira Lennox
The Model Well FedGood idea! I’ll work on it.
as gold as it gets
I love a good nude lip! I have been wearing Revlon super Lustrous in Primrose – its pinky but wears like a nude. You might want to try it if you are looking for a drugstore cheapie!
sophandglory
as gold as it getsI love that! Have you tried the new rimmel Kate moss nudes! There amazing xx
Hillary
I absolutely love all of it! I almost purchased that makeup bag the other day… I mayyyyyy have to run over to the mall at lunchtime! (It’s bad…. it’s about a quarter 1/2 a mile from my office!!) -H
Keira Lennox
HillaryThat would be super dangerous for me!! ;)