
A nude lip is the very essence of sexy for bombshells like Jennifer Lopez, Scarlett Johansson and Angelina Jolie. But a nude lip is not actually naked. To achieve that perfect natural glow, the right lipstick is a must for balancing your skin tone and avoiding the too pale or tired effect. Here, we asked top makeup artists to open up their kits and share how to wear the most universally flattering neutral lipsticks they’ve found along with their pro application tips for looking beautiful in the buff.
Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Canotier
«This is a great neutral brown with a natural, smooth matte finish. The color is just right—not too pale, and good for day or night, especially those times when you’re rocking a dramatic eye. Your lips won’t steal the show, but they definitely won’t be overlooked.» — Jeannia Robinette
Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Canotier, $32.50, chanel.com

Dior Rouge Dior Lip Color in Angelique Beige
«The shade has a warmth to it, which makes it ideal for all skin tones. And its sheerness gives you a soft, elegant, beautiful, subtle look. For an application tip, scrub lips before applying lipstick to create a smooth surface.» — Carola Gonzalez
Dior Rouge Dior Lip Color in Angelique Beige, $32, nordstrom.com.

Tom Ford Lip Color in Sable Smoke
«This shade has the perfect amount and tone of beige for a nude lip that won’t wash you out. I like to apply the color with a brush then tap with my index finger to blend into the skin so that it doesn’t have a heavy ‘lipstick’ quality.» — Stevie Huynh
Tom Ford Lip Color in Sable Smoke, $48, neimanmarcus.com.

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté lipstick in Nude Beige
«Think of nude lipstick the same way you’d think about your foundation. To get the right color, consider your skin color, hair color, even eye color. For someone with a fairer complexion, a nude that’s too beige-y will appear yellow; instead, pick a nude that’s in the pale pink family like this YSL shade. For medium tones, I would use a deeper beige to rose nude. If you want the truest shade of the lipstick to shine through, neutralize your own lip color first by applying a tinted moisturizer or foundation.» — Jeanine Lobell
Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté lipstick in Nude Beige, $34, yslbeautyus.com.

NARS Satin Lipstick in Honolulu Honey
«It has the perfect balance of no-color and color. It has enough red undertones to offer something more than just plain cover up on the lips but still looks colorless. Just make sure you add a pop of color somewhere else on your face—with either a pretty cheek blush or purple smoky eye. — Stephen Sollitto
NARS Satin Lipstick in Honolulu Honey, $24, narscosmetics.com.

KohGenDo Maifanshi Lipstick in Pink Beige
«The smooth texture brightens up the natural pigment in your lips they’re not completely bare. It gives just enough color to keep lips from looking washed out. And it has a lip balm texture so you can easily apply it without a mirror!» — Daniel Martin
KohGenDo Maifanshi Lipstick in Pink Beige, $39, kohgendocosmetics.com.

Tom Ford Lip Color in Blush Nude
«For a pink-nude, this is my go-to. It’s a beautiful flattering pale pink. It can be applied straight from the tube or with your finger for a softer look.» — Fiona Stiles
Tom Ford Lip Color in Blush Nude, $48, neimanmarcus.com.

Fresh Sugar Honey Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15
«Technically, it is a balm. But when I think of nude lips, I like lips that look as though they have nothing on them. They’re just healthy with an even tone. This Fresh balm deposits just enough tone to even out the lips, and it hydrates and keeps lips soft and protected. For all nude lip colors, I like to press lips together then use my finger to press the color into lips. If the edges of the mouth need to be sharpened, I do it with a touch of foundation applied with a concealer brush.» — Pati Dubroff
Fresh Sugar Honey Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15, $22.50, fresh.com.

NARS Sheer Lipstick in Cruising
«This works for all complexions because it’s very close to the natural flesh tone of lips. The formulation is bold, so it mutes naturally vibrant lips amazingly well, and for women with thin lips, the pinky tone makes lips look twice as full. Applying a shimmery sheer gloss on the center of lips also helps achieve that effect. For a matte look, I layer a neutral lip liner under the lipstick and dust on translucent powder for long wear.
This trick will lock lips on all night. Layers are key!» — Ashunta Sheriff
NARS Sheer Lipstick in Cruising, $24, narscosmetics.com.

Tom Ford Lip Color in Spanish Pink
«Because of its creamy formula, I apply it right out of its super chic case. It is the perfect flesh color with just a hint of pink. ‘Cause sometimes less is more…» — Jenn Streicher
Tom Ford Lip Color in Spanish Pink, $48, neimanmarcus.com
