Nude Lips

Nude lips are the beauty style statement of our time. They’ve officially transcended from a trend into a new classic. Originally applied to downplay the rest of the face when a dramatic smoky eye, lengthy lashes or a major blush moment took center stage, they’ve now officially stolen the spotlight. And believe the hype: Whether you’re fair and blond like Charlize Theron or have a medium complexion like Jessica Alba, they really are universally flattering!

amp#149; If your lips are flaky or chapped, exfoliate with a lip scrub. Nude shades don’t offer much coverage.
amp#149; If you’re using a sheer gloss like Jennifer Lopez, first blot on a layer of your liquid foundation to give it something to adhere to.
amp#149; Apply a liner in the same shade as your lips for a plumper, more dramatic effect, then swipe on shade as usual.

Remember nude is not the same as neutral. Take your skin tone, lip color and where you’re going into account when choosing your tube. Once you’ve assessed your perfect shade, have a gloss, a stick and of course a swab of your perfect foundation ready to go. We like YSL's Pure Nude Gloss ($30; yslbeautyus.com), and Tom Ford's Nude Vanille Lip Color ($48; neimanmarcus.com).

Solution

: This might be for two reasons: You’re wearing a shade that’s much too pale for your complexion or you’re not accentuating the rest of your features. Once you’ve determined the right color for you, apply a flattering blush and a liner and mascara that make your eyes stand out. If you’re fair like Olivia Wilde, warm up your face with a touch of peach on the apples of your cheeks and smooth a tangy gloss over your lips to give a subtle hint of color.

Solution

: If you’re fair like Jennifer Lawrence, go for light golden or peachy nudes to add warmth to your skin without accentuating ruddiness. If you have olive undertones or medium skin like Lea Michele, try pink and rosy shades-they will make your skin look brighter. Warm golden bronze and caramel nudes will make dark skin, like Jennifer Hudson’s glow and give darker lips some dimension.

Solution

: Consistency is a matter of taste but when it comes to nude lips we suggest you stick to glosses and creamier textures. Matte finishes are chic in darker shades but can look a bit chalky in a pale color. A creme lipstick like the Topshop lipstick in Nevada ($16; topshop.com) will give a more plump, polished appearance. A sheer gloss like MAC's Lipglass in Naked Space ($15; maccosmetics.com) lends a more casual swipe of color.