The Best Nude Lipstick Shades for Darker Skin Tones

The nude lipstick is an absolute necessity—a subtle, neutral wash of color that is the perfect finishing touch to any look. However, the typical nude lipstick roundup tends to offer shades for lighter skin tones—pale beiges, light rosy pinks and the like—as if everyone is walking around with the same skin color.

This nude lipstick roundup focuses on shades that flatter and enhance darker skin tones. Read on and see if your favorite made the list.

BY TERRY Rouge-Expert Click Stick in 27 Chocolate Tea, $32

Rouge-Expert Click Stick promises no compromises. Its unique formula features the bold pigment of a lipstick, the comfortable feel of a balm, and the precision of a pencil. Our recommended nude shade Chocolate Tea is a rich, brownish nude with an impossibly smooth, matte-velvet finish.

BECCA Lush Lip Colour Balm in Toasted Hazelnut, $22

The Lush Lip Colour Balm from BECCA Cosmetics is infused with moisturizing jojoba oil to help it hydrate and nourish lips. The ultra-creamy formula and its satiny finish make the rich, neutral-toned brown of Toasted Hazelnut appear even richer.

Danessa Myricks ColorFix 24-Hour Cream Color Matte in Chestnut, $18

Danessa Myricks’ long-lasting, versatile ColorFix 24-Hour Cream Color is completely safe for use on the eyes and face as well as on the lips. Chestnut is a rich, reddish brown, or try the shades Chocolate and Coffee Cake for equally flattering nude shade options for darker skin tones.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in Bittersweet , $20

Anastasia’s long-wearing, cult-favorite liquid lipstick formula offers opaque, full-coverage color and a matte finish that’s never drying. Bittersweet is a rich, brownish plum shade.

Surratt Beauty La Baton Rouge in Diabolique, $38

The unique, double-ended La Baton Rouge lipstick from Surratt Beauty features a creamy base at one end and matching matte pigment powder at the other. The breathable yet creamy base formula provides intense color while the pigment powders enhance and set for a long-lasting, matte look. Diabolique is a warm, deep brick shade.

Sisley-Paris Le Phyto Rouge in 14 Beige Copacabana , $57

Beige Copacabana is a rich, reddish nude with a lustrous, satiny finish. Sisley-Paris’s Le Phyto Rouge offers plumping, smoothing and hydrating benefits with the help of a little jojoba oil, camellia oil, and hyaluronic acid.

Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G in Hepburn Honey, $34

Hepburn Honey, our chosen shade of K.I.S.S.I.N.G from Charlotte Tilbury, is a deep, dusty rose with a smooth, creamy finish. Formulated with light-diffusing pigments that capture and scatter light, this paraben-free lipstick creates a flattering, full-bodied effect and emphasizes the shape of your lips.

TOM FORD Ultra-Shine Lip Color in Bare, $55

For a slightly pinker option, Tom Ford’s Ultra-Shine Lip Color in Bare is a soft, peachy nude. Formulated with esters and polymers that ensure an even, high-shine application, this lipstick features the lightweight conditioning of a lip balm and the luster of a traditional lip gloss.