Nude Lips for Dark Skin (Post II)

Deixa A Gira Girar by Os Tincoas (JBG edit)

Following on from Nude Lips for Dark Skin Post I/Part 1 - this is the second part where I show some examples for each of the 6 categories. Please see this as a mere guide and not something that is set in stone. I've just tried to list and showcase the various "nude" trends I have come across and hopefully, this may demystify the nude lip phenomenon for dark skin. Thanks in advance for checking this out and the support!

Bare lips

Bare: Wearing no lip products is the epitome of "bare nude lips" which allows your natural lip shade to shine through. 
Lip Balm - Any lip balm will do - a matte will give you a very natural look whereas a shiny lip balm will be more noticeable. For this "look" I used Nuxe Matte lip balm.
Clear gloss - A clear gloss is great to mix with other lip products but, its also great to wear on its own to highlight all your natural features (lip tone/shade etc.). To add definition and colour you could use a lip liner in a deeper colour than your lip line with it. I used Miss Sporty's Clear lip gloss.

Barely There

Creamy: Caramel browns to pinkish browns that lightly tint the lips to a creamy easy barely-there look s great for a subtle step up from clear gloss to add dimension to the face/look. I used NYX Butter Lip Gloss in Praline.

Shimmer: Golden shimmers work so fantastically well on dark skin to highlight the lips that it's usually the first recommendation for a "nude on dark skin". Any gloss with golden shimmers will work nicely. I used Nars Lip Gloss in Supervixen which is very similar to Mac Oh Baby lip glass. 

Subtle: If you want to subtly highlight your lips but, want something more exciting than a clear gloss - try using a lip gloss that has a sheer wash of colour. While it won't change your entire lip colour it will enhance it while letting the majority of your natural shading shine through. I used Max Factor Lip Gloss in Enchanting Coral as a light application enhances the pinkness/warmth in my lip tone without changing it too much. 

Pinky/Purple Browns

Pink & Brown: LO'real Exotique lipstick with Mac Chestnut Lip Liner makes for an easy romantic nude lip which is a popular choice and combination for a nude on dark skin. Pinkish browns coupled with a dark brown lip liner creates a becoming pinkish nude lip that can be worn with various eye looks and for differing occasions. 

Purple Hue: Purple is a majestic colour that suits most darker skin tones easier than pinkish nudes that may need to be deepened with a brown lip liner. Opting for a purple-hued pink or brownish shade creates a natural and effortless nude that compliments dark skin and adds some romanticism. I used NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Vintage lightly, using it heavily makes for a deeper brown shade that crosses it over into the "brown lips" category. Many nude lips can cross over

Classic: A pinkish brown that can be worn without a lip liner. I dubbed this the "classic" nude because pinky browns are usually one of the more universally flattering shades on various skin tones as well as dark skin. Hence, classic nudes will often work on multiple skin tones well. For this look, I used Inglot Matte Lipstick in 405 without any liner or other shades.

Milky Lips

Veil: Sleek High Shine Lip Gloss in Bare gives probably as much coverage as the "barely there" nude lip category but has milkiness to it which makes the lips appear subdued and almost veiled. This type of milky nude lip gloss gives volume without much colour, blurs any naturally harsh lip lines and stark colouring of the lips into a milky wash. 

Tint: Maxfactor Honey Lacquer in Honey Nude has colour that covers the lips more than "veil" type but, still allows some of the natural lip colour to shine through thus merely tinting the lips. Milky lip tints give a fullness to the lips.

Opaque: These nudes can range from light beiges to cool greyish colours that often need a brown lip liner to wear to not look so quite avant-garde. For this look, I used Lunatic Labs Apocalipslick in Renegade without any lip liner to show how milky nude lips can look at full strength.

Flesh-Toned Nudes

Brown Toned: Warm brown terracotta-toned shades such as Apieu lip tint in Toffee Nut work well as a nice flesh-toned nude that works well with dark skin.

Lighter: Flesh-toned light nudes are great paired with brown lip liners or used alone to blur the natural lip contours of the lip. For this look, I used Atomic Makeup NYC liquid lipstick in Chelsea.

Harmony: Sinch flesh comes in many shades, its only natural that brown toned lip shades will work well as flesh tones on dark/deep skin tones. This is where the lines between "flesh" and "brown" nude lips naturally blur. I'd say that whilst they do cross over fleshy shades match well with the overall skin tone creating harmony without deepening the face thus, creating a fresh look rather than a sophisticated one (which deeper browns might do). For this look, I used LA Colors Lip Gloss in Mocha

Browns

Cool: Deep cool-toned browns work as a good brown nude that adds drama and depth to many with dark or deep skin. Depending on your skin tone a deep cool brown such as this may be a flesh-toned nude but either way, this shade is a great option for dark skin to create harmony and sophistication. I used Pretty Zombie Cosmetics liquid lipstick in Broomstick.

Warm: Warm-toned browns are great for darker skin tones that want harmony without depth and drama. Choosing a rusty brown creates a flattering nude that is both fresh and sophisticated. I used Coloured Raine liquid lipstick in Whatever.

Neutral: A neutral brown (neither too cool or warm) brings the best of both worlds together and most likely will work well with either undertone (cool/warm). I used Primark PS Pro Rich Colour Lipstick in 07 True Cocoa (which I forgot to add in my Primark Collection post). 

Photo sources

1. Pic1, Pic2, Pic3.

2. Pic1, Pic2, Pic3.

3. Pic1, Pic2, Pic3.

4. Pic1, Pic2, Pic3.

5. Pic1, Pic2, Pic3.

6. Pic1, Pic2, Pic3.

What is your favourite nude lipstick?

Which "category" of a nude lip do you like?

Thanks so much for your patience! It took me so long to do this list but, I really wanted to cover all the possible categories I've seen ... but wait - did I miss one? Is there a "nude" lip category I've missed? Let me know below :) 

Your comments are always welcomed and appreciated!