How to find your perfect nude lipstick

"Nude" is supposed to look like your natural lip colour, only more even and polished. The catch is that there's no universal nude: one person's nude is another person's washed-out shade.

Why a nude can wash you out

There are two classic mistakes:

1. It's lighter than your lips. The result is a greyish, "erased" lip that drains your face.
2. It doesn't share your undertone. A pink nude on very golden skin, or a yellowish nude on pink skin, looks artificial.

The nude rule

Look for a shade one or two notches deeper than your natural lips with the same undertone as your skin.

• Fair, cool skin: pinky nudes, like Pillow Talk.
• Fair, warm skin: peachy or rosy-beige nudes.
• Medium skin: toasted nudes and brownish roses.
• Deep skin: caramel, milk-chocolate or warm brown nudes; for a lighter effect, pair with a deeper lip liner.

The lip-liner trick

Line with a pencil slightly deeper than your lipstick and blend it inwards. It adds dimension and stops a nude from looking flat — especially useful on lips with little natural contrast.

Matte, satin or gloss

• Matte: more polished, but pale nudes can look dry.
• Satin: the most flattering for everyday wear.
• Gloss: fresh and youthful; perfect for thin lips.

Comparing nudes without going to the store

Nudes are the hardest lipsticks to choose online because the differences are subtle. The most effective approach is to compare them on your own face, in the same light:

1. Open the lipstick try-on and upload a photo taken in natural light.
2. Pick four nudes in the comparison tool.
3. Look at them side by side and rule out the ones that wash you out.

Still torn? The perfect nude challenge helps you create a "Which one? 1-2-3-4" image so your followers can vote in Stories.