LOIB DRESSY: The Nude-Lipstick Field Guide

Nude lipstick is an interesting conundrum in the world of beauty. Sure, it's a makeup-kit staple, but what exactly constitutes nude? Some women believe it's meant to be a shade similar to our skin tone, while others define it simply as a neutral. There is no true nude for every skin tone. There could be 20 or 30 shades that fit into the category of 'nude' for you, because nude means something different for every person. Women should have a wardrobe of nudes. So, it's time to start rethinking the nude lipstick thing and start shopping. But, where to even start? You've also got to take the color of your lips into consideration, as that will affect the way your shade reads. There is one big misconception we've got to clear up right now, though: You are not looking for a flesh-toned shade that matches your actual skin tone. What you want is something that's synched up with your natural lip color and complements your skin tone —Still stumped? Ahead, I've rounded up a bevy of nude hues, broken down by skin tones and with tips from Hughes, Butter London's Global Color Ambassador to guide you. At the end of the day, your buff lipstick is all about personal preference and what works for you. Consider this list a guide to help you find your nude-lipstick match. It's out there!

LIGHT TONES

Hughes says ladies with lighter skin tones should favor pink or peachy shades. "If there's a model in front of me and she's pale, I'll nude-ify her with a peachy-toned look," she says. "If it's too beige it will go a little too far the other way — especially if it's opaque. It'll make you look a little zombie-like."

Chanel Rouge Coco Hydrating Crème Lip Colour, $35, available at Nordstrom

Dior Dior Addict Lip Glow in Natural Pink, $32, available at Sephora

Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color in Guava, $26, available at Bobbi Brown

Calvin Klein CK One Pure Color Lipstick, $22.24, available at Debenhams

Tom Ford Lip Color in Vanilla Suede, $50, available at Tom Ford

Medium

Medium-toned ladies have it easy: They can go either way with their shades. "You definitely shouldn't go lighter with your lipstick," Hughes explains. "That gets tricky. People tend to go too light, and then they wind up looking ashy."

Butter London Lippy Tinted Balm in Nutter, $20, available at Butter London

MAC Cremesheen + Pearl Lipstick in Peach Blossom, $16, available at Nordstrom

Maybelline Color Sensational The Buffs Lip Color in Stormy Sahara, $5.50, available atWalmart

Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick Kate Moss Collectionin 014, $5.49 $4.49, available at Ulta

Sephora Collection Rouge Cream Lipstick in Love Life, $12.50, available at Sephora

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Silky

Sensual Radiant Lipstick SPF 15 in Neutral Beige, $35, available at Sephora

Dark

Darker-toned girls should actually reach for shades with a red undertone to them. "If you look at Lupita Nyong'o, for example, to do a nude on her, you'd have to do a dark-brown lip," Hughes explains. "It's going to have a reddish-brown tinge to it, especially when you look at it in the bottle. But, it won't look like a red on darker skin tones."
L'Oréal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive in Liya's Nude, $8.99, available at Loreal