Even though it may not be as eye catching, a nude lip is just about as classic as a red lip. “It’s been there for a long time and it’s not going anywhere,” says celebrity makeup artist and Senna Cosmetics founder Eugenia Weston. Just as with a red lip, there is still a set of rules you need to follow to pull off a successful nude lip.
1. Exfoliate first.
“It’s important to exfoliate first because sometimes lighter colors can make dryness show up more,” says Weston. Try a product like glō•minerals Exfoliating Lip Wand ($16) to get rid of dry, flaky skin.
2. Use a primer.
Priming your lips with a nude primer or even a creamy concealer can help create a blank canvas for your lipstick to go on. Senna Cosmetics Totally Transforming Lip Primer ($26) contains collagen tripeptide microspheres that help plump up lips and prepare them for the color.
3. Line your lips.
Apply a nude lip liner that matches the color of your lips and blend it all over to help keep your lipstick in place. Be careful not to use a lip liner that’s darker than the lipstick you’re using. “This will turn your nude lip from chic and classic to outdated!” says glo minerals makeup artist Kate McCarthy.
4. Apply the lipstick.
The key to the perfect nude lip is to find a lipstick that matches your skin color. The wrong one can make you look washed out or sickly. “The best way to choose the right nude for your skin tone is to decipher whether you are warm or cool toned,” says McCarthy. “A little trick is to look at the veins on your inner wrists. If they are blue-toned, you’re cool. If they’re veins are green-toned, you’re warm. Cool undertones should opt for pinker nudes while warm undertones should try peachy, sand colored nudes.”
5. Finish with a gloss.
“A nude lip gloss can enhance the color and make the look complete,” says Weston.
Another tip is to play up another facial feature. “It’s important so your look isn’t monotone and washed out,” says McCarthy. “I love a bolder eye or brow or a bronzed cheeks with a nude lipstick.” If you follow these tips, you’ll be able to pull off this always-trendy look.
