A nude lip is ideal for any occasion, whether you're dressing up or dressing down. It's a shade which always looks flattering, is easy to wear, and is simply elegant. However, with so many types on offer, it can be hard to decide which colour, formula, finish, and style is the best for you. But, don't worry, this buying guide will explain everything you need to know.
Whether you are looking for your signature shade or want to try something new, we're here to help you find your perfect match. Read on for our list of the top 10 best nude lipsticks from popular brands like MAC, Dior and Chanel, including cream, liquid, and matte varieties. From luxury to drug store favourites, there's plenty to choose from, no matter your style, budget or skin tone. Plus, they're all available from Amazon, John Lewis and Boots!
Quick List - Top Nude Lipsticks
CHANEL
Classic Nude Cream Lipstick With a Moisturising Finish From a Luxury Make Up Brand
Dior
Long-Wear Nude Bullet Lipstick With Beautiful Packaging and Comes in Both Matte and Satin Finishes
Charlotte Tilbury
Add a Touch of Glamour and Create Fuller Looking Lips With This Beautiful Nude Shade
MAC
A Cult Favourite Lipstick With a High Colour Payoff and up to 10 Hours of Wear
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Table of Contents
Although anyone can pull off a nude lip, it's important to consider your skin tone. Nude shades enhance your natural lip colour, so wearing the wrong shade often makes the look appear less natural. You want to pick a nude shade that matches your skin tone, which will brighten your overall face and lips.
If you have a light or fair skin tone, try pink and beige shades, and avoid nudes lighter than your natural lip colour, as they can make your lips look thin. For warmer complexions and medium skin tones, opt for caramel or deeper pinks, as these will stand out more on your lips. Finally, those with a darker skin tone should pick deep berry nudes.
Want something a bit bolder? Check out our recommendations for the best red lipsticks.
Lipsticks usually come in two formulas - cream or liquid. Cream lipsticks are thick in texture, easy to apply, and have excellent staying power. They are great for both professional and everyday settings as they tend to look slightly sheer and thus more natural on the lips. On the other hand, liquid lipsticks tend to offer a bolder colour and don't smudge as easily.
In terms of finishes, the most common are matte and satin. Matte finishes tend to last the longest due to their intense pigmentation. Since they don't have any shine to them, they make your lips appear bold and smooth. On the other hand, Satin finishes offer the same bold colour but have a slight sheen to them. These are perfect for the everyday, whereas satins are better for a more glamorous look.
For more on the different formulas and finishes, look at our guides for the best liquid and matte lipsticks.
Lipsticks also come in different shapes, and each has its pros and cons. Traditional cream lipsticks have a bullet shape where the product twists out. These lipsticks tend to be easier to apply than liquids as you touch the product directly to your lips, whereas liquid lipsticks need to be painted on with a brush.
As you need to be more careful and precise with liquid lipsticks, these are only really useful for those who have the time and energy to put into their makeup. So, if you're generally short on time when getting ready, opt for a bullet lipstick. It is worth noting, though, that liquid lipsticks tend to be much longer-lasting than bullets.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | CHANEL Rouge Coco Flash|Boy | ![]() | Classic Nude Cream Lipstick With a Moisturising Finish From a Luxury Make Up Brand | |
2 | Dior Couture Colour Lipstick | ![]() | Long-Wear Nude Bullet Lipstick With Beautiful Packaging and Comes in Both Matte and Satin Finishes | |
3 | Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick - Pillow Talk|Pillow Talk | ![]() | Add a Touch of Glamour and Create Fuller Looking Lips With This Beautiful Nude Shade | |
4 | MAC Matte Lipstick|Velvet Teddy | ![]() | A Cult Favourite Lipstick With a High Colour Payoff and up to 10 Hours of Wear | |
5 | NYX Soft Matte Metallic Lip Cream|Stockholm | ![]() | Liquid Nude Shade That’s Easy to Apply and Perfect for Creating Soft and Matte Lips | |
6 | Milani Color Fetish Matte Lipstick, The Nudes Collection | ![]() | Luxurious-Looking Nude Shades for a Velvet-Matte Finish, Ideal for Those on a Budget | |
7 | bareMinerals GEN NUDE™ Matte Liquid Lipcolour|Gen Nude | ![]() | Lightweight, Natural and Silky Liquid Lip Colour That Leaves a Matte Finish | |
8 | L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Ultra-Matte Nude Lipstick | ![]() | A Matte Lipstick With a Slightly Sheer Finish, Available in 12 Nude Shades | |
9 | Urban Decay Vice Lipstick - June Gloom|June Gloom | ![]() | An Everyday Nude Bullet Lipstick With a Vegan Formula Containing a Range of Nourishing Ingredients | |
10 | Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick - Nude Collection | ![]() | A Budget-Friendly, Creamy Nude Lipstick Which Lasts up to 8-Hours |
CHANEL's Rouge Coco Flash is the epitome of elegance and sophistication. It gives a subtle tint of colour and a natural shine to your lips, and although it's sheer, the colour is still glossy and highly pigmented. The shade 'Boy' is a cult favourite since it's a cool-toned nude pink that's easy to wear; plus, it makes lips look plumper.
This cream lipstick is also infused with a variety of moisturising ingredients such as mimosa, jojoba and sunflower, which help keep your lips feeling nourished all the way through the day. If you ask us, it's the perfect signature nude shade!
Inspired by haute couture, this luxury nude lipstick is highly pigmented and comes in various finishes, including satin and matte. It's also enriched with natural-origin red peony and pomegranate flowers which help to protect and nourish your lips.
Known for lasting up to 16 hours, this nude lipstick is perfect for all-day wear without needing any touch-ups. Plus, it's even refillable! If you want to invest in a high-quality, true-to-colour lipstick, this is the one for you!
The Matte Revolution Lipstick by Charlotte Tilbury is another much-loved lip product. With its cashmere feel and ability to make lips look fuller, this nude matte lipstick will make you feel luxurious and glamorous. We've chosen the shade 'Pillow Talk' as it's renowned for complementing a variety of skin tones.
Infused with tree and orchid extract, this lipstick also protects the lips and makes them feel soft and fully hydrated. Of course, it is a little on the pricier side, so we recommend saving this product for special date nights and formal events when you want to look and feel extra glam.
MAC lipsticks are renowned for their bold colour and ten-hour wear, and here we have their matte shade, Velvet Teddy. This option has always been a favourite with beauty bloggers and MUAs because it is such a classic and easy-to-wear shade, plus it has a high colour payoff.
Its creamy and rich formula makes lips look plump and smooth, and although it's technically more suited to lighter skin tones, its cool undertone means almost anyone would look good wearing it. No wonder it is so many people's everyday go-to lipstick!
This liquid lipstick created by NYX is not only super affordable, but it's suitable for both beginners and pros. Its cream-like texture has a velvety-matte finish, and, as a bonus, it's also sweet-scented. With 33 statement shades, you're guaranteed to find your new signature lippy in this collection.
Once applied, you don't need to worry about constantly reapplying as the colour stays on throughout the day. We recommend the shade Stockholm, a mid-tone beige-pink colour which is universally flattering and ideal for the everyday!
Luxurious in packaging and rich in texture, the Nudes Collection from Milani offers a great variety of nude matte lipsticks for every skin tone. This cream-based lipstick not only has a velvet-matte finish, but it's also infused with hyaluronic acid to keep lips looking smooth and plump.
Each of the nude shades is vibrant and gorgeous, however, this formula is not smudge-proof, so bear in mind that it does need to be reapplied a couple of times throughout the day.
BareMinerals is a brand known for creating make-up which looks natural and effortless, and their lip products are no exception. We've chosen the GEN NUDE matte liquid lip colour that feels lightweight, is transfer-proof, and highly pigmented. It seamlessly glides across the lips, and thanks to the flexible brush applicator, it's super easy to apply.
Moreover, this lip colour has a light vanilla scent and contains a host of moisturising ingredients. The only downside is that this formula is not as long-lasting compared to some of the other high-end lip products on this list.
For a simple, no-fuss matte lipstick, consider this one from L'Oreal Paris. This matte nude is available in 12 universal shades and is ideal for all skin types and occasions. It's also long-lasting, moisturising and comfortable to wear.
All the shades have a slight sheerness, making your lips look natural and healthy. Unfortunately, some customers have commented how some of the shades look slightly different in real life compared to on-screen, however, this is still a great choice if you don't have a huge budget.
If you are looking for a nude with a high-impact colour, then June Gloom by Urban Decay may be your perfect match. This pinky-peach nude shade is suitable for everyday wear and is even enriched with nourishing ingredients such as aloe vera and avocado oil. Wearing this will make your lips not only look bold but super hydrated as well.
This lipstick has also been recently reformulated and is now 100% vegan. That said, some have noted how the new formula isn't as long-lasting, meaning that you will probably have to reapply it a few times throughout the day.
Rimmel London has created this nude lipstick which is not only budget-friendly but long-lasting. Its creamy formula effortlessly glides onto the lips, plus it's highly pigmented. Your lips will be left looking super soft and plump whenever this is used.
With five different nude shades to choose from, there is a flattering option for every skin tone and make-up look. However, the only downside is that some have noted it is not that transfer-proof.
Written and researched by Jane Pipkin
No. 1: CHANEL|Rouge Coco Flash|Boy
No. 2: Dior |Couture Colour Lipstick
No. 3: Charlotte Tilbury |Matte Revolution Lipstick - Pillow Talk|Pillow Talk
No. 4: MAC|Matte Lipstick|Velvet Teddy
No. 5: NYX|Soft Matte Metallic Lip Cream|Stockholm
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