#BigLipstickEnergy: The Only Nudes I'm Wearing This Summer

THE DETAILS:

Teyana Taylor was heavily inspired by the '90s when coming up with her latest collaboration with MAC. She channeled her love for the era through muted deep chocolate and rosy nude lipsticks, like this one here. (Lip liners and a dazzling gold highlighter complete the collection.) This shade, a mauve brown with rosy pink undertones, comes in a matte and frost finish. Try pairing it with Taylor's liner in Chestnut ($18), a rich brown hue, for a gradual ombré finish. 

WHY I'M OBSESSED: 

Usually soft, pinky nude colors don't complement my dark skin—I'm left with ashy-looking lips and limited options to choose from. Taylor saved the day with this version, which enhances the natural rosy tones of my own lips. The texture is true to what most of MAC's creamy mattes feel like: velvety, unbudgeable, and packed with pigment. And the bright green packaging? I so enjoyed finding a muted tone inside. Apply this with Taylor's newest release, The Album, blasting in the background for the ultimate vibe. 

THE DETAILS:

KKW Beauty recently released a line of 11 lip glosses to accompany the brand's best-selling nude lipsticks. When you think of a nude gloss, something sheer and more flesh tone-friendly probably comes to mind. Not Nude 8. This bold gloss comes in full-force with color, delivering a deep chocolate finish in just a few strokes. The high-shine lacquer is also packed with peptides, collagen, and hyaluronic acid—in other words, your lips will look naturally plumped and feel moisturized from within. 

WHY I'M OBSESSED: 

I'm in a constant state of nostalgia, so I'll never not love a dark brown lip color, arguably one of the biggest beauty trends of the '90s. I haven't been able to get my hands on a cocoa color with intense richness and depth in gloss form until now. Thanks, Kimmy! What I love most about this gloss: it's so pigmented and can stand without the support of a lipstick. In three quick swipes my lips are coated in chocolate and beaming with shine. 

THE DETAILS: 

For just $14, this lipstick boasts a full-coverage finish and light-as-air feel that outperforms all other mattes under $20. The velvety texture glides on your lips with ease, promising to not budge or bleed for hours. It's a tiny tube you can throw in your already packed purse, with a precise tip that provides an easy application. This warm brown sandy shade is meant to enhance all skin tones. 

WHY I'M OBSESSED: 

In the age of COVID-19, when I'm deciding on a lipstick before I leave the house wearing a mask (wear a damn mask!), a series of questions go through my mind: Will this lipstick transfer onto my mask? Will it make my lips feel dry and chapped after an hour? Will I have to re-apply it a few times? This Sephora lipstick passes my mask test with flying colors. The comfortable balm-like texture somehow clings onto my lips for hours without causing them to feel cracked. Plus, it's a natural nude that doesn't look like a boring beige once applied—it sweetly suits my dark skin tone. 

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