In the Mood For Nude

Most of the time you will see me wearing nude --- lipsticks that is. =) I love nude or neutral lip colors. You see, I have fair skin and at most times my face looks naturally ghastly and pale white, so I have to be careful in choosing lipsticks. Not all reds and pinks work on me, especially the heavily pigmented ones. But most nudes suit me well. I have to be clear though that not all nudes look good on me. Some are chalky or too light or too orangey. These types make my skin appear washed out. I like my nude lippies to appear as natural as possible on my slightly pinkish pale lips so they MUST have a hint of color to give.

Photo Credits: olivecocomag

Choosing nude lippies is as difficult as choosing the perfect red lipstick. There are rules to follow. You have to understand your complexion (skin tone) and know your undertone. The most basic rule is: warm colors work well with warm, then cool with cool. I've been using makeup for almost half of my life, but sometimes I still get confused and it really drives me nuts. I'm always undecided whether I'm cool or warm toned. But on most days, I think I'm neutral so I'm lucky I'm able to play with more colors. =)

Photo Credits: olivecocomag

The shade and color of your nude lippie plays a big part. You have to decide on its level of darkness or lightness. If in case I have chosen a very light one, I always blend, mix, and blend, until I achieve the right color pay-off. It's not easy, and I'm still no expert, but I do practice --- with patience. =)

If you want to play with nude lipsticks, make sure you get to know their types first. These may also be applicable to any kind or color of lipstick. There are more types and formulas of lippies but these ones are the most common to neutrals and nudes.

• Satin Finish Lipstick. This is best for those with pigmented lips. It gives an opaque semi-matte finish and of course, tends to mute out or cancel out or cover your natural lip color. When you look at it from the tube, or swatch it on your skin first, you'd be sure to expect that the same exact color will appear on your lips when you finally wear it. What you see is what you get with satin finishes. My favorite satin finish lipstick is MAC Twig which is a natural/nude shade.

• Lustre Finish Lipstick. Think of gloss. That's what lustre finish is. Lustre finishes are a staple in every girl's makeup stash. It gives that healthy and juicy look on your lips. Plus you get to skip the lip gloss too. Be careful though if you have pigmented lips because lustre finishes will tend to show the natural color of your lips when applied, which would mean that if your lips are dark, the color pay-off might not be good, so choose the right color with much attention. My favorite lustre finish lipstick is MAC Iris Apfel Flamingo, although it's not really a nude shade. An example of a nice lustre finish nude lippie is MAC Hug Me.

MAC Hug Me

• Matte Finish Lipstick. I love mattes primarily because they're intense and very color-rich. They stay all day without the stickiness and the shine so you don't have to worry with transfers or stains. But for beginners, I do not suggest you start with matte finishes because application requires some hard work before you perfect the look. Matte nudes also tend to accentuate your lip imperfections so always keep a lip balm handy. My favorite matte lippie would be no other than NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Antwerp.

• Sheer Finish Lipstick. Sheer finishes are mostly my MLBB's. The color pay-off is light and sheer and almost translucent. If you're just starting out with lippies, sheer is the safest bet. You get to build color without worrying that you might put on too much on your lips because the formula does not mute out your natural lip color, it tends to make your lips look more natural instead. My favorite nude sheer finish lippie (although it's not really lipstick) is Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Truffle.
  

So for the last part of this very long post, I'm sharing with you my favorite nude lippies. I only chose nine because they are the ones I use the most.

My Nude Lipsticks

From left to right: (1) Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Rosy Nude, (2) MAC Satin Lipstick in Twig, (3) Fanny Serrano Moisturific Lipstick in Coco Copper, (4) Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Barely There, (5) Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream in Antwerp, (6) Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Bare All, (7) Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream in Stockholm, (8) Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream in Abu Dhabi, (9) Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Truffle

My Nude Lipsticks

Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Rosy Nude

Rosy Nude is a warm nude which is pinkish-coral in color with slightly brownish undertones. The texture is creamy but not sticky and gives just the right amount of shine. Color is very buildable. Price: a little less than 600pesos.

MAC Satin Lipstick in Twig

MAC Twig is my favorite lipstick of all time. It's my go-to lipstick for years now. It's in satin finish and the color is a warm brownish pinkish nude. Staying power is awesome and applies very smoothly on the lips. It leaves a very nice and delicate stain on the lips once it fades. It's very flattering and goes with just any type of makeup, or even if I don't wear any makeup at all. Price: 1000pesos

Fanny Serrano Moisturific Lipstick in Coco Copper

Coco Copper is ALMOST a MAC Twig dupe except that it has a less ruddy undertone. It's also a warm pinkish brown nude. It appears light when swatched on the skin but tends to become darker when on the lips. It has a lustre semi-opaque finish and it's very moisturizing. Staying power is average; about 3-4 hours. Price: about 200pesos

Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Barely There

Barely There is a satin finish lipstick which has a very natural color pay-off and a healthy sheen. It has peachy pink undertones. It's non-drying and applies very smoothly. Staying power is great at about 6 hours or so. Price: 400pesos

Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Bare All

Bare All, on the other hand is similar to Barely There in shade and undertones but only this one is in matte finish. It's very pigmented. It's a bit drying though and my lip imperfections show through, just like most matte lippies. Price: 400pesos

Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream in Abu Dhabi

Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream in Antwerp

Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream in Stockholm

How many times have I professed my love for Nyx Soft Matte Lip Creams? Countless. Antwerp, Abu Dhabi and Stockholm would be my best nudes with Antwerp being my favorite. Abu Dhabi is a warm nude color with a brownish undertone. Antwerp is a nude peachy pink coral shade. While Stockholm is a pinkish coral nude. Price: 200-300pesos

Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Truffle

Pink Truffle is the perfect MLBB. It's a pinkish nude shade. Revlon's lip butters are not actually lipsticks (they're tinted lip balms) but they're very pigmented they could pass as one. Price 525pesos.

Nude or neutral lipsticks are really important makeup must-haves. With our busy schedules, sometimes we can't afford to spend hours and hours in front of the mirror putting on makeup. Nude lippies give that subtle and simple natural look or that no makeup look which is very hot these days (especially this summer). It's also perfect to use when you want to sport a heavy or dramatic eye makeup, so the attention will be focused on your eyes. Just make sure you choose the right shade, because that is the make or break of your nude look.

How about you? Do you sport a nude lip too?