Introduction
Have you ever been influenced to pick up a “perfect nude” lippie only to swipe it on and realize that it fits your favourite influencers but not you? Don’t worry, you’re not the problem. I’ve been in the same situation multiple times, and throughout my nude lipstick journey, I realized that it is impossible to find the perfect nude lipstick if you keep taking advice from people who don’t have the same skin tone as you.
One fundamental thing about nude is that it closely replicates the color of your skin but with a tint of pink, red, purple, or orange. This means that you can’t rely on “one-size-fits-all” lipsticks. Join me here at Emmanuelle in London as I show you some tips on how to pick the right nude.
How To Find the Perfect Nude
Step 1: Determine Your Skin Tone
As I have said before, your nude color lipstick should complement your skin, which means that understanding your skin tone and undertone holds the key to your perfect nude shade. Think of it as dating—you have to know what works before you actually commit.
Here’s a few tips on how to determine your undertone just by looking at your wrist:
- Blue or purple vein – Cool undertone (fits pink, purple, or blue-ish hues)
- Green vein – Warm undertone (fits red, peachy, or brown-ish hues)
- A bit of both – Lucky you, you’re a neutral! (fits both)
Pro tip: If gold looks better on you, you’re warm-toned. If silver is your best friend, you are probably cool-toned. If you can rock both? You’re neutral, darling!
Step 2: Get a Shade Darker Than Your Skin Tone
I see a lot of people on the internet egging Londoners for their concealer lips being three shades lighter than their skin, and honestly, I can’t even blame the social media trolls. Ladies, I think it’s time to leave behind the 2005 foundation-lip tragedy and pick up a nude suitable to your skin tone.
One mistake that people make when it comes to nude lipstick is picking a shade that is either too light or completely blends in with the skin. This will make you look like you’ve just been sucked dry by a vampire. The trick is to find a shade two or three times deeper than your skin tone.
For an effortlessly chic nude lipstick look, try these tips:
- For naturally pale lips, go for rosy nudes.
- For pigmented lips, try mocha, taupe, brownish nudes, or berry-infused nudes.
Step 3: Look for the Right Brand
Not all nudes are created equal. Even if you manage to find the right shade, it is still important to have quality in your purchase by choosing a good brand that understands that nude is a spectrum. Brands like MAC, Fenty, Charlotte Tilbury, and Rare Beauty are currently killing the game with their amazing nude range.
5 Shades of Nude: My Nude Lipstick Must-Haves for Every Skin Tone
To help you get started on your search for your ideal nude lippies, I, Emmanuelle, created a list of my all-time favorite nudes that you can find here in London.
Fair Tone
Fair skin tones look gorgeous and delightfully innocent in light rose lipstick, which is why I recommend trying out the Thanks, It’s MAC by MAC Cosmetics. This taupe pink will make you look like a 90s princess, especially with the infused silver pearl that adds shimmer to your lips.
Light Tone
Light tones could benefit from classic, sexy nude liners for a more defined lip. The best nude lip liner I can recommend for people with light skin tones is the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in the shade Pillowtalk. This lip liner has a neutral and muted undertone that won’t overwhelm a light skin. It can be paired with Gucci’s 103 Carol Beige Rouge à Lèvres Satin Lipstick.
Medium Tone
Medium-skin girlies can look absolutely divine in nudes that skew more peach or pink. For this skin tone, I recommend the Hourglass Panoramic Lip Liner in the shade Dusty Rose paired with the Armani Lip Power in shade 104.
Olive Tone
For my olive darlings out there, the war is over! The perfect nude shade for you is either peachy pink (cool tone) or a brown/tan hue (warm tone). I recommend the Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in the shade Yes Honey for the cool-toned gals and the Chanel Rouge Coco Flash Vibrant Shine in the shade Easy for the warm-tone baddies.
Deep Tone
Girls with deep skin tones need to flaunt that sun-kissed beauty, and I have just the right lipstick shade. The Ctzn Cosmetic Lipstroke in Chaar paired with Fenty Beauty’s Semi-Matte Lipstick in the shade Motha Luva will make you look like a goddess on Earth. It’s just the right combination to give you a pop of color.
Conclusion
Finding your perfect nude lipstick can be tricky but rewarding. The secret? Work with your skin tone, not against it. Go a little deeper, find the right undertone, and don’t settle for brands that still think “nude” is one shade. Whether it’s for brunch, a meeting, or just a really good mirror selfie, you deserve the perfect nude to go with your look.
If you have project ideas and want to collaborate with an equally enthusiastic beauty and fashion blogger, Emmanuelle in London’s line is open for you. Contact me, and let’s talk about how we can work together.
