The best nearly-nude lipsticks for autumn are about finding a shade that enhances your natural beauty, whether you're going for a 'my lips but better' look or a more defined, understated statement.
These are the shades that feel both timeless and perfectly on-trend, complementing the deep berry, warm brown, and golden tones of the season.
I've rounded up four of our top-selling nude lipsticks from escentual.com that are most popular right now.
The Warm Nude Lipstick Perfect for Autumn
Nude Brick is a stunning shade that captures the essence of autumn. It's a beautiful 'brick red with dusty orange tones', perfect for adding a touch of warmth and sophistication to your make-up. It's the kind of nude that feels rich and impactful without being overpowering, making it an excellent bridge between a true nude and a bolder lip.
- The Finish: Luminous and Radiant: The satin and shine finishes provide a luminous, comfortable feel. This finish adds a healthy-looking sheen that makes lips appear fuller and more radiant. It’s a brilliant option for those who prefer a hydrated look over a flat matte, especially as the weather gets colder.
- The Formula: Nourishing and Natural: This lipstick isn't just for show. It's formulated with 80% natural-origin ingredients, including organic camelia oil and shea butter. This powerful blend provides up to 8 hours of hydration and comfort, ensuring your lips feel nourished and protected. For those with dry or sensitive lips, this is a non-negotiable.
The Balanced, Rosy Beige Nude Lipstick
A Balanced, Rosy Beige: Nude Bois is a neutral beige with just enough depth and a hint of rose to prevent it from looking ghostly. Its tone is balanced, making it a "my lips but better" shade for many, especially those with warmer undertones. The sheer finish allows your natural lip colour to peek through, creating a customised nude that’s uniquely yours.
The Finish: Blurring and Weightless: This lipstick is designed to give you that coveted soft-focus look, as if your lips have been airbrushed. The formula combines powder with emollient oils to create a weightless, blurring effect that minimises the look of lip lines and imperfections. This makes it a fantastic choice for those who find traditional mattes too harsh or heavy.
The Formula: Hydrating and Comfortable: Infused with wild mango butter, the formula is packed with skincare benefits. It offers up to 12 hours of wear and 24 hours of hydration, a rare feat for a matte lipstick. This means your lips stay soft and supple while the colour stays put, a winning combination for autumn.
The Perfect Peach-Pink Nude Lipstick
Disrobed is described by many as a perfect nude pinkish brown with a warm, peachy undertone. This makes it a great choice for a wide range of skin tones, as it provides a beautiful balance that doesn't wash out fair complexions or look too stark on deeper skin tones. It has just enough warmth to look natural and inviting, not flat or dull.
- The Finish: Comfortable and Powder-Soft: Forget everything you know about drying matte lipsticks. This innovative formula melts into an ultra-thin, featherweight powder on your lips. The result is a non-drying, comfortable wear that feels like nothing at all. This makes it perfect for the cooler months when lips are more prone to dryness.
- The Application: Effortless Precision: The angular bullet design isn't just chic; it's a practical tool that allows for precise application without a lip liner. This, combined with the intense colour payoff, means you can achieve a perfectly defined lip in a single swipe, which is a game-changer for a busy morning routine.
The Sophisticated, Neutral Beige Nude Lipstick
301 Nude Tension is a sophisticated beige nude that leans neutral, making it incredibly versatile. It's the ideal shade for creating that effortlessly polished look, pairing beautifully with a strong eye or worn alone for a clean, minimalist vibe.
The Finish: Creamy, Plush Velvet: The name "Velvet Radical" speaks for itself. This lipstick offers a semi-matte, full-coverage finish that feels creamy and plush on the lips. It’s formulated with silky oils, allowing it to glide on like butter while delivering a rich, long-lasting hue. Reviews consistently praise its comfortable, non-drying texture that keeps lips feeling moisturised all day.
The Application: Ultimate Control: The YSL The Slim's unique square-shaped bullet is a key feature. This design is engineered for ultimate precision, allowing you to easily line your lips and fill them in with expert control. It’s a genius piece of design that ensures a crisp, flawless finish every time.
How do I choose the right nude lipstick for my skin tone?
The key is to understand your skin's undertone (cool, warm, or neutral). For a 'my lips but better' look, choose a nude that is one or two shades deeper than your natural lip colour.
Warm Undertones: You'll look great in nudes with peachy or golden hints. The Shiseido ModernMatte Lipstick in 'Disrobed' is a perfect example of a warm, pinkish-brown that brightens the complexion.
Cool Undertones: Look for nudes with rosy or pink undertones. A balanced, rosy-beige like the GIVENCHY Le Rouge Sheer Velvet in 'Nude Bois' can be very flattering.
Neutral Undertones: You can wear a wide range of nudes. A versatile, neutral beige like the YSL The Slim Velvet Radical in 'Nude Tension' is a fantastic choice that works with any makeup look.
What makes a nude lipstick 'autumnal'?
An autumnal nude lipstick often has more depth and warmth than a typical summer shade. Think of colours that mimic the changing leaves: warm brick reds, dusty roses, deep beiges, and soft terracotta browns. They complement the richer textures and deeper colours of autumn fashion, like cosy knits and tweed. The Clarins Joli Rouge in 'Nude Brick' perfectly captures this with its dusty orange and red tones.
Matte vs. Satin: Which finish is better for autumn?
Neither is 'better'—it's about preference and your lips' needs!
Satin/Luminous Finish: This is excellent for autumn as the weather gets colder and lips become drier. A satin finish, like the Clarins Joli Rouge, provides hydration and gives lips a healthy, plump look.
Matte Finish: Modern mattes are no longer drying. Formulations like the GIVENCHY Sheer Velvet or Shiseido ModernMatte are infused with hydrating ingredients, offering a sophisticated, soft-focus look without sacrificing comfort. They provide excellent longevity for busy autumn days.
How can I stop my nude lipstick from washing me out?
This is a common concern! The best way to prevent this is to choose a shade with the right undertone and depth for your skin, as mentioned above. Additionally:
Use a Lip Liner: Define your lips with a liner that is slightly darker than the lipstick. This creates a clear separation and adds dimension.
Add Colour Elsewhere: Ensure you have a bit of blush or bronzer on your cheeks to bring warmth and life to your complexion. A nude lip pairs beautifully with a slightly stronger eye look.
Choose Depth: Opt for a richer nude, like the 'brick' tones in the Clarins lipstick, which has enough pigment to stand out beautifully.
My lips get dry in the colder months. Can I still wear a long-lasting matte lipstick?
Absolutely. The key is to choose a modern, hydrating formula. Gone are the days of chalky, uncomfortable mattes. Lipsticks like the YSL The Slim Velvet Radical are formulated with silky oils to feel creamy and moisturising. Similarly, the GIVENCHY Le Rouge Sheer Velvet is packed with wild mango butter to provide up to 24 hours of hydration, making it a perfect choice for comfortable, long-lasting wear in autumn
Do I need a lip liner with these lipsticks?
While a lip liner can enhance longevity and precision, it's not always necessary with today's innovative applicators. For example, the unique square bullet of the YSL The Slim Velvet Radical and the angular design of the Shiseido ModernMatte are specifically engineered to line and fill lips with expert control, even without a separate liner.
The Author: Chelsey
After eighteen years navigating the beauty landscape – from the shop floor to now – I've learned a thing or two about what you truly need. At Escentual, I'm here to bring that experience directly to you, offering expert advice to achieve your personal beauty goals.
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