Coral Lipstick Is the New Nude for Summer—Find Your Perfect Match

By Marianne Mychaskiw
Updated May 19, 2016 @ 4:30 pm
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Okay—maybe "new" is a stretch considering that we break the shade out every spring and summer once the temperature rises above 60 degrees. Perfectly walking the line between a traditional pink and a bold citrus, it almost seems to exclaim that winter is finally over, and is super-flattering on all skin tones. "Coral is the one bright color that still looks natural, unlike more dramatic tones like red or fuchsia," says makeup artist Nick Barose, who recommends pairing your lip with a coordinating shade of blush. "It looks bright in the tube, but when used sparingly, it's sheer and can be layered for more of a pop, so don't be intimidated by the boldness in the package." The color gets a certain Jennifer Lopez vibe when teamed with a soft metallic gold on the eye (and appropriate strobing, of course), though it looks stunning all on its own—especially against a summer tan.

"It brings warmth to the face, and in the summer when your skin also gets warmer, your regular nude lipstick might become too light or too beige," Barose adds. We asked the pro to share his picks for the best coral lipsticks and glosses for every skin tone, and he revealed the exact hues he used on his clients Lupita Nyong'o, Amy Poehler, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. Read on for all the details.

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For Dark Skin

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The deeper your skintone, the bolder you can go with your color choices. On Lupita Nyong'o, Barose went for a glossy shade of coral. "Bright color with a sheer texture is a great way to wear color during the day while still keeping the makeup looking fresh," he adds.

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For Dark Skin

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Lancome Juicy Shaker in Great Fruit, $21; nordstrom.com.

Lancome Cushion Blush in Sorbet Grenadine, $40; nordstrom.com.

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For Medium Skin

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Depending on how warm your undertones are, you can get away with a lipstick that has a bit more orange, like Jouer's Long-Wear Lip Creme Liquid Lipstick in Framboise ($18; jouercosmetics.com), which Barose used on Gugu Mbatha-Raw. "The shade pops against her golden skin, and the opaque texture gives it a bit more drama," he tells us.
 

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For Medium Skin

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Jouer Long-Wear Lip Creme Liquid Lipstick in Framboise, $18; jouercosmetics.com.

NARS Blush in Outlaw, $30; sephora.com.

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For Light Skin

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Fair skin tones like Amy Poehler's look gorgeous paired with a soft papaya tone. "To keep it wearable for daytime, we applied one coat of lipstick, then Amy blotted her lips," says Barose, who chose NARS's Audacious Lipstick in Catherine ($32; sephora.com) on the star. "The finish was still bold, but understated."

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For Light Skin

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NARS Audacious Lipstick in Catherine, $32; sephora.com.

Surratt Beauty Artistique Blush in Ponceau, $32; sephora.com.

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By Marianne Mychaskiw