6 Pro Tips To Achieving Nude Lips That Work On Every Skin Tone

Ask any woman of color about her experience with “nude” makeup, and she’ll tell you horror stories about having to wear products that don’t even come close to her natural skin tone. But now, after years of this issue being pointed out by the media—as well as consumers—things are starting to change, though not always simply for reasons like celebrating diversity. As the New York Times recently pointed out in a piece about the fabrication of nude in the beauty market, “inclusivity is commendable, but the fiscal incentive for more shades is not insignificant.”

That said, there’s still a long way to go with available nude products; for example, nude lip products tend to lean toward lighter pink and peach hues, which leaves people of color left to blend for themselves. We asked makeup artist Lindsey Williams to share her beauty wisdom and teach us how to create the perfect nude hue of our own. “When creating a nude lip, balance the lip with your skin tone,” she says. “The nude lip is actually a bold statement, so carry it through with balance in the eyes and brows.”

In addition to finding shades that complement your complexion, Williams dares women to “make a statement with your eyes using all types of creative approaches like layering up mascara, adding false lashes, dabbing gloss over dark shadow, and thickening your liner.” She also recommends staying away from actual “nude” lip liners (unless they’re invisible), in order to avoid creating shadows around your mouth.

So what is Williams’ best advice for those suffering from years of marginalization at the makeup counter? Try before you buy—but then buy in bulk.

“For a well-matched nude lip, it may take many tries with various makeup brands to find the perfect match for you. Be patient with the process, go to cosmetic counters and stores like Sephora where you can test and play with a lot of different tones and shades before purchasing,” she says. “Think of finding your perfect nude color like you would the hunt for the best-fitting jeans. You may be in the dressing room for a while, but once you find the perfect match, it’s magic. Ask for samples to take home and try in various light before spending a lot of money on tones that end up not working out.”

Check out how Williams makes nude work on five different women and read her tips below.

Photographer: Savanna Ruedy

If you don't have a lot of time to commit to a blocked-out nude lip, try dusting a bit of your foundation lightly across your lip and layer with a sheer lip gloss. This gives you a fast everyday look that's easy to touch up and maintain through the day.

Photographer: Savanna Ruedy

Explore various shades of peach or pink to find the right nude. Think of the nude lip as your under eyes; you need to find a shade that matches your skin and conceals the tone underneath. You don't want to quite literally block out your own lip color.

Photographer: Savanna Ruedy

Going with a nude lip will reveal the natural state of the condition of your lips, so EXFOLIATE and use copious amounts of lip blam for a day or two before you sport your nude lip look.

Photographer: Savanna Ruedy

Depending on how nude of a lip you achieve, balance the lack of color or tone with a heavier eye and well-groomed brow. Don't be afraid to go bold with your eye makeup.

For all 6 tips, check out the full article on Nylon.