It’s the finishing touch to a smokey eye, the ultimate Friday night accessory, and a major must-have if a natural look is your everyday beauty vibe. But, how do you know which shade of nude lipstick is your perfect match? With so many nude hues to choose, finding the one is up there with acing a dewy skin base or conquering winged eyeliner, as far as difficulty level goes. But before you throw in the towel (and throw away all your current lipsticks…) allow us to school you once and for all in the art of finding the ultimate nude lipstick for your skin tone. Take a seat…

Nude Lipstick for Fair Skin Tones

Most fair skin tones will suit a light, pinky-nude lipstick that lends a brightening boost. If you’re cool-toned, try Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate in 042; a rosy-beige nude that will stand out against your skin in the very best way. For those with a yellow undertone, a pinky-toned lipstick, like Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate in 045, will get you glowing. Meanwhile, neutral skin tones can wear either – just try swatching a few hues to see which suits your style. And, you can’t go wrong with a barely-there finish. For a suits-all-skin-tones nude, glide on Moisture Renew Sheer & Shine Lipstick in Better & Brighter, which delivers a subtle kiss of balmy colour.

Nude Lipstick for Medium Skin Tones

You’ll know your medium skin has a warm undertone if your veins are green. That means toffee or bronze shades with a little gold or peachy shimmer will look fire on you. Our favourite? Lasting Finish Lipstick in Birthday Suit, which is a brown with a rich pink undertone that instantly sets a tanned complexion aglow. To keep cool-toned, medium skin looking lit, try a peachy-nude with a hint of caramel, like Stay Matte Liquid Lip Colour in Latte To Go. It looks flawless teamed with a sweep of matte bronzer and a smudge of eyeliner.

Nude Lipstick for Dark Skin Tones

Rich, chocolate-nudes and berry-nudes with a hint of red or blue look like a dream on you. If you’re a matte addict (aren’t we all?), glide on an ultra-plush, bold liquid lipstick, like, Stay Matte Liquid Lip Colour in the chocolate shade Scandalous (right). Another matte option in a deeper tone is Plunge, which veils lip in luxe, opaque colour that looks on point when paired with lots of lashes. Bring on the mascara. Lighter nudes suit you, too. Stick to a satin or gloss texture if you do decide to try a rosy tone, like Oh My Gloss! in Snog.

Whether your skin is alabaster and fair or golden and tanned, it’s all about trial and error to find your new go-to. So don’t get too taken in by ‘the rules’ – if you like it, werk it! But if you need a little extra advice, keep our quick cheat sheet by your side when swatching new nudes at the beauty counter…

Tips for Going Nude

Strike the Balance For a stand-out nude shade, opt for lipstick with an undertone that’s the opposite to your foundation. So, if you usually wear a pink-toned foundation, sweep on a yellow-y beige, golden or brown-tinted nude to stand out. If you tend to wear a yellow-toned base, try a dusty rose shade or a nude with a slight hint of pink. Easy.

Go a Shade Deeper Another fail-safe way to find your *ultimate* nude lipstick? Use your natural lip colour as a guide. For the most natural-looking finish, go a shade deeper than your lip colour with a hint of pink, yellow or brown, depending on the look you’re creating. Are we talking nude-and-natural or nineties nudes? There’s a shade to suit every look.

Find Your Finish Play with lipstick texture to perfect your new nude lip. Fans of the no-makeup-makeup-look will go cray for a sheer lipstick finish, whereas kohl liner lovers will be sweeping on a velvety matte nude to finish their statement look. Whatever your vibe, these tips will ensure your new nude lipstick look will flawless in one sweep.