16 Best Nude Lipsticks for Every Skin Tone (Tested & Reviewed 2024)
’Cause no one wants to look like a corpse.
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IMO, there's legit nothing more ~elusive~ in the makeup world than a good nude lipstick. Like why does that pale pinky-peach look amazing on my friend but wash me TF out? Or why can't I find the right dark-brown shade for that "brownie-glazed" lip look? It's complicated, and based on countless convos I've had with makeup artists, finding the perfect nude lipstick is all about matching your lipstick's undertone to the undertones in your skin.
...Which, NGL, is pretty damn difficult. But it's not impossible, which is why I polled Team Cosmo on their top nude lipstick picks for a variety of skin tones and undertones. Keep scrolling for all of our favorites from Charlotte Tilbury, MAC, Juvia's Place, and more.
Our top picks for nude lipsticks in 2024:
Best Warm-Toned Nude Lipstick for Light Skin
Pat McGrath Labs SatinAllure Lipstick in Skinsane 22
Read more
Let's get into all of our favorite nude lipsticks, depending on your skin tone, according to our entire team of very-picky editors. Plus, I'll also tell you exactly how to choose one you will <3.
Pros
- Also comes in a medium shade for tan to dark skin tones
Cons
- A few reviewers said it was a bit too expensive for the staying power
You're lookin' at a team Cosmo favorite. Legit, four of our editors with light to medium-tan skin tones said this is one of the only nude lipsticks that doesn't wash them out. "I naturally have colorless, 'ghost' lips, so I’m always on the hunt for the perfect natural-looking lipstick shade to wear, like, all the time," says senior shopping editor Kim Duong. "And Pillowtalk is The One! For my skin tone, this shade is not too pink and not too brown. It’s what I wish my natural lips looked like. For everyday wear, I dab some on with a little bit of Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask on top. And if I want to get dressed up, I’ll do a quick swipe of Pat McGrath’s Blitz Gold lip gloss over an opaque layer of Pillowtalk for some glitter."
Glowing customer review: "After all the hype I heard about this color, I wanted to see if it was really that good and worth the $$$. After trying it on the first time, I fell in love. The color really is such a good everyday lipstick."
Pros
- Our testers loved that they didn't need to pair with a gloss for a shiny finish
Cons
- A few testers wished it had more staying power for the price
"For lovers of a glossy finish who still want to reap the long-lasting benefits of a lipstick, try my favorite, Pat McGrath's SatinAllure Lipstick in Skinsane 22," says assistant shopping editor Jasmine Hyman who loves the shade on her light skin tone. "It's got a perfect blend of nude and rose pigments that pair well with all my pinky-nude lip liners. And the formula is majorly hydrating yet somehow also super pigmented?! It gives my lips a veil of shine without even needing a gloss."
Glowing customer review: "I hate nude colors, but this one was made for me. It's expensive but worth every penny."
Pros
- Reviewers love the peachy-pink undertone
- MAC also makes a the shade in matching lip pencil if you prefer a liner over a lipstick
Cons
- Can be a bit too orange toned for some with cool undertones
"I love that it resembles my nipple color," says Cosmo associate shopping editor Meg Uy. "Yep! I read somewhere that your perfect neutral color is the color of your nipple, and Whirl is that for my medium skin. I love that I can wear it with any look—glam or subdued—and it enhances my natural lip color. I sometimes top it off with a reddish lip product to give it more of an oomph."
Glowing customer review: "The color was fabulous for my skin tone. I can't get enough. I have been wearing it every day. This lipstick moisturizes your lips. You don't have to apply balm or gloss. It feels creamy and lasts for a few hours. My current fave."
Pros
- I love the glossy, lip-balm-esque finish
- Fairly pigmented, IMO
Cons
- Cap isn't on super tight, so it can fall off in my bag
I (Cosmo's beauty editor, Beth Gillette, hi, nice to meet ya) have a real Goldilocks situation on my hands with my brown-nude lipstick. It's gotta be neutral in tone, and also not too dark or too light. But Glossier's Trench is legit my go-to whenever I want a simple brown color on my lips. It's got a touch of a warmth that helps brighten up my skin tone a bit, but doesn't look orange-y at all. Plus, I love how moisturizing and comfortable it is to wear. I swipe it on and go on with my day, not worrying my lips look wonky or smeared a few hours later.
Oh, and if you want a slightly deeper brown, try the shade Ember. FWIW, both myself and Olivia Rodrigo are fans of this shade.
Glowing customer review: "Such a beautiful color, my new go-to shade. Definitely not crazy long-lasting, but it does leave a slight tint, which is beautiful."
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Kind Words Matte Lipstick in Worthy
Pros
- Muted, mauve undertone is great for deep and dark skin, said reviewers
Cons
- Has a floral scent, which some testers didn't love
Beauty TikTok creator Golloria is a huge fan of these lipsticks from Rare Beauty, including the shade Worthy for a bright, pinky-nude look (especially when paired with the matching lip liner). It's also super comfortable and hydrating, all while still providing a matte, opaque look on your lips.
Glowing customer review: "I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with matte lipsticks because I like the way it looks but don’t like the way it feels on my lips. But this lipstick applies beautifully and feels good on my lips."
Pros
- Very opaque, per my testing
- Has a blurring, matte finish that reviewers loved
Cons
- Formula is quite thin, so needs to be reapplied often
When we think of matte, nude lipstick, we often think of a stiff formula sucking all of the moisture out of our lips. But I'm here to report that Sunnies Face cracked the code on a truly blurring, matte lipstick that feels actually good on my lips. I love the shade Casual on my medium/olive skin tone, but I'm also a fan of many other shades depending on how tan my skin is throughout the year because they have such a vast shade range.
Glowing customer review: "It's really nice when I put it on my lips! Really love this."
Pros
- Shape of the tube is really easy to apply in my experience
- Clean, vegan, and cruelty-free (!)
Cons
- A few reviewers noted it smelled artificial and plastic-y
I burned through a half tube of this lipstick in about six months because it was the perfect mid-tone brown shade for a '90s lip look. It's a true neutral (although it might pull a bit cool on someone with a very-warm undertone), which really lets the pigment speak for itself. And the formula is amazing—it glides on in one swipe with full opacity, blurring all my lip lines in the process.
Glowing customer review: "The shade is absolutely so gorgeous. It’s everything I’ve been looking for in a brown shade. It’s not too dark and not too light, it gives the right amount of color and pigment. The formula is very creamy and moisturizing."
Pros
- Reviewers loved the slight brick-red undertone on their skin
- Testers say the price is great, especially for the quality
Cons
- One of the more drying formulas on this list
Quick reminder that former First Lady Michelle Obama is a fan of The Lip Bar (specifically their red shade Bawse Lady). And I totally get it—the shades are perfectly tailored to every undertone in melanated skin, plus they're hella pigmented. Hence why we love Savage, a deep-brown color with slight reddish undertones that looks good on a wide range of tan, dark, and deep skin.
Glowing customer review: "Game changer! Gorgeous color, long-lasting, and high impact. I get compliments all day long when wearing."
Pros
- Comes in a very unique, cool-tone mid-tone brown shade
Cons
- Semi-matte finish only lasts a couple of hours before fading
Most medium-to-dark-brown nude lipsticks have an orange or red undertone, which is great for some skin tones, but might totally wash someone out with pink or purple tones in their skin. Enter: This stunning cool-toned medium-brown color from Mented, who practically reinvented the nude lipstick for tan to deep skin tones. This one actually has a blue/purple undertone, making it ideal for those with certain olive or cool tones in their skin.
Glowing customer review: "I really like the lipstick and am a returning customer. The color pigmentation is something desperately needed for women of color and doesn’t disappoint."
Pros
- Cream formula is easy to apply
- Light shades don't turn ashy or too-light on my skin tone
Cons
- A few reviewers said it settled into fine lines on their lips
These whipped, cream lipsticks are so blurring on your lips, which is exactly what you need with a super-light shade like Pancake Stack. It doesn't turn white or ashy, in my experience, leaving behind an opaque color that blends well into my medium skin tone.
Glowing customer review: "This lip product is such a gem! The formula is smooth and easy to apply. Doesnt make your lips dry matte in an uncomfortable way, and it lasts for a long time!"
Pros
- Reviewers loved the deep, almost-black shade
Cons
- Only lasted a few hours, said testers
Black-owned beauty brand Juvia's Place is always a go-to for melanated skin, including these lipsticks. They have wide variation of shades and undertones, including this ultra-dark, chocolate-brown shade that's perfect for deep skin.
Glowing customer review: "I love the shade Sheeba, It is, by far, my most used lipstick ever. I've purchased three already. I love the formula; it's the best."
Pros
- Very hydrating and smoothing for dry lips
- Easy to swipe on without a mirror
Cons
- Only offers a tint of color, which some reviewers didn't love
Merit has a handful of various nude shades—from light brown to pink-y beiges to deep, chestnut browns—in this sheer, glossy formula. I get a slight tint with one swipe, or I can build it up with a few layers for a bolder, vinyl-esque look.
Glowing customer review: "I really love this lipstick! I honestly never liked lipstick before because I felt like it could be sticky and drying, but I feel like this lipstick isn’t that! It feels smooth on my lips, and I really love the color."
Pros
- Has an ultra-shiny finish reviewers loved
- Very pretty-yet-sturdy packaging that I love keeping in my bag
Cons
- Some reviewers didn't love the sweet scent
Skip the lip gloss step and opt for this pigmented lip gloss stick instead. There literally isn't a time when I don't have this neutral brown shade in my purse, because it's so easy to throw on without even needing a mirror. It has a super wet-like vinyl finish, yet somehow is also fairly pigmented.
Glowing customer review: "I’ve gotten compliments every time I’ve worn this shade. It’s a beautiful dark nude shade. The feel is really balmy but not sticky. It feels nourishing. The case is very pretty and has a nice weight to it."
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color in Unveil
Pros
- Testers loved the unique applicator for drawing on their cupid's bow
Cons
- A little bit drying in my experience (but I just add a gloss on top to mitigate)
Testers with a wide range of skin tones all rave about this specific brown lip color from Fenty, thanks to the medium-hued, cool tone shade. Plus, the applicator is shaped in a way that makes it so easy to draw on your lips, no lip liner required. And it dries down completely, so feel free to add a lip gloss on top without fear of smearing (or just leave it matte and ~chic~).
Glowing customer review: "The actual best liquid lipstick. I have tried MANY. I wear this color literally almost every day and get so many compliments. It’s the perfect nude brown but not super dark."
Pros
- Slightly warm base is great for olive skin, per testers
Cons
- Matte formula might be a little drying for some
Cosmo editor Olivia Truffaut-Wong, who has a light-olive skin tone, has sworn by this nude lipstick for years. "Velvet Teddy is my go-to when I want to go nude without going too deep into the browns—a look I also love, but I consider slightly less of a nude for my skin tone," she says. "It is light for me, so I usually pair it with a dark brown lip liner like MAC Chestnut for added dimension."
Glowing customer review: "MAC matte lipsticks have been my go-to for years. They're not too matte, and they're long-lasting without drying out my lips. And the price isn't bad, either, for a lipstick that's better than most of its more expensive competition."
Maybelline New York SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in Loyalist
Pros
- Lasted 8+ hours on me with no touch-ups, even through eating and drinking
- Affordable and widely available at mass beauty retailers
Cons
- A little sticky, according to reviews
- Requires an oil-based makeup remover for full removal
If you just wanna be able to swipe on your nude lipstick and forget about it, check out these liquid lipsticks from Maybelline. There's a reason they've got over 11,000 five-star reviews on Ulta—they legit do not budge once they dry down. Plus, they have a major variation of nude shades, from this light pink to medium browns to dark hues.
Glowing customer review: "I have bought many brands of liquid lipsticks over the years, and this one has oustlasted them all. I never had to reapply it all day and ate several times. Wish I had bought this brand sooner and saved myself some money!"
How to choose the best nude lipstick:
Determine your ideal shade.
Do you want a shade that is truly the same as your skin tone, or just a neutral shade that works well with your skin tone? Or maybe you're looking for a brown shade to match that '90s lip look, or perhaps you're into trying out a '00s frosted nude lip. The options are endless! To find your perfect nude lipstick shade, you'll want to figure out your ~vibes~ and then...
Figure out your undertone.
To find your best nude lipstick, pay attention to the undertone of the lipstick and your skin. Not sure how to find your undertone? Some common tests include if you look better in gold or silver jewelry (gold = warm, silver = cool, rose gold = neutral), if your skin turns a bit pink or yellow when you wear a crisp white t-shirt, and the color of your veins (purple/blue = cool, blue/green = warm, both = neutral or olive). But if you still don't know, head to a makeup counter at a department store or Sephora, and the artists should be able to help.
Once you know your undertone, take a look at your nude lipstick shades. Someone with peachy-pink undertones in their skin probably will look a bit ghastly with an orange-toned nude lipstick. Instead, you'll want to reach for something with cool undertones, whether that's purple, blue, or pink. But warm skin tones typically should try the opposite; orange-y, red-based brown lipsticks bring out the warm, golden hues in their skin.
Decide on your preferred formula.
If you want a matte lipstick, try a liquid lipstick, like The Lip Bar Matte Liquid Lipstick, which will give you major staying power. Meanwhile, a matte stick lipstick (such as Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick) will give you a similar flat look without the intense dry-down.
But if you're looking to combine your lipstick and lip gloss steps, just try a glossy lipstick. Our favorites, per testing, were Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick and YSL Beauty Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick.
Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with five years of experience researching, writing, and editing makeup stories that range from lip stains to bronzing drops. She’s an authority in all makeup categories, including lipsticks, but consulted with Cosmo staffers, other beauty editors, makeup artists, and content creators to compile this complete list of nude lipsticks for every skin tone.
Ruby Buddemeyer was the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan for nearly three years and has five years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and celebrity news across print and digital, including the best round brushes on the market, and how to get beachy waves. Her nude lipstick picks were based on product reviews, ratings, and hairstylist recommendations.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
Ruby was the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covered beauty across print and digital. Her work has appeared on The Zoe Report, Fashionista, and StyleCaster. Follow her on Instagram.
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