Key ingredients: coconut oil, avocado oil | Finish: shiny | Nude shades: 8
Best Full-Coverage: MAC MACximal Sleek Satin Lipstick in Crème D’nude
Why it’s worth it: If you desire opaque color in a single swipe, Dresher recommends the MAC MACximal Sleek Satin Lipstick. “Creme D’nude is an iconic shade of lipstick and its satin-finish formula moisturizes the lips throughout the day,” she says. The moisturizers in question include rosehip oil, camellia seed oil, and pomegranate flower extract. We also give this lipstick kudos for its extensive 13 shades of nudes (and that’s just the beginning of its stacked color range).
Key ingredients: pomegranate flower extract, camellia seed oil, rosehip oil | Finish: satin | Nude shades: 13
Best Long-Wearing: Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Caramello
Why it’s worth it: For a long-wearing look that’ll effortlessly survive a lengthy night out day, Dresher recommends applying the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick. Though the shade Caramello may seem light for darker skin tones, Dresher explains how this shade easily has a place in anyone’s makeup bag: “This shade Carmello from Stila is one I often use on fair-medium skin tones,” she says. “I like to dab it in the center of the lip for my clients with deeper skin tones to naturally ombre the lips out more.”
Key ingredients: jojoba oil, pomegranate flower extract | Finish: matte | Nude shades: 6
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the right nude lipstick shade for my skin tone?
According to Scibelli, an easy trick for finding the right nude shade of lip color for your skin tone is by going off of the color on the center of your lips. “We typically have less pigmentation in the center of our lips, which is a great starting point if you’re looking for a nude match,” he says.
As a rule of thumb, Scibelli explains that fair to medium skin tones, should lean into peachy, pink nude undertones, “which will give a hint of color to the lips,” while he finds caramel or beige nudes more complimentary on deeper skin tones. “If I’m looking to cancel out someone’s natural lip color then I’ll go a shade lighter than their skin tone on their lips for a true nude effect,” he adds.
If you want to minimize the pale look a nude lipstick can create, Dresher recommends lining your lips with a brown or nude shade that’s at least three shades darker than your natural lip shade first, then fill in the middle with a nude lipstick that is two to three shades lighter than your skin tone. “It creates the most beautiful nude lip without washing the person out,” she says.
How do I make my nude lipstick last longer?
Making your lipstick last through all your daily food, drinks, and yapping may seem hard, but, according to Scibelli, all you need to do is prep your base first. “I like to make sure the lips don’t have any product on them and I give them a dusting with translucent powder before applying lip liner and lipstick,” he says. For added security, Dresher suggests lining the lips with a nude-toned waterproof lip liner, “and you can take that liner into the entirety of the lip to ensure maximum wear time.” For a long event day, she’ll typically look for longer-wearing lip products that have some sort of water-resistant properties to ensure maximal color payoff and longevity. No matter if your lipstick has a light, sheer formulation or the complete opposite, Dresher says using the traditional “layer and tissue blot technique,” in which you apply multiple thin layers of lipstick and gently blot each layer with a tissue to remove excess product, with your nude lipstick color about two to three times (depending on the shade’s opacity) will extend wear-time.
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?