The Best ‘Nude’ or Neutral-Toned Lipstick for Your Skin Tone This Fall

’Tis the season for two lipstick trends that always take center stage come fall: vampy and nude (or neutral). The former is less about complementing your skin tone and more about evoking the mood or feel of the season. Neutrals, on the other hand, look best when they closely matches your skin tone.

According to Mally Roncal, seasoned makeup artist and founder of Mally Beauty, the best way to do this is by pulling down your bottom lip and selecting a shade that most closely matches the inside. “That color tends to be a little darker than your natural lip color and looks very flattering,” she says. Your skin’s undertones also play a role in determining the most flattering shade for your face. There are many ways you can go about doing this, but the easiest would be to check the color of your veins on your forearm. If they look blue, you’ve got cooler undertones, and if they appear more green, consider yourself warm.

Generally speaking, Roncal recommends the following guidelines:

For fair skin: “You want to stray from nude shades that have warmer undertones, like reds and oranges. Instead, opt for a nude that has cooler undertones, such as blues and purples.” For fair skin with a summer tan, stick with cooler undertones, but opt for a darker hue.

For tan/olive skin: “Tan skin tends to have warmer undertones, so you should stick with warmer undertones when selecting your perfois nude. A beautiful chestnut lip color works great with this skin tone. I would recommend staying away from creamy vanilla shades,” says Roncal.

For deep brown skin: “Opt for a shade that has a red undertone, like a gorgois cocoa or cappuccino, and nix the beige nudes,” says Roncal.

With that being said, here are some options for each category.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fenty Beauty.

For Deep Brown Skin: Fenty Beauty Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick in Shawty

A warm chestnut for rich, deep skin tones.

$18 at Fenty Beauty

 

 

Flesh Beauty.

For Deep Brown Skin: Flesh Fleshy Lips Sheer Lipstick in Slick

A rich mahogany that perfectly compliments beautiful brown skin.

$18 at Flesh Beauty

Mented Cosmetics.

For Deep Brown Skin: Mented Cosmetics Brown Bare Lipstick

A flawless blend of brown and pink undertones with a satin finish.

$16.50 at Mented Cosmetics

Bobbi Brown.

For Deep Brown Skin: Bobbi Brown Lipstick in Nude

This neutral lipstick has more pink than brown tones if you want just a little pop of color.

$29 at Sephora

Fresh.

For Deep Brown Skin: Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15 in Honey

This rich brown shade delivers a sheer tint of color and sun protection.

$24 at Nordstrom

 

Christian Louboutin.

For Tan or Deep Brown Skin: Christian Louboutin Velvet Matte Lip Colour in Just Nothing

A neutral lipstick with warm undertones and a matte finish.

$90 at Net-A-Porter

bareMinerals.

For Tan/Olive Skin: bareMinerals Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipstick in Friendship

A silky cream formula that dries down to a non-flaky, matte finish.

$19 at bareMinerals

 

 

Kiehl’s.

For Tan/Olive Skin: Kiehl’s Butterstick Lip Treatment SPF 30 in Naturally Nude

A low-key lipstick formulated with lemon butter and coconut oil for ample moisture.

$19.50 at Kiehl’s

Charlotte Tilbury.

For Tan/Olive Skin: Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips Lipstick in Super Cindy

A supermodel-inspired taupey nude with warm undertones.

$34 at Charlotte Tilbury

 

Lipstick Queen.

For Tan/Olive Skin: Lipstick Queen Nothing but the Nudes Lipstick in Nothing but the Truth

A beige nude that delivers just enough color on those low-key, almost makeup-free days.

$24 at Ulta

 

 

Bite Beauty.

For Fair Skin: Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Meringue

A peachy nude made with 12 different oils for moisture and comfortable wear.

$26 at Sephora

Pat McGrath Labs.

For Fair Skin: Pat McGrath Labs MatteTrance Lipstick in Christy

A luxurious-feeling lippie that delivers intense color with just one swipe.

$38 at Pat McGrath Labs

Flower Beauty.

For Fair Skin: Flower Beauty Hydrasilk Ultimate Lip Butter in Naked Petal

A gorgeous lip butter that feels like a balm, but delivers the color payoff of a lipstick.

$9 at Flower Beauty

Becca Cosmetics.

For Fair Skin: Becca Ultimate Lipstick in Love in Bare

A light pinky nude infused with hyaluronic acid.

$24 at Sephora

Honest Beauty.

Honest Liquid Lipstick in Forever

This creamy mauve is made with a hydrating vegan formula.

$12.99 at Honest Beauty

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