The nude lip tip

DC

Amidst the pops of colour everywhere, the nude lip still holds its place as a firm go-to.

You may have a plethora of pinks, reds, turquoises and even green lipsticks, but nothing is as hard as finding that perfect nude; and nothing is as simple as putting it on.

It isn’t rocket science; it’s just a little colour theory (my favourite solution to all make-up problems).

So here are easy ways to find that perfect nude.

Stay away from concealer lips

For editorials, they look amazing. For everyday, however, not so much. While it may be tempting to mask your lips with a foundation-coloured lipstick, it isn’t the most flattering. Blanking out a feature is never really the solution, or the trend for that matter.

So look for a brown that has a little oomph or pizzazz... which brings me to my next point.

Find your undertone

Some people are warmer, some are cooler. And some people prefer warmer make-up (oranges, golds, bronzes, rusts), while others like cooler tones (taupes, purples, blues... some pinks). Your nude lip can reflect that.Just because it says nude, it doesn’t literally mean nude. In my opinion, true nude is your skin tone... or in this case, the natural colour of your lips. For example, I’m dusky with a very prominent yellow undertone.

I love my warm colours, but my lips are a pinkish-brown naturally — so I choose to use pink or plum-based browns, because they reflect my lips and look more natural.

Add a hint of colour

Sometimes, you may think you don’t suit a brown. This is when I urge you to try plum-based lipsticks (Revlon Matte Balm in sultry). The hint of plum in that gives you that natural-looking lip, a ‘my lips but better’ if you will. Or, a warmer brown that leans more towards pinkish-red but still muted (L’Oreal Moist Matte in Maple Mocha). Or, if you can’t take the trouble of finding that perfect opaque lipstick, a gloss with a hint of colour will work wonders, as it will allow your natural lip colour to come through.The ultimate goal of a nude lip is a more natural colour – one you would already find in your face. So put away those beiges, find yourself a colour that really suits you and brings alive those beautiful features and that lovely Indian skin.