How to Find the Best Nude Lipstick for Your Skin Tone

All these benefits stay in place as long as you pick the right shade. A faux pas in your choice of lipstick shades can completely wash out your complexion and make your pout look out of place. So, without further ado, here’s how to find the best nude lipstick for your skin tone.

Step 1: Decode your skin tone

No makeup journey is ever complete without this step, let alone navigating your way to the best nude lipstick for your skin tone. Your skin tone plays into the colour theory and largely decides how a particular nude lipstick shade may look on you. So go on and stand in front of your mirror and try to figure out whether you have a light, medium, olive, or dusky skin tone. It’s okay if you’re not 100% certain and go for the tone that resembles your skin the most. After all, glam is all about experimentation.

Step 2: Decode your undertone

Yes, tones aren’t enough when it comes to scouting the best nude lipstick. Makeup that sits well with your skin undertone blends seamlessly into your complexion, giving you the perfect natural look. Figuring out your undertone can be as simple as looking at the veins beneath your wrists, where the skin is very thin.

• If your veins are blue or purple, you have a cool undertone.
• If your veins are green, you have a warm undertone.
• If you find it difficult to define your undertone because your veins are both blue and green, you probably have neutral undertones.

With the undertones figured out, you’re another step closer to navigating the nude lipstick shades that do the job for you.

Step 3: Now do your scales

Now that you know the skin tone and undertone, it’s time to overlay the two and see where exactly you fall. This quick scale guide is here to make your job easier and find you the best nude lipstick shades for fair skin, best nude lipstick for medium skin, and the best nude lipstick for dusky skin.

1. For light skin

Cool, light undertones usually have a pink/blue/purple base. This is why mauves, cool pinks, and other frosty colours blend in seamlessly. A nude lipstick shade with subtle pink or mauve undertones will gently enhance your porcelain complexion.

• Cool undertones

  Cool, light undertones usually have a pink/blue/purple base. This is why mauves, cool pinks, and other frosty colours blend in seamlessly. A nude lipstick shade with subtle pink or mauve undertones will gently enhance your porcelain complexion.

• Warm undertones

  Warm undertones have yellowish, golden, and peachy bases that give your skin a certain warmth. These undertones are enhanced when you use a nude lipstick shade with orange and brown bases. Cooler lipstick shades may give off a harsh contrast.

• Neutral undertones

  These undertones have an equal amount of blue and yellow bases. You don’t want a shade that appears too cool toned or something that looks a bit too warm and overpowering. Find a balanced nude lipstick shades for fair skin with a slightly beige, pink, or peach tint that harmonises warmth and cool tones. Explore muted pinks, beige, or light caramel.

2. For medium skin

A commonly found Indian skin tone, the medium skin lies in the middle of the spectrum. A medium skin tone gives you the flexibility to pull off some of the best nude lipsticks for medium skin. However, narrowing down on your undertone can help you with some more fitting options. Shades of peach, golden beige and soft caramel match your skin tone.

• Cool undertones

  Dodge contrasting warm shades and choose berry tones, mauves or cool browns as best nude lipsticks for cool tones.

• Warm undertones

  For medium skin with yellow undertones, it’s best to infuse warmth with coral pinks or soft browns.

• Neutral undertones

  While neutral undertones have a large palette, it’s safe to explore muted pinks, soft browns and dusty pink nude lipstick shades for medium skin.

3. For olive skin

Olive skin tones have a greenish base and usually boast a mix of both, warm and cool undertones. While it may seem tricky to find the shades that suit you well, determining your undertone certainly makes things easier. Boosting your colour intensity with salmon pink, deep caramel, berry shades will give your complexion the radiance it sometimes lacks.

• Cool undertones

  Deep berry tones, rosy browns or mauves bring out the cool undertones of your complexion.

• Warm undertones

  Indulge in golden browns, warm terracotta and burnt caramel nude lipstick shades for brown skin. Think bronze or old gold to bring out your complexion.

• Neutral undertones

  Find balance in earth tones, soft browns or muted pink nude lipstick shades to suit your olive and neutral palette.

4. For dark skin

Dark skin possesses a natural richness, and the key is finding colours that beautifully complement its depth. Rich, deep colours such as pinks, purples, mauves, or deep brown nude lipstick for dusky skin will appeal to you.

• Cool undertones

  Revel in best nude lipsticks with violet rose notes, deep plums, rich berries and cool, deep browns.

• Warm undertones

  Opt for deep terracotta, rich chocolates or warm red-brown nude lipstick for dusky skin.

• Neutral undertones

  Deep mauves, chocolate browns and neutral reds are flattering choices for your skin.

Pro Tip: Pick a shade darker than natural

Your nude lipstick shade should dance a shade darker than your innate lip hue. Too light and your complexion risks dullness. Too dark and the contrast with your skin will detract your nude lipstick from its primary purpose: to brighten your features while giving the impression that you're not wearing make-up.

Decoding your skin tone, undertone, and makeup can be quite the journey. Make sure you undertake it with skin loving makeup that gives you a rich colour payoff. L'Oréal Paris offers just that with its versatile nude lipstick shade collection that has something for all skin tones. Still sceptical? Explore the Virtual Makeup Try-On tool to experience the best nude shades over a camera before buying.