Whoever said finding the perfect nude lipstick was easy lied. In truth, it takes a fair amount of effort. While timeless, classic and forever crowd-pleasing, nude lipsticks are endlessly nuanced and picking the right one is as personal as make-up can get. For instance, what looks great on you may not necessarily be flattering on your best friend and that is all down to the relationship between nude lipsticks and our skin tone. Despite being so high maintenance, nude is still the most popular of lipstick shades; you need only look to the Golden Globes 2025 red carpet for the proof, where the soft hue was favoured by a fleet of A-listers, from award-winner Zoe Saldaña to Keira Knightly and Miley Cyrus.
Arguably the most affirming seal of approval, though, comes from M.A.C Cosmetics. The brand has sworn in the new year with its new Nudes Collection, a curated collection of 19 new and bestselling nude-only lip wear in silky matte, soft-focus matte, shiny sheer and sleek satin finishes, as well as lip liners and an eyeshadow palette for the ultimate monochrome look. M.A.C's generous answer to nude lipsticks is a clear indication of the shade's multitudinous personality, this is no one-size fits all make-up essential.
How to choose nude lipstick
'As a make-up artist, we need an arsenal of nudes in our kits to be able to deliver “nude” on all of our clients. Nude means something different to everyone, and at M.A.C we have over 100 nudes to choose from,' says Carly Utting, Global Senior Artist M.A.C Cosmetics. Even an expert like Utting agrees, 'finding your perfect nude can be super daunting,' but there are a few tools and techniques you can rely on to crack the nude Da Vinci code.
Hila Karmand, celebrity make-up artist and stakeholder member of CTZN Cosmetics - a brand intent on helping customers find their perfect nude - explains, 'determining your skin tone is the first step to getting the right nude lipstick. You can determine your skin tone by looking at the veins on your wrist. If they appear blue or purple, you have cool undertones. If they appear greenish, you have warm undertones. If you can't tell, you may have neutral undertones.'
Once you've understood your skin's unique undertone, Karmand says those with cool undertones should look for nude lipsticks with pink or blue undertones, while those with warm undertones should opt for lipsticks with peach or orange undertones. If you find you have neutral undertones, you can wear both cool and warm undertones – so consider yourself lucky by way of limitless nude possibilities.
How to apply nude lipstick
Application is another important bolt in the foundation of a great nude lip look. 'There are a few ways of applying nude lipstick,' says Utting, 'but for me, straight out of the bullet works wonders.' Utting begins by prepping the lips with M.A.C's Prep + Prime Lip Primer, £22, which acts as a Velcro for any lipstick you apply on top and stops the shade from feathering outside the lips. Then, if you want a very sheer application, she recommends using a clean finger to press the nude lipstick into your lips.
Finish is another worthy consideration, if you want a light veil pick a sheer finish, if you love heavier coverage opt for a matte lipstick that will also lend punchy, pigmented colour pay-off.
Shop: Grazia Beauty's All-Time Favourite Nude Lipsticks
fentybeauty.co.uk
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'Finding the perfect nude is no easy feat, but I simplify the process by thinking of it as an amplified, richer version of my natural lip colour. For me that's a browny-pink and I've come to rely on Fenty Beauty's Gloss Bomb Stix in Two'Lip Kiss which translates into a flesh-toned peachy pink on my medium skin tone. While nude lipstick often sparks visions of a matte finish, this need not be the only criteria to stick to and this lipstick proves how you can enjoy a high-shine, ultra-glossy format while embracing a more natural colour.'
Rachael Martin, beauty editor, says: 'For me, the perfect nude lippie will always be a brown toned pink - think Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk but just a tad deeper. I find this kind of shade really helps to balance my complexion while anything warmer tends to bring out the redness in my skin. After swatching and swiping my way through the entire Grazia beauty cupboard (no easy task) I settled on my perfect nude - CTZN Cosmetics Nudiversal Lip Duo in shade 14 Lahore.' The formula is creamy and velvety (no drying or flaking in sight) but the pigment is beautifully rich - one slick and my lips are fully coated. While I do quite like the matte finish, this one is dual ended meaning there's the option to add a top layer of liquid lipstick too - the dinky applicator imparts an additional wash of gloss that also looks equally as pretty when worn alone. Unsure what might suit you? Many brands offer samples, or you can pop to a counter at a department store like Selfridges or Boots - in my experience the make-up artists have incredibly helpful advice and recommendations to share.'
www.maccosmetics.co.uk
Renee Washington, fashion and beauty assistant, says: 'I’ve been using the MAC Liquid Lip Colour in Chestnut 955 to line my lips and Buffiest 953 on the centre for a perfect ombré effect- it’s a true nude combo that I’m obsessed with. I’m a resident gloss girl but this may have swayed me. The texture is velvety and soft, and it even smells like a sweet treat, almost like cake. It lasts through all my blabbering, which is a win! My only gripe is the applicator - it’s small and blunt, which makes it tricky to apply precisely. A thicker, softer wand would make it perfect.'
Sameeha Shaikh is Grazia's beauty writer, working across all categories to bring you insights on the latest trends, industry news and the products you need to know about, viral or not (most probably viral).