Best Nude Lipstick for Your Skin Tone

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Finding the best nude lipstick for your skin tone can be tricky. With all of the different shades available, how do you know which one is right for you? In this post, we'll talk about the best nude lipsticks for women of all skin tones, and give you a few tips on how to find the perfect shade for you. Let's get started!

Nude lipsticks are universally loved, and everyone should own a good nude lipstick that compliments their skin tone. Lucky for you, Red Apple Lipstick has a great selection of gorgeous nude lipstick shades for absolutely every skin tone, so I will be sharing some very helpful tips and suggestions to help you choose the perfect one for you.

graphic of women deciding the best nude lipstick for your skin tone

What Is Skin Tone?

Your skin tone is the natural color of your skin. It can vary from light to dark, and it can be anywhere on the spectrum from pink to yellow to brown. Your skin tone is determined by a variety of factors, including genetics, ethnicity, and sun exposure.

Let’s start by covering the 3 broad skin tone (your surface skin color) categories. In my opinion, these are all you need to find the perfect nude lipstick for you.

  • Fair & Light skin tones are the lightest in the range.
  • Medium skin tones include a broad range from medium-light, to olive, to tan complexions.
  • Dark skin tones are the darkest to deepest complexions.

Discover your undertone by looking at the color of your veins on the inside of your wrist. Although I think this is mostly academic when it comes to nude lipsticks.

  • If your veins appear to be blue or purple, you have a cool undertone.
  • If your veins appear to be green, then you have a warm undertone.
  • If your veins appear to be both blue and green, or you cannot tell if they are either blue or green, you likely have a neutral undertone.

Your natural lip color

Just a brief mention of your natural lip color. There is really no way to know that a natural lip color always matches a particular skin tone. Natural lip colors are all over the map, but they play an important role if you want to find the perfect nude lipstick shades for you.

I suggest you pick a nude lipstick shade that is either lighter than your skin and lip tone or darker, but not the same.


Some nude lipsticks are tinted more brown, and some more pink, but you for sure want the color to pop in a soft way.

The Best Nude Lipstick For Fair/Light Skin Tones

Light skin tones look best with pink-nudes.  These are nude lipstick shades that have light pink undertones. Those with Fair skin tones should avoid any nude shades that have yellow undertones since these could wash the face out. Some great RAL lipstick options for Fair and Light skin tones are:

Maven Mauve

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This nude blend of dusty rose and mauve is stunning. Perfect for work, play or camera. It looks great on those with cool and neutral undertones.

Maven mauve is the perfect nude shade for those who want to add a touch of color to their look, without going too bright.

Image of lady with floral dress, long strawberry blonde hair, blue/green eyes and fair skin tone. She is featured wearing lipstick in the shade called Maven Mauve by Red Apple Lipstick. Maven Mauve is a dusty rose mauve color.

Melissa is wearing Maven Mauve by Red Apple Lipstick.

New York

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This pink-based nude is wonderful for warm and neutral undertones. It carries a little more body to it. Line it with a slightly darker lip liner, and Voila! Perfection.

If you're looking for a natural look that's still subtly sexy, New York is the perfect lipstick for you. With its beautiful pink undertone, this lipstick will give your lips a healthy flush of color that looks great on any skin tone.

Image of lady with short brown hair and hazel/brown eyes and fair skin. She is featured wearing lipstick in the shade called New York by Red Apple Lipstick. New York is a pink based nude color.

Sharon is wearing New York by Red Apple Lipstick

Oh My Guava

Oh My Guava is destined to be your favorite nude-pink color. This no-shimmer nude has less brown than most nudes, and more pink undertones to complement your natural pink lip color. This peaceful color is perfect for a relaxed calming day. Yet, sexy and romantic enough to be paired with bold, smokey eyes at night, if you desire.

Image of lady with short brown, wavy hair. She has blue eyes and fair skin tone. She is featured wearing lipstick in the shade called Oh My Guava by Red Apple Lipstick. Oh My Guava is a nude pink shade with more pink undertone than brown.

Andrea is wearing Oh My Guava by Red Apple Lipstick


The Best Nude Lipsticks for Medium Skin Tones

Those with medium skin tones should look for nude lipsticks with pink or peach undertones, that are either slightly lighter or darker than their complexion.

If you have an olive complexion, look for peachy nude shades as these can help balance the green undertones in your skin. Golden beige nudes also look great on olive complexions but avoid nudes that are lighter than your complexion, they can end up looking like you have concealer on your lips.

Caramel and taupe shades are great options. Tan complexions should look for nude shades with peach undertones. These RAL lipsticks are some great options:

Chai Love You

Chai Love You is a sophisticated nude lipstick with a reddish brown undertone. Apply it delicately to have it work harmoniously with your base lip color or you can adorn your lips with a heavier application. Using this lipstick as an anchor color captures just the right amount of attention.


Image of lady with long black hair and medium skin tone. She is featured wearing lipstick in the shade called Chai Love You by Red Apple Lipstick.

Noemi is wearing Chai Love you by Red Apple Lipstick

 

Naughty

We LOVE this lipstick! It's the perfect tan nude, has no shimmer but it does give the lips a healthy shine. Another great option for those with olive complexions.


Image of lady with long black hair and medium skin tone. She is featured wearing lipstick in the shade called  Naughty by Red Apple Lipstick.

Noemi is wearing Naughty by Red Apple Lipstick

Oh My Guava

Oh My Guava is destined to be your favorite nude-pink color. This no-shimmer nude has less brown than most nudes, and more pink undertones to complement your natural pink lip color. This peaceful color is perfect for a relaxed calming day. Yet, sexy and romantic enough to be paired with bold, smokey eyes at night, if you desire.

 

Ooh La la

This dusty rose nude shade is slightly pink, slightly brown. Great for all medium skin tones, and a good shade for olive complexions.



Spice ‘N Easy

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a medium spicy orange with a brownish-red undertone, great for warm and neutral undertones.

Spice N Easy

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LOVE at first spice! This medium spicy orange with a brownish-red undertone, great for warm and neutral undertones.

Image of lady with brown hair and medium skin tone wearing lipstick in the shade called Spice N'Easy by Red Apple Lipstick

Natalie is wearing Spice N' Easy by Red Apple Lipstick


The Best Nude Lipstick For Dark Skin Tones

Dark skin tones look amazing with milk and dark chocolate nudes. Deeper berry nudes also work great for those with dark skin tones. If you have a deeper skin tone look for darker nudes, brown and caramel shades with hints of red, it can be as dark as a shade lighter than your foundation color. These RAL options are great for darker skin tones:

Chai Love You

Chai Love You is a sophisticated nude lipstick with a reddish brown undertone. Apply it delicately to have it work harmoniously with your base lip color or you can adorn your lips with a heavier application. Using this lipstick as an anchor color captures just the right amount of attention.

Image of lady with dark skin tone and dark eyes. She has short black hair and is featured wearing lipstick in the shade called Chai Love You . Chai Love You is a nude shade with a reddish-brown undertone

Fran is wearing Chai Love You by Red Apple Lipstick

Fierce

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This is a deep Bordeaux red with rich purple and chocolatey undertones.

 

Gypsy Soul

 

 

a medium spicy orange with a brownish-red undertone, great for warm and neutral undertones.

Image of lady with dark skin tone featured wearing lipstick in the shade called Gypsy Soul. Gypsy Soul is a brick red with a brown undertone

Fran is wearing Gypsy Soul by Red Apple Lipstick

Mayberry

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dusty rose mauve with medium depth with a cool-toned berry undertone. Has a slight micro shimmer to it, but not noticeable once applied. This lipstick color makes a beautiful nude shade on dark skin tones.

Image of lady with dark skin tone, dark eyes and short black hair. She is featured wearing lipstick in the shade called Mayberry. Mayberry is a dusty rose mauve with medium depth with a cool-toned berry undertone.

Fran is wearing Mayberry by Red Apple Lipstick

 

Ooh La la

This dusty rose nude shade is slightly pink, slightly brown. Great for all medium skin tones, and a good shade for olive complexions.


Image of close up lips on a dark skin tone lady wearing lipstick in the shade called Ooh La La by Red Apple Lipstick. Ooh La La is dusty rose shade that is slightly pink, slightly brown

Fran is wearing Ooh La La by Red Apple Lipstick

These are my suggestions for the perfect nude lipsticks for each skin tone. The majority of these shades will look great on all skin tones as a general lipstick color, but the focus here is on shades that are going to make the perfect nude color. These lipsticks are the ones I think will look the best for each particular skin tone category.

Written By Noemi

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