Love it: Neutral territory – find the nude for you

A swipe of nude lipstick is the perfect companion to a smoky eye, and also one of the quickest and easiest beauty tools to master. Pretty much foolproof to apply, the only challenge that comes with wearing a nude lip is finding the right shade for you.

There is definitely a nude shade out there for everyone, but it’s not quite as simple as just finding the hue closest to your nipples à la Kim Kardashian-West. Even her makeup artist, Mario Dedivanovic says he always has multiple formulas on hand to get that pout just right, be they glossy or matte, super sheer or slightly pink.

There are plenty of perfectly pigmented products out there, but as a rule nude lips look best when the colour is one shade lighter or darker than your complexion rather than an exact match. For fairer skins, dusky pinks and rose-tinted beiges will add some much-needed warmth, while sheer formulas and glosses will keep things looking natural. Olive complexions are best matched to deep honey and caramel tones, and in summer a shimmering finish will bring out the sun-kissed look of your skin. And if you’ve got darker skin, your complexion is usually best suited to warm toffee and berry-toned hues, or a swipe of beautiful bronze.

Now for some great nudes, the first being from the Liquid lipstick category. It feels like Liquid lipsticks are everywhere at the moment, and the little tubes of pigment have become a rather polarising beauty pick, depending on who you ask. People either love a good matte liquid lipstick regardless of how much it dries out their lips, and then there are those who prefer to not have their lips feel like day old bread. That has always seemed to be the trade off – you either get long-wear super-pigmented matte or you have comfortable lips – but not any longer. All hail the indomitable NARS, and their most perfect Powermatte Lip Pigment. These matte liquid lipsticks have upset all the aforementioned theories and created one hell of a long lasting AND comfortable matte lip. Upon first application I loved the fact that the texture is verrrry light, and very liquid. It is thin but powerful and swipes on very quickly with the narrow doe-foot applicator, which softly pointed to make edging more precise. It feels as though it sinks into your lips in a very natural way, as opposed to just sitting atop the skin — which lends itself quite nicely to a more natural-looking wear. And some great looking natural shades. Each of the 20 PowerMatte Lip Pigments are named after classic rock songs, and a flawless nude can be found in the form of the tan rose ‘Get It On’ shade, named after the iconic T. Rex hit.

From M.A.C stable, Velvet Teddy was always one of the beauty world’s best-kept secrets until Kylie Jenner outed it as her matte nude of choice, and the brand’s Stripped - a light, dirty, peachy beige matte – is another much-loved option. I have worn Velvet Teddy for nigh on 20 years I reckon, and it’s still the nude I reach for when I’m heading out the door with a clean face – it really does warm up the complexion and then some.

For a light-to-medium nude with hints of coral pink and warm undertones, Charlotte Tilbury’s Bitch Perfect has a creamy, matte texture that makes it super-wearable and well worth the investment, whilst Pillow Talk from Tilbury’s Matte Revolution offering sold out almost as soon as it was released. NARS Audacious Lipstick in Anita is a great pick if you like your nudes on the pale, pinky side, just prep well beforehand with Rodin Olio Lusso Lip Pencil in So Mod for a clean, polished lip look that doesn’t fade or feather.