# Nude Lipstick Guide for Every Skin Tone > Makeup artists reveal how to pick the perfect nude lipstick for your skin tone and undertone. - Title: Nude Lipstick Guide for Every Skin Tone · Cosmopolitan - Summary: Makeup artists reveal how to pick the perfect nude lipstick for your skin tone and undertone. Makeup artists recommend matching nude lipstick shades to your… - Keywords: nude lipstick, skin tone, undertone, makeup artist, ysl beauty, charlotte tilbury, mac, huda beauty, fenty beauty, makeup by mario, glossier, juvia's place - Source: Cosmopolitan — https://cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/a73934042/nude-lipstick-for-every-skin-tone - Author: Mary Honkus - Published: 2026-09-30T12:15:27+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: nude lipstick, skin tone, undertone, makeup artist, ysl beauty, charlotte tilbury, mac, huda beauty, fenty beauty, makeup by mario, glossier, juvia's place ## What is nude lipstick? Nude lipstick is a timeless makeup staple that works for any outfit but requires finding the right shade for your skin tone. > It’s a timeless staple that you can always rely on when you don’t know what to wear ## How to find your undertone Check vein colors on your inner arms: blue veins indicate cool undertones, green veins mean warm undertones, and mixed colors suggest neutral undertones. > blue veins signal cool undertones; green veins are warmer undertones; and if you have a combination of both, you most likely have neutral undertones ## Why undertones matter Matching your nude lipstick to your undertone creates a harmonious look, while clashing colors make lips more noticeable. > Your perfect nude should feel like an extension of you, not necessarily the color beige ## Undertone guide for lip color Cool undertones shine with pink-rose shades, warm undertones work with gold tones, and neutral undertones need balanced hues. > Those with cooler undertones will shine with a nude lipstick that leans a little pink or rose. As for warmer undertones, something with a touch of gold keeps the color from falling flat ## Best lipsticks for light skin YSL Beauty Loveshine Lip Oil in Blushed Mallow, Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Pillow Talk Fair, and Violette_FR Bisou Balm Sheer Matte Lipstick in Calisson work best for light skin tones. > YSL Beauty Loveshine Lip Oil in Blushed Mallow ## Best lipsticks for medium skin MAC M·A·CXIMAL Silky Matte Lipstick in Whirl, Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Mousse Soft Blur Lip Cream in Honey Nude, and Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Stix High-Shine Gloss Stick in Sp’Ice Cold suit medium skin tones. > MAC M·A·CXIMAL Silky Matte Lipstick in Whirl ## Best lipsticks for olive skin Maybelline New York Color Sensational Ultimatte Matte Lipstick in More Buff, MERIT Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick in 1990, and Marc Jacobs Beauty Heart On Long-Lasting Soft Shine Lipstick in 106 Burning Desire work best for olive skin tones. > Maybelline New York Color Sensational Ultimatte Matte Lipstick in More Buff ## Best lipsticks for dark skin Makeup By Mario Ultra Suede Lipstick in Maurice, Glossier Ultralip High Shine Lipstick in Pony, and Juvia's Place The Nude Velvety Matte Lipstick in Toffee suit dark skin tones. > Makeup By Mario Ultra Suede Lipstick in Maurice ## How to choose the right formula For fair to medium skin tones, use sheer formulas that build color; for olive to darker skin tones, choose deeper pigments for better coverage. > Fair to medium skin tones may want to look at formulas that are sheer to buildable when going two to three shades deeper than their lip color ## Expert recommendations J. Brandon Correa, YSL Beauty’s National Makeup Artist, and Neil Scibelli, a New York-based celebrity makeup artist, provide tips for finding the perfect nude lipstick. > J. Brandon Correa is a New York-based makeup artist. He is YSL Beauty’s National Makeup Artist and Manager of Artistry for the brand ## Why trust this guide Cosmopolitan’s beauty writer Mary Honkus has eight years of experience researching beauty stories and tests products regularly. > Mary Honkus is a contributor for Cosmopolitan with over eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories ## Key takeaway Makeup artists recommend matching nude lipstick shades to your skin undertone for a harmonious look.