Skip to main content
Advice

What’s the best nude lipstick for my skin tone?

What’s the best nude lipstick for my skin tone?
Team LF
Writer and expert3 years ago
View Team LF's profile

When it comes to picking the best nude lipstick for you, it all comes down to your skin tone. The perfect nude lipstick will enhance your natural lip colour and complement your complexion without looking too overpowering, which is why its so important to get the colour and undertone right. The slightest hint of colour in a nude lipstick can make a huge difference to your overall look, so we're here to break it down into one easy guide so you can shop for your next pout perfector with minimal fuss.

Skin tone: Alabaster

If you have very pale skin (think Bobbi Brown's Foundation in Alabaster or Porcelain), the best nude lipstick shade you can go for is a dusty pink. The slight warmth won't wash out your skin, but instead bring your makeup look together into one chic finish.

We love the Bobbi Brown Luxe Matte Lip Colour in Nude Reality which gives a soft muted look without making you look paler.

Skin tone: Fair

If you have fair skin that is a little warmer than alabaster, you'll want to choose a nude lipstick which has slight rosy and pink undertones. These will help complement the naturally rosy tint to your complexion.

Try MAC's legendary Matte Lipstick in Twig-Satin, a rosy tinted nude which looks amazing on pale and fair complexions.

Skin tone: Light

Light skin tones tend to have more neutral, yellow and olive undertones to them, which means you need to opt for a warmer nude lipstick. Luckily for you gals, you can go beige or pink depending on the look you want to go for. Pink looks great for everyday wear, whereas a beige matches a smokey eye perfectly for a classic evening look.

We love the Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture The Slim Lipstick in 24- Rare Rose: the perfect balance of nude, beige, rose and pink in one.

Skin tone: Olive

Olive skin tones can opt for a range of different nude lipstick shades, including caramel, biege or darker and duskier pinks. It's always best to opt for shades that are slightly darker than your olive skin tone as it will help bring warmth and radiance to your complexion.

We love the Burberry Kisses Lipstick in Garnet 81 is a perfect fit for Olive skin tones, blended with warm beige and dusky tones that complement a warmer complexion perfectly.

Skin tone: Tan

If you have a caramel skin tone and tanned skin, a glossy caramel nude lipstick works perfectly. It helps to complement your complexion perfectly without taking over your entire look.

The Urban Decay Vice Comfort Matte Lipstick in Stark Naked adds a gorgeous sheen to the lips and leaves them looking and feeling super moisturised and healthy whilst adding a subtle touch of caramel colour.

Skin tone: Dark

Dark skin tones can pull off any nude lipstick look, but we absolutely adore the Zelens Extreme Velvet Lipstick in Nude Plum. The extreme velvet lipstick cushions the lips with a stunning blush of red and dark beiges that look stunning on darker skin tones.

The slight warm undertones to the lipstick elevate it to a whole new level of nude, and we have to say, it's one of our all time favourite neutrals.

Team LF
Writer and expert
View Team LF's profile
Our team of beauty experts cover everything from makeup to skincare, picking out the most effective products from the best brands and latest trends. Stay up to date on everything beauty with the LOOKFANTASTIC blog, and find all your essentials in one place.
lfint