I Finally Found a "Nude" Lip Gloss That Looks Nude
Lipstick is one of my favorite things in the world. It's my armor—the first makeup product I was ever allowed to wear, and the last thing I would ever leave home without. Nude lips are my signature: muted pouts rimmed in espresso liner; taupe tones sealed with glossy, summer-ready shimmer; creamy beiges that ombre out into earthy terracottas and bricks. But my favorite buff lip is a matte one, by way of Tarte.
The formula is creamy, and while it does dry down, it doesn't make your lips feel dried out. It applies well on top of my lip balm, without smearing, curdling, cracking, or losing its color payoff. I'm not a fan of touch-ups, and this has true staying power. I put it on once in the morning and don't have to be conscious of smears or eating away my lip color as the day turns to night.
Now, let's talk about the range. I'm a black girl. And what is deemed "nude" for women with fairer skin doesn't necessarily translate to my skin tone. But Tarte offers enough variety for me to have several nudes, depending on the season, occasion, and mood. I currently own the lip paint in Namaste, Birthday Suit, TBT, and Exposed (a limited-edition hue). Those four cover the true-nude, pinky-nude, mauvey-nude, and peachy-nude gamut, and they all mix well if I want to experiment with a custom hue.
Bottom line: Nothing will ever top this.
