Send Me Nudes

Let's face it, for some of us, these are the only kinds of nudes we really want to be receiving. From pale peachy pinks, to dark dusty mauves, browns and everything in between, there's a shade for everyone, even if you wouldn't necessarily deem it a nude. For this post I've rounded up pretty much every remotely close to nude shade that I could find in all sorts of formulas and finishes, to really give you an idea of just what options you have and this isn't even a fraction of what's out there. For me, a nude lip is an absolute staple in my makeup collection. It's a look that can take you from subtle daytime to a sultry night look when paired with something like an intense smoky eye and long lashes. They're understated, chic and subtle or slightly more bold, whatever takes your fancy.

The lighter colours & sheer finishes.

For me, these are the true nude shades. This will vary depending on your skin tone and the colour of your lips but for me, these are either those "your lips but better" colours, a wash of colour or even something drastically lighter. (Obviously this will differ vastly for those with a darker or even paler skintone). Generally, I don't tend to opt for any lip product with a sheer coverage, unless it's just a swipe of a tinted lip balm for around the house, I just personally prefer something with a little more colour payoff and longevity but for those who prefer a more natural "no makeup" look, something like this might be more ideal.

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Velvet in Atomic Rose | £6.49
The matte sister to the original Apocalips by Rimmel, these dry to a nice matte finish without the dryness (and unfortunately staying power) of a liquid lipstick. I find these super comfortable to wear on the lips and the doe foot applicator is really nicely designed to hold enough product for the application. I personally wouldn't call this transfer proof like other similar products but it feels nice on the lips and gives a good amount of pigment for the price.

Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick in I'm Nude | £14
The newest additions to my liquid lipstick collection are a couple by Jeffree Star. Now, these are a little tricky to get hold of in the UK but you can pick them up at Cocktail Cosmetics if you keep a close eye on when they're restocking. I adore the formula of these, like with any liquid lipstick you do get a bit of a dry feeling once totally dried down but the staying power of these is incredible, I'm talking foot long sub and then some, staying power. They also feel so lightweight on the lips with one of the most liquid formulas I've seen. The pigmentation of this for such a light shade is also insane, I just can't really fault it. Though I find this too pale for use on it's own, I've found myself mixing it into a lot of other shades to lighten them and create something totally new.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in Pure Hollywood | $20 (they do ship to the UK but you will incur duty charges)
My perfect nude shade. Just the right amount of pink and just light enough so it looks super natural without making you look almost washed out. You have no idea how upset I am that this is now completely empty. Though the formula of these isn't my favourite, this colour gets a huge thumbs up from me and if you're willing to pay a little extra in taxes when these arrive in the UK, then I highly recommend picking up a couple from their website. (Sadly though we do have places that stock Anastasia in the UK, these appear to be a US exclusive). These feel a little more moussey than the Jeffree Star counterparts and to me, a little heavier on the lips but the colours and staying power are incredible. The packaging is also gorgeous.

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate in 45 | £5.49
I'm a big fan of the Kate by Rimmel lipsticks (especially their matte range) but I do find myself a little underwhelmed by this. Though the shade is lovely for a wash of colour across the lips, for something described as a "lasting finish" and advertised as delivering 8 hours of wear time, I just don't think this quite lives up to standards and this is one I do find myself constantly having to reapply. Not one I reach for regularly, if even at all. It's a nice product for those on a budget but I would still recommend some of their other products over this.

L'Oreal Paris Color Riche in J'Lo's Nude | £6.99
Another one I really don't find myself reaching for. If you like a sheer finish with less pigmentation for a more natural look then by all means, give this a try but for me, it just doesn't do a great deal other than give my lips a little bit of a sheen. I'd much rather reach for a lip butter or balm. I really do wish I liked this more as I'm a big fan of some of the other lipsticks in L'Oreals collection.

Lasting Finish by Kate in 45, L'Oreal Color Riche in J'Lo's Nude, Rimmel Apocalips in Atomic Rose, Anastasia Beverly Hills in Pure Hollywood, Jeffree Star in I'm Nude. 

The darker shades, dusty pinks and mauves.

These shades are ideal for those who prefer a stronger nude colour on the lips or perhaps for those with a darker skin tone who find the above shades a little too on the pale side. I personally tend to reach for this selection a lot more often than those above as I much prefer something with a good amount of colour payoff and a matte finish that lasts all day on the lips.

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate in 08 | £5.49
In comparison to the previous Rimmel by Kate lipstick mentioned in this post, this shade provides a lot more colour I find and though it doesn't last particularly long (I have to reapply this multiple times throughout the day) it does last longer than number 45. I still think there are better options for something long lasting in a similar colour but for anyone on a budget, this is a really nice starting place for a nude lipstick. It's also really comfortable on the lips as it's not an entirely matte finish.

The Balm Meet Matt(e) Hughes Liquid Lipstick in Committed & Charming | £13.50
The Balm liquid lipsticks are up there with some of the best. The first thing you'll notice with these is their scent, a refreshing mint that gives a slight cooling effect to the lips while they dry down. If you're not into heavily scented products or mint then these might not be for you  but the formula is worth giving a try regardless. These only really start to feel drying on me after a good few hours of wear, nothing a little balm can't solve and I've found these wear really well without leaving that annoying ring on the inside of the lips like some products do. Excellent pigmentation and a nice range of colours to choose from with a very reasonable price attached.

Mac Lipstick in Mehr, Whirl and Brave | £15.50
Mac are without a doubt my favourite brand to buy lipsticks from. I'm not even sure it's anything to do with the products themselves, it might just be a sense of loyalty. Though with such a huge range of finishes and colours, I really do think they have something for everyone. I tend to gravitate a lot more towards their matte and satin finishes, I just like the longevity and look you get with these and in comparison to something like a liquid lipstick, they do feel comfortable on the lips (they're also easier to remove). Mehr and Brave are pretty similar in colour, the main difference being that Mehr is a matte and Brave is a bit lighter with a Satin finish (though to me they look ever so close in finish really). Whirl is that classic 90s brown shade, super sexy for a nightime look, I love wearing this with an all black outfit and dramatic lashes.

The Balm Liquid Lipstick in Charming, Mac Brave, Mac Whirl, Mac Brave, The Balm Liquid Lipstick in Committed, Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate in 08.

What are your favourite "nude" lip colours?