Nudes + Neutrals

Left to right: Taupe, Brick-o-la, Double Shot, Viva Glam II, Wing Woman, Frisky Business, Minx, Riot, Natural Rose.

This week I received a black parcel in the post, containing a brand new MAC lipstick. For me, nothing beats getting a package in the post - especially if that parcel contains brand new make-up.  A comment from a colleague (“don’t you already have that colour?”) made me realise my new love for a more neutral coloured lipstick. Being a big fan of blood reds + vibrant oranges for years, this is a bit of a revelation for me. However, with having 'Marsala' - a muted, neutral rose - as Pantone's Colour of the Year 2015, it's not surprising that I've built up a collection of increasingly popular nude + neutral coloured lipsticks over the past year.

Embarrassingly, whilst prepping for this post, I made a rookie mistake of Googling ‘nudes’, naively believing images of lipsticks would come up... oops. Anyway, here are a few of my fave nude + neutral lipsticks for you to feast your eyes on.

MAC in “Taupe” (£15.50)

A beautiful everyday colour; not too pink, not too brown. The finish is matte which can sometimes be drying on the lips, but I’ve not found this to be a problem with this lipstick so far. This colour could be used for casual day time use, or paired up with a smokey eye - either way it's my new fave!

MAC “Brick-o-La” (£15.50)

A little bit more pink than “Taupe”, but still with brown undertones. This colour looks great on most skin tones and could be rocked with any hair colour. The amplified finish gives this lipstick a nice smooth appearance.

MAC in "Double Shot" (£15.50)

A classic brown, with an amplified finish, giving a creamy colour. This lipstick is super moisturising and has a pretty decent durability. If you're feeling particularly nineties, then this is the colour for you!

MAC in "Retro" (£15.50)

A muted, brick red. Quite a similar colour to "Brick-o-la", with slightly more brown undertones. Also, the finish on this one is matte, making it slightly more durable + pigmented.

MAC in "Viva Glam II" (£15.50)

This is a lipstick I wouldn't have usually picked up, because the colour is actually lighter than my natural lip colour: a dusty rose with brown undertones and a satin finish. However, when my bestie treated me to a MAC make-over for my 21st, the MUA used this lipstick combined with a smokey eye + "Springsheen" blusher and it looked amazing! Because of this I tend to pair Viva Glam II with a darker eye. Another great thing about this lipstick is that 100% of the sale (minus VAT) goes to the MAC AIDS fund, helping those who are affected by HIV + AIDS - go MAC!


With + without flash, bottom to top: Taupe, Brick-o-La, Double Shot, Retro + Viva Glam II

Benefit in "Wing Woman" (£15)

A peachy, sheer nude. This "hydra-smooth" lipstick is enriched with shea butter, mango + vitamin E to nourish and soften lips. The colour doesn't last too long but this lipstick does make your lips feel really moisturised.

Benefit in "Frisky Business" (£15)

Another hydra-smooth lipstick by Benefit, which has the same consistency, durability and feel as "Wing Woman". However, this shade has more brown-orange tones, and is a little darker. It's my favourite out of the whole hydra-smooth range, and I'm onto my second lipstick in this shade already!

Illamasqua in "Minx" (£19.50)

I'm so glad I bought this lipstick, and I have to say the only reason was because of the lovely lady at the Birmingham Selfridge's counter. She said that the colour made me look like Snow White, and that was that - sold! Illamasqua lipsticks are 100% my favourite in terms of durability, finish, feel + pigmentation. The colour is a beautiful muted mauve, with a satin finish. They've released more nude colours since I bought this lipstick, so it's definitely worth a browse next time you're near an Illamasqua store or counter to find the perfect colour for you.

Lime Crime in “Riot” (£13.79)

A liquid to matte lipstick, that is vanilla scented and lasts the whole day. The colour is a true Marsala red, with a matte finish. With Lime Crime’s Velvetines, it is really important to prep your lips prior to application with a good scrub and balm, as they really show up any dry skin. Lime Crime is vegan + cruelty free so you can revel in your guilt-free beauty. 

KIKO in "602 Natural Rose" (£6.90)

The perfect nude on a budget, this lipstick by KIKO is similar to "Frisky Business" but less pigmented. The lipstick is fairly moisturising and pretty easy to apply. The durability isn't the best but for the price it's a fab lipstick with beautiful packaging.


With + without flash, left to right: Wing Woman, Frisky Business, Minx, Riot + Natural Rose

So there we go, a whole host of nude + neutral lipsticks that are well worth your pennies in my opinion. See Mac, Illamasqua, Benefit, KIKO + Lime Crime to browse, treat yourself to a new neutral coloured lipstick and be careful what you Google.

xo