Cruelty-free nude… Lips!

So, I’ve always been a fan of the nude lip look, but I was convinced with my ghost-of-Christmas-past skin that I’d never be able to pull it off.  Happily, I’ve recently discovered that sporting a nude lip doesn’t have to qualify me as an extra on The Walking Dead.  Though, if they’re looking for anyone….

But, I digress. It really just all depends on finding the nude that’s right for you. Now, that can take some serious time and dedication.  You’ve got to really spend some time studying your lip color, your skin color, and trying a bunch of tones and colors out.  If you have the option to try it out at the store (like you can at Sephora or Ulta), go for it!  If it skeeves you to use the tester on your actual lips, try out the color on your palm, rather than the back of your hand.  It may be closer to your lip color.  There are lots of drugstore options too.  You can narrow your choices, and then, as I said in my beauty guru tips post, YAY for drugstore return policies!

I’ve learned from my travels through the world of beauty that there can be two meanings of ‘nude’ lip.

#1 The infamous, ‘my lips, but better’.  The good ole’ MLBB.  Finding the right Y(your)LBB shade can be a huge time saver.. it will go with almost any outfit and makeup look!  For me, that means almost a mauve color, but for others, it might be more pink, more red, or more brown… you get the idea.  My preferred finishes for the MLBB on me are either natural or glossy.  Some of my faves are:

• Essence Long Lasting Lipstick in Barely There
• The Balm Read My Lips Lipgloss in Grrr!
• Ben Nye Lip Color Pencil in Berry Brown
• ELF Mineral Lip Liner in Raisin
• ELF Essential Long Wear Lip Liner in Mauve Luxe (ELF, if you’re reading, please bring back the Essential Gloss in this shade!)

#2 The actual nude lip.  Remember the ever popular, “like” vs. “like like” (often debated about some cutie in your junior high class)?  Well, this is the “nude nude”. I think the idea is that you’re trying to almost make your lips the same color as your skin, so that they take a back seat to another part of the look.  Now, some people look fab in beige- or peach- or brown-toned nudes.  My preference is for a nude nude that has some pink to it.  This is one of my fave lip looks for when I’m wearing a really smoky, dark eye.  My preferred finishes for the nude nude are natural or matte.  Some of my faves are:

• ELF studio matte lip color in Natural
• Essence Long Lasting Lipstick in Nude Love
• Sonia Kashuk Satin Luxe Lip Color in Nude Pink
• Sonia Kashuk Shine Luxe Sheer Lip Color in Nude Pink Lust
• Too Faced La Crème in Nude Beach
• Wet n Wild Fergie in Daily
• Too Faced Perfect Lips Lip Liner in Perfect Nude

Which are your favorite nudes?

*These are only my opinions, formed through my personal experience as a consumer.  I am not a medical doctor, an aesthetician, or a health/beauty professional.  There is no guarantee what effect, positive or negative, these products may have on anyone else.

**All products were purchased by me from brands that, to the best of my knowledge, are cruelty-free.