Why I'm Rocking a Nude Lip When Everyone Else is Going Bold

Posted 10/26/10 at 03:38PM by Total Beauty

This fall, while every magazine is touting the virtues of the red, purple or orange (really?) lip, I'm turning the other cheek.

Sorry, but I just can't do bright lips. Maybe it's the prospect of walking around clueless with smudges on my teeth. Or maybe I'm just not secure enough to pull it off without feeling like Bozo. But, whatever the reason, I'm sticking with my nude lip look, period. End of discussion.

Before you scoff and tell me to grow up and get with the program, I'd like to say two words. Kim Kardashian.

Now, I'm not typically a fan of these famous-for-not-much "celebrities" (wait, that's not fair, she did make a sex tape), but while everyone talks ad nauseum about her booty, her smoky eyes and her, snore, love life, I'd like to point out that her mastery of the nude lip is sorely overlooked. Of course, she's probably not the one who's responsible for it -- the credit more than likely goes to some Tinseltown makeup maestro -- but, Kim K. does rock the heck out of it.

If you Google "Kim Kardashian nude lip," you'll learn that the lip products she always has in her bag are, "MAC Lip Liner in Stripdown, $13 with MAC Lipstick in Angel, $14 and Nars Lip Gloss in Turkish Delight, $24."

While, I too, have used (and liked) Angel, this fall I'm loving Estee Lauder Pure Color Crystal Lipstick in Crystal Beige, $22. It's wonderfully shiny and the shade is perfect for a nude lip -- not too pink, not too tan -- just right. Plus, it glides on effortlessly and stays put.

And, while I don't line my lips like Kim does, I do follow one simple trick that I'm sure she does too -- always dab a bit of gloss into the center of your lips. Sounds weird, but it totally adds dimension to your mouth and keeps the look from being too drab or washed out.

But, hey, that's just me. The rest of y'all can have your crimson and ochre and ruby and whatever other shades float your boat. Kim and I will stick with what works for us.

And the survey says...

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Posted by GigiSD on 04/13/13 at 02:31pm

I'm not wild about nude lips; it leaves some women so pale. Maybe Kim can pull it off, but I can't.

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Posted by EricaC123 on 04/13/13 at 02:04pm

I like it!

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Posted by LipglossandSpandex on 07/20/11 at 01:00am

Yes, Kim does look good in that look. But I feel like that's the look she ALWAYS wears. No matter where she's going. It's a little too much, and it's a little boring that it's her ONLY look. She's a gorgeous gal and could really rock many different looks--it'd be nice to see her branch out, or try a little bit more natural look.

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Posted by judyangel101 on 02/22/11 at 06:52pm

i love nude lips

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Posted by BuffyFromLosAngeles on 02/21/11 at 11:23pm

Thank you for the list of products to achieve this look. My skin is olive tone, so these will work for me. As for color, I think if you grew up wearing it, (like I did in high school), you're up for the challenge. If you're younger however, bold lips might scare the crap out of you because you've never worn it before. Think about it: the nude lip has been in for more than a decade now, some girls don't know anything different. But it's been in so long because it looks GOOD.

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Posted by hostagekitty on 02/21/11 at 08:06pm

Ah, finally, a colour i wouldn't be intimidated to try, The pinks and oranges are almost too scary to try

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