How to Wear Nude Lipstick

Co-authored by Katya Gudaeva and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: June 9, 2021 References

Wearing nude lipstick is a subtle way to call attention to the natural tones of your skin and give a little color to your face. You might have seen nude lipstick worn by celebrities, models, or even your friends. If you’d like to try a nude lipstick for yourself, figure out which shade matches your undertones, moisturize your lips, and pair it with heavy eye makeup to look great in nude lipstick today.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Choosing the Right Shade

1
Determine your skin’s undertones.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Katya Gudaeva
Professional Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 11 April 2019.} Find a natural light source, like a door or open window. Look at the color of the veins on the inside of your wrist. If your veins are green, you have warm undertones. If your veins are blue, you have cool undertones. If you can’t tell if your veins are blue or green, or they are a mixture of both, you probably have neutral undertones.^{[2]
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- You may already know your undertones from choosing a shade of foundation.
2
Buy rosy pink nudes if you have cool undertones. Rosy nudes will pair well with the natural pink and red of your own skin without making you look flushed. Gold nudes can wash you out, and peachy nudes can fade into your skin. Stick with pinker nudes to make your lipstick subtly enhance your cool undertones.
- Avoid beige colors that can make your lips look too pale, especially if you are fair-skinned.
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3
Stick with peachy pinks and golds if you have warm undertones. Nude lipsticks with warm tones pair great with your own warm undertones. Use lipsticks that are peachy instead of rosy, and pick nudes that have a golden warmth. These shades will draw attention to your own warm undertones and won’t clash like pinker nudes would.
- Stay away from brown nudes that can make your skin look drab.
4
Choose any nude shade if you have neutral tones. If you have a combination of warm and cool tones, you can choose any shade of nude lipstick and it will probably look great. A neutral beige shade will make your skin pop and let your undertones shine.

Tip: Try swatching lipstick on the back of your hand to see which one picks out your undertones the best.
5
Avoid shades that are lighter than your natural lip color. Nude lipsticks that are lighter than your own lips will wash you out and make your lips look unnatural. Stick to shades that are at least 1 shade darker than your own lip, especially if you are fair-skinned. Your complexion will look gray if you use nudes that are too light.^{[3]
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- Stay away from nudes that match your skin color exactly. These will make it look like you have no lips at all.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Applying Your Nude Lipstick

1
Apply plain, non-greasy lip balm to your lips to moisturize them. Lips can get dehydrated just like the rest of your skin, and nude lipstick will draw attention to your dry skin. If you have problems with dry lips, apply a lip balm moisturizer or a thin layer of petroleum jelly to your lips before you apply your lipstick to leave them feeling smooth and hydrated.^{[4]
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- Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your lips hydrated from the inside out.
2
Use a lip exfoliator before applying lipstick. Nude lipsticks can be drying, and if you have any dry flakes of skin on your lips, they will stand out. Rub a lip scrub all over your lips in a circular motion and wipe it off with a damp cloth to leave them feeling smooth before you apply your nude lipstick.^{[5]
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- You can find lip exfoliators at most beauty supply stores.
- You can also exfoliate your lips by gently brushing your damp toothbrush over them.
Tip: Make your own lip scrub by combining 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of honey, 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of olive oil, and 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of brown sugar.
3
Put a thin layer of foundation on your lips before putting on nude lipstick. Nude lipsticks are usually very light, so your natural lip color can show through them. As you put on your foundation, apply a thin layer to your lips to keep them flesh-colored and make your lipstick stand out on top of them.^{[6]
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- Do not add foundation if you have dry lips. Foundation will only make your lips more dry.
- You can also use liquid concealer on top of your lips instead of foundation.
4
Apply lip liner before your lipstick to avoid bleeding. Lip liner helps to lock your lipstick in place. Since nude lipstick can be subtle, if it bleeds out onto the skin around your mouth, it can make your lips look deformed or uneven. Line your lips with a lip liner that is 1 shade darker than your nude lipstick to lock it into place before you apply.^{[7]
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- If you apply lip liner after you put on your lipstick, it won’t be as effective and it might not blend as well.
5
Build up multiple layers of your nude lipstick as you apply. Nude lipstick can be very sheer. To make sure that your lips get a full coverage, build up layers of lipstick as you apply it to your lips. Rub the lipstick multiple times over your lips to make sure your natural lip color is not peeking through.^{[8]
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- This is especially important for beige and brown shades of nude lipstick.
6
Add gloss to your lipstick to avoid dry lips. Nude lipsticks are usually matte, and this can exacerbate dry lips if you have them already. To avoid flaky lip skin, apply a thin layer of clear lip gloss on top of your lipstick. Reapply throughout the day as you need it.^{[9]
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- Gloss will make your lip color stand out more.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Pairing Nudes with Your Makeup

1
Pair nude lipstick with dark, smokey eyes to call attention to them. If you want your eye makeup to be the main feature on your face, choose a nude lipstick to tone down the bottom half of your look. Heavy, black smokey eyes look great with a peachy nude lipstick.^{[10]
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- Bright smokey eyes look good with beige nude lipstick shades.
2
Use nude lips to accentuate a heavy cat eye. Your eyeliner is popping, and you want everyone to notice. Pair your cat eye makeup with a nude lipstick to have everyone noticing your killer eyeliner skills. Add a gloss to make your nude lipstick shine, or leave your look matte.^{[11]
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Tip: Long fake eyelashes will call attention to your eyeliner even more.
3
Pair nude lipstick with soft blush. If your lipstick is nude, balance out the rest of your face by being subtle with the blush. Use peachy, glittery blush with a light hand on the top of your cheekbones to accentuate your face and tie in your lipstick to the rest of your look.^{[12]
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- Peach blush looks the best with beige lipstick, and cotton candy blush goes great with peachy nude lipstick.
4
Add nude lipstick to a natural look. Natural looking makeup is great for a casual get-together during the day, or an evening at the beach. Use nude lipstick to tie a natural look together by pairing it with mascara, subtle eyeliner, and a light coverage foundation.^{[13]
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- Go with nude shades that are only slightly darker than your own lip color to keep them looking natural.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How do you know what color nude lipstick to get?

Katya Gudaeva
Professional Makeup Artist
Katya Gudaeva is a Professional Makeup Artist and the Founder of Bridal Beauty Agency based in Seattle, Washington. She has worked in the beauty industry for over 10 years and worked with companies such as Patagonia, Tommy Bahama, and Barneys New York and with clients such as Amy Schumer, Macklemore, and Train.

Katya Gudaeva

Professional Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Try out a few different shades of nude lipstick until you find one that you love.
Question

How do you make matte nude lipstick look good?

Katya Gudaeva
Professional Makeup Artist
Katya Gudaeva is a Professional Makeup Artist and the Founder of Bridal Beauty Agency based in Seattle, Washington. She has worked in the beauty industry for over 10 years and worked with companies such as Patagonia, Tommy Bahama, and Barneys New York and with clients such as Amy Schumer, Macklemore, and Train.

Katya Gudaeva

Professional Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

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If you are going for a matte lipstick look, do not apply any lip gloss with your lipstick.
Question

Can I make my own nude lipstick?

Katya Gudaeva
Professional Makeup Artist
Katya Gudaeva is a Professional Makeup Artist and the Founder of Bridal Beauty Agency based in Seattle, Washington. She has worked in the beauty industry for over 10 years and worked with companies such as Patagonia, Tommy Bahama, and Barneys New York and with clients such as Amy Schumer, Macklemore, and Train.

Katya Gudaeva

Professional Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Yes, it’s pretty easy. Many professional brands will sell dry pigments that you can mix into your lip balm. Just buy the pigments, mix them into the lip balm, and apply it with a lip brush.