Looking for the perfect ‘your lips but better’ hue? It’s one of the hardest makeup bag staples to get right, but once you find the best nude lipstick for your skin tone, you’ll never look back. From classic pinky-nudes to nineties-inspired nude-browns, these lip colours are totally timeless.
As well as the shade, you need to consider texture when searching for The One - choose from stay-put mattes, hydrating balms or volumising glosses - each finish makes a unique statement as well as providing different practical benefits.
If your head is spinning, worry not. There’s a nude lipstick out there for everyone, with options to complement your unique complexion. So, read on for our round-up of the best nude lipsticks...
How we choose our best nude lipsticks
When narrowing down the best nude lipsticks, we’ve included a mix of different textures and finishes covering matte, glossy, satin and demi-matte options. As with any great lipstick, we want something that'll stick around without fading or smudging, so you can expect impressive staying power. What’s more, we don’t have time for lipstick that dries your lips to a crisp, so these nudes come with additional hydrating benefits. Your glowing reviews play an important part too, when a product racks up a bunch of 5-star ratings, we can’t help but take notice.
25 January 2022
I Need Nude Lipstick
Best for: Comfortable all-day wear
With a lightweight, luminous and hydrating finish, these lipsticks are perfect if you prefer a creamy feel. With 15 shades to choose from, spanning from fair to deep in a range of undertones, there’s at least one nude lipstick for you here. Like Natasha Denona’s legendary palettes, her lipsticks are crammed with pigment, so you can expect rich, long-lasting colour in a single swipe.
The hype: “A perfect nude for every skin tone, in a wonderfully creamy texture with amazing staying power – my personal favourite shade is Susanna, the perfect pinky-nude for every day.” - Emily, Assistant Buyer at Feelunique
Power Bullet Matte Lipstick
Shade: Prom Night
Best for: Precise application
One swipe equals ultra-matte colour with ridiculous staying power. Thanks to the addition of Almond and Rosehip Oils, you can swerve the powdery, thirsty-lip look. Instead, hydrating particles keep lips looking plump and cushiony-soft. The staying power of a liquid lipstick, the comfort of a hydrating balm and the vivid finish of a matte lip colour - yes, yes, yes. A nice touch? Huda designed her lipstick with a pointed pentagonal tip so you can contour and line the edges of your lips without the need for a separate lip liner.
The hype: “The formula is so creamy and very comfortable on the lips, it’s not your typical lipstick formula. I would definitely recommend as they are long lasting too. I love my liquid lipsticks but Huda has converted me with her lipsticks and I'm glad I gave these a go.” - Razia, customer review
Hot Lips 2 JK Magic
Best for: Fuller lip look
Inspired by Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution formula, this lipstick contains 3D pigments with light-scattering properties to give the illusion of a fuller lip. ‘JK Magic’ is a peachy nude-rose, inspired by author J.K. Rowling - Charlotte developed the shade from the two lipsticks she uses on Rowling the most: Pillow Talk and Bitch Perfect. With the brand’s iconic K.I.S.S.I.N.G formula, it’s a sheer yet buildable lip colour that feels soft and comfortable all day long.
The hype: “When this arrived the first thing I noticed was how luxurious the packaging felt. I LOVE THIS COLOUR! For me it is a perfect nude. I have autumn colouring and this looked lovely, adds a hint of colour to the lips and has great staying power too. Very impressed.” - Jo, customer review
Lip Plumping Gloss
Shade: Lovestruck Best for: Volumising As worn by Ariana Grande in her iconic 7 Rings music video, this tingly gloss softens and volumises with maximum shine. How? The gloss contains biomimetic peptides which stimulate natural collagen production for more defined and voluminous-looking lips over time. There’s six equally sublime shades to choose from, but ‘Lovestruck’, a muted nude rose hue, is our pick of the bunch. If you’re wondering if they’re vegan and cruelty-free, you’ll be happy to hear that they are – more reason to buy a tube, or six. The hype: “This high-shine gloss contains peptides that help fill in lines and plump the lips with scientific technology. Your lips will feel a cool, tingly sensation that's gentle enough for sensitive wearers but still offers an intense finish.” - Marie Claire