We Solved The Mystery Of The Perfect Nude Lipstick
We Solved The Mystery Of The Perfect Nude Lipstick
Mythical creatures don’t just stop at fairytales – they exist in the world of makeup, too. One of the most elusive sightings is the perfect nude lipstick. You may come across it in the most unexpected way – when you’re out at the mall, scrolling on social media, or checking out your friend’s makeup bag. But once you’ve found your match, it’s an automatic repurchase for decades to come.
Luckily, finding one doesn’t have to be as puzzling as a feature on an unsolved mystery podcast. We got makeup artist and educator Shivangi Dutt to spill the tea.
Back to basics
Start by understanding your skin tone and undertone. If you skipped art class in school, here’s a quick refresher on #ColourTheory. With 1,47,000 posts under this hashtag on Instagram, the trend of people trying the same lipstick on different skin tones has the internet hooked. It comes down to science. “When we look at skin tones, light, medium, and dark are the primary aspects. Then you notice undertones, like yellow, orange, and green. Find yours by checking the veins on your arms. If they look green, you have a warm undertone. If they look blue or purple, you have a cool undertone. Choosing the right colour while keeping these tones in mind can be the difference between highlighting your features and looking washed out,” says Shivangi.
The cheat sheet
The next step? Finding the right shade. “If you have a light skin tone with cool undertones, try a cool pink or peachy-orange nude, or a brown shade with a bit of white or blue in it. For medium skin tones, pick one that is slightly deeper than your skin tone, or use a darker lip liner. Formulas with orange and yellow undertones in them are a great option too. Dark, brown lipsticks are ideal for deeper skin tones, especially if it’s a colour that matches or is darker than your skin tone. If you have two-toned lips, avoid colour correcting them since it’s a sensitive area. Use a pigmented liquid lipstick instead,” advises Shivangi.
Shop it right
“First, decide the tone you want – like a brown-nude or a pink-nude,” says Shivangi. If you find one you like, make sure it doesn’t look too pale in the pictures. “Keep in mind that the lighting in the image and colours on your screen can distort the shades, too,” she adds. If you’re still unsure about getting it right, don’t worry too much. “I don’t believe in rules. Everyone should have fun with makeup and not take it too seriously,” exclaims Shivangi. Now that’s a philosophy we love.
Words by Khanak Mehta