I Own Hundreds of Nude Lipsticks—These 10 Are Hands Down the Best
Pinks, Browns, Mattes, Creams—it’s all here.
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While I am now a self-proclaimed perfume obsessive, let us never forget the category that started it all for me: makeup. Particularly, nude lipstick. Growing up, let’s just say that the beauty industry was not as inclusive as it is today. It was like a game for me to find the best nude lipsticks that didn’t make me look ashy, feel like my lips were going to fall off, or were simply flattering on my skin tone. While it was something born out of scarcity, the entire process taught me how to refine my taste when it came to makeup. As a result, I’d say I’ve collected a rather impressive nude lipstick collection.
Drugstore, high-end, liquid formulas, and traditional creams—I’ve tried them all and have made countless recommendations to friends and family, who have gone on to find their holy grail formulas. So I know a thing or two about a nude lipstick. With that being said, not only have I gone through my extensive makeup collection to find the best formulas that have become my go-tos over the years, but I’ve also scoured new launches, updated takes on classics (hello, MAC), and even new iterations of some classic 2016 hero SKUs to find only the best worth recommending.
In short, I’ve found that nude lipsticks are slowly returning to their former glory days, and this curated list is your cheat sheet to shopping for the best ones on the market. No matter what your makeup preference is, trust me, there’s something here for you. Read, shop, swatch, and thank me later.
The Pinks
Every nude lip collection needs a pink option. The two below will be the start and end of your search.
Lawless has cornered the lip category when it comes to glosses, but allow me to introduce you to the brand’s Forget the Filler Satin Lipstick line. I am next-level obsessed with Daisy Girl, but the entire line has a fantastic range of nudes for every skin tone.
Pat McGrath’s Divine Rose is a stunning pink color that looks immaculate on pretty much any skin tone. I love pairing it with either a purple or brown lip liner to bring out the pink or beige tone, respectively.
The Tans
Nude lip colors for neutral undertones tend to fall on the more tan side of the spectrum instead of explicitly pink or brown. Below are two of my recent favorites.
If you have a similar skin tone to mine (think MAC NC47), Big Promotion from MAC might be your perfect nude lipstick. It’s a warm caramel color that comes in the brand’s new hazy matte formula, and I cannot put it down.
Stila has long had one of the most comfortable matte liquid lipstick formulas on the market, and with the new shades added to the line, I’d say they’ve become one of my favorites for this type of formula. If you prefer a more brown-based nude lipstick, Foxy should be in your cart as we speak.
The Browns
Whether you were here for the rise of the brown lip color back in 2016 or not, the shade will always make a fantastic nude lip color for a range of skin tones. If brown-based nudes are your jam, behold: my absolute favorites on the market.
Anastasia Beverly Hills has been quietly building one of the most extensive lines of nude lipsticks out there, and it’s time they get recognized for it. My favorite brown nude from the brand is called Hazelnut, but there are so many options to choose from that you really can’t go wrong with whatever you decide.
The Soft Matte Lipstick line has been iconic for well over a decade now, and that fact has not changed. This was my go-to lip formula in college, and my friends and I would take turns using each other’s bottles of Berlin, a beautiful, deep brown nude, like it was nobody’s business.
The Creams
Cream lipsticks will always have a place in the world of beauty, but they’ve improved exponentially over the years. Not only are the ones below coming in gorgeous nude tones, but they also feel phenomenal on the lips.
Another expertly crafted line of nude lipsticks comes from one of the queens of 2016 makeup, Amrezy. A few months ago, the influencer came out with her own cosmetics line after over a decade in the beauty industry, and every single product is flawless. Because I have to stick to the script (seriously, I could rave about each item for hours), I will say that the Satin Cream lipstick in Passionude is one of my favorite nude lipsticks from the brand. Plus, I can build up the color without feeling like I have too much product on my lips.
Flatiron from Makeup by Mario is another one of those stunning neutral pinks that looks good on everyone. Still, it’s the satin formula that really gets me—it glides on like butter and feels like I’m applying a regular lip balm.
The Mattes
Matte lipsticks that sucked the life out of our lips had their time. Now, my favorite matte nude lipsticks give me the colors that I want, and wear comfortably for hours on end.
The Unlocked Soft Matte lipsticks from Hourglass are some of the most comfortable and pigmented nude lipsticks that I’ve ever tried. It’s Hourglass, so of course, you get the luxury packaging and absolutely stunning presentation, but the color Peony is simply gorgeous, and if you prefer traditional matte lipsticks, this one is extremely comfortable for all-day wear (even when you touch up).
When talking about comfortable matte lipsticks, Merit simply can’t be left out of the conversation. The brand’s Signature Lip Blushes are extremely lightweight and perfect for everyday wear. Plus, the shade Vendôme is a stunning warm nude color.
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