Now that my everyday makeup is a little more minimal than it used to be, I've found a new type of lipstick to hoard. While it was previously luxuriously rich mauve-y neutrals, I've now found an affinity for sheer nude colors. These are perfect for everyday wear as they're usually quite moisturizing or at least comfortable on the lips, and they just gently enhance your natural lip color. Opaque nudes make a statement, but sheer nudes are all about that subtlety.
Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani Lipstick in Ex-Girlfriend | The newest addition to my collection, I'm sure it doesn't surprise you that the one I went for in the latest UDxGwen releases is the nude. This has such a lovely and creamy formula, although it's not very longlasting. But since it's such a low-maintenance shade, it's super easy to reapply, and it's even possible without a mirror. It's the perfect balance of a beige, pink, and peach-based nude with a hint of golden pink shimmer in it - nothing chunky or ostentatious, just pure lip-enhancing here.
Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy | I bought this one purely because Fleur deForce said she wore it on her wedding day, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. This is my first and only Chanel lipstick, and it makes me feel gloriously fancy whenever I whip it out. It's similar to the UD lipstick in that it's sheer with a bit of a golden sheen, but it's got much more of a pink tone to it. It doesn't come across as much on the lips, but it definitely does something stunning.
MAC Lipstick in Patisserie | This one's been kicking around my collection for quite awhile. In fact, this was the first true nude shade I owned and was the only one for awhile. This has a bit more pigment than some of the others mentioned here, but as it's a Lustre formula it still lets a bit of your natural lip shade shine through. This one is more beige-based, although as you can see it's quite similar to Ex-Girlfriend and Boy. Again, it's got a bit of golden shimmer in it, and I will say it's a little easier to detect here than in the previous two formulas.
Almay Smart Shade Butter Kiss Lipstick in Light/Medium Nude | This is one of my favorite drugstore finds. I picked it up on a whim a few months ago because I was intrigued by their range of shades - you simply pick your general skintone (unfortunately right now the range is limited to Light, Light/Medium, and Medium) and you're supposedly left with your perfect Pink, Red, Nude, and Berry. Although I'm quite fair and would definitely fit into the Light category, I went with the Light/Medium option as the former would have definitely been too light to look like anything whatsoever. It gives the loveliest hint of rosy brown to the lips and is actually super moisturizing.
NARS Lipstick in Dolce Vita | This one came into my possession via the Sephora Give Me Some Nude Lip Set (review)- it's basically the only reason I bought the set. It actually gave me the idea for this post, as it's so much more sheer (sheerer?) than I was expecting, but it's beautiful. This has much more of a rosy tone than a typical nude, but the sheer color payoff makes it the perfect addition to any nude-lip-lover's collection. It's the perfect pick for no-makeup makeup, adding the subtlest hint of definition and enhancement to the lips.
Maybelline Color Elixir in Caramel Infused | One of my favorite drugstore lip products, these color elixirs are the best of a balm and a gloss in one. They're not sticky in the slightest but give off the nicest sheen, and they moisturize the lips quite well. They actually feel so interesting on the lips, gel-like and cushion-y. The shade Caramel Infused is the perfect pinky nude that's actually quite similar to my natural lip shade, so it's definitely a "my lips but glossier" pick.
What are your favorite sheer nudes?