WE LOVE A GOOD NUDE

The 17 Prettiest Nude Lipsticks for Dark Skin

Finding a great nude lip color can be tricky, so we sought only the prettiest pinks, peaches, and browns — no ashy shades over here.
The 17 Prettiest Nude Lipsticks for Dark Skin Tones
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Even though we're all wearing face masks for the foreseeable future, you don't need to abandon your lipstick collection. The right lipstick can add the extra pep in your step to get you through the day. And there are certain colors that are staples in any collection, like a good nude lipstick. 

The problem is that all nudes are not created equal. Nude can oftentimes be interpreted by makeup brands as solely as pale pink or beige, which just does not work as nude for those with dark or deep skin tones. That means shopping for a nude lipstick for darker skin requires a little more effort and trial and error than other kinds of colors. 

Furthermore, a lip liner is a must. Makeup artist Keita Moore recommends choosing a liner that's two to three shades darker than the lipstick you're wearing. "What that does is create a contour and dimension so you can apply your lipstick in the center. It makes your lip look plumper," he explains.

Makeup artist Rebekah Aladdin agrees. "I love to layer a pinky-nude lipstick over a soft brown liner or a warm chocolate liner depending on my client's complexion," she says. "Choosing a liner shade that can create a little depth around the lip line will help to create a natural finish." 

If you're struggling to find one, Moore recommends MAC's lip pencil in Cork for medium to dark skin tones and Chesnut for deep skin tones. Pat McGrath Labs Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil in Ground Control is also great, as is the more affordable Nyx Cosmetics Slim Lip Pencil in Expresso.

Once you've got the liner down, it's important to consider undertone. Moore suggests leaning toward lipsticks with warmer tones that are similar to your skin tone to avoid any potentially ashy shades. 

To make finding that perfect shade just a bit easier for you, we put together this comprehensive list of 17 nude lipsticks for dark skin in all the peaches, pinks, and browns you can imagine.

All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

  • Mented Cosmetics SemiMatte Lipstick in Peach Please on white background
    Courtesy of brand
    1/17

    Peach: Mented Cosmetics Semi-Matte Lipstick in Peach Please

    You can't mention nude lipsticks without Mented Cosmetics. The brand initially launched in 2017 with the goal of creating perfect nude lips for women of color — and it succeeded with the creamy Semi-Matte Lipsticks that leave a gorgeous satin finish. Makeup artist Delina Medhin is a fan of the shade Peach Please — a neutral salmon hue.

    $15 (Shop Now)

  • Courtesy of brand
    2/17

    Peach: Black Radiance Perfect Tone Matte Lip Creme in Hollywood Hot

    Light peach hues may be alarming for some of us with darker skin, but Black Radiance Perfect Tone Matte Lip Creme in Hollywood Hot will not lead you into ash-ville, we promise. Just add a little bit of brown lip liner (or lipstick) and layer this creamy matte formula on top for an ombré lip that blends seamlessly. 

    $5 (Shop Now) 

  • Courtesy of brand
    3/17

    Peach: Nyx Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Sandstorm

    Nyx is known for having great shades for darker skin tones in the nude lip department with its Butter Glosses (the shades Praline and Gingersnap are fan favorites) — and its Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Sandstorm also hits all the marks. Swipe on the soft matte formula to reveal a peach hue that pairs beautifully with any brown liner or lipstick. 

    $7 (Shop Now)

  • Courtesy of brand
    4/17

    Peach: AJ Crimson Beauty S&M Sultry and Matte Lipstick in Love Jones

    If you love nude matte liquid lipsticks as much as Crimson does, then you need his S&M Sultry and Matte Lipstick in Love Jones. He loves layering the peachy shade on top of the chocolate Boy Bye. "Boy Bye is great in lieu of lip liner — I use this as a base. Then, apply Love Jones, which is a warm, slightly pink beige, to the center," he says. "Don't blot — just blend and let it dry. It's the perfect ombré lip made easy."

    $22 (Shop Now) 

  • Courtesy of brand
    5/17

    Pink: Revolution Beauty New Neutral Satin Matte Lipstick in Cashmere

    Revolution Beauty Neutral Satin Matte Lipstick in Cashmere may look a bit a little ashy, but layer this the smooth formula on top of a brown liner and you will be blown away. The light pink mimics the natural color of the lips remarkably well, making it a great component in any nude lip you create. 

    $9 (Shop Now) 

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  • Courtesy of brand
    6/17

    Pink: Juvia's Place Nude Velvety Matte Lipstick in Kebi 

    Juvia's Place consistently delivers, and the Nude Velvety Matte Lipsticks, which launched in July 2020, are no different. The cool-toned Kebi is one of the four mauve shades the brand offers, and its pink hue looks beautiful with or without liner. 

    $14 (Shop Now) 

  • Courtesy of brand
    7/17

    Pink: MAC x Teyana Taylor Lipstick in I Got A Man

    Appreciate the beauty of peachy-pink nudes with the MAC x Teyana Taylor Lipstick in I Got A Man. The creamy lip color is one of makeup artist Camara Aunique's go-to nudes that she even loves wearing on her cheeks. The best part: Its matte finish feels comfortable all day long.

    $20 (Shop Now)

  • Courtesy of brand
    8/17

    Pink: Juvia's Place Nude Velvety Matte Lipstick in 2020

    Though it shares the same name as this challenging year, Juvia's Place Nude Velvety Matte Lipstick in 2020 is a much more positive experience. The light pink shade looks gorgeous on a variety of skin tones, especially when paired with chocolate brown liner. This hyaluronic acid-infused product comes with a squared-off, angled tip that glides across the lips. 

    $14 (Shop Now)

  • Courtesy of brand
    9/17

    Brown: Mented Cosmetics Semi-Matte Lipstick in #5

    There's something very special about how Mented Cosmetics formulated the Semi-Matte Lipstick in #5 with the perfect amount of brown, pink, and purple. The plummy-brown Best of Beauty-winning shade leaves a satin finish on the lips that feels comfortable for wear all day long. 

    $15 (Shop Now) 

  • Courtesy of brand
    10/17

    Brown: Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color in Unveil

    Fenty Beauty changed the game when it first launched its Stunna Lip Paints with the universal fiery-red shade Uncensored. The liquid formula is beloved by fans for its long-lasting power and intense pigment. Once you swipe on the mocha Unveil, you won't be able to resist the urge to take a selfie. 

    $25 (Shop Now) 

  • 11/17

    Brown: Beauty Bakerie Matte Lip Whip in Cake D'Ivoire

    Just swipe the caramel-colored Cake D'Ivoire over a brown liner or leave it on its own for lips that are coated in long-lasting color. Beauty Bakerie Matte Lip Whips pack a pigment, so remember that less is more while applying — the brand recommends that you don't add more than three layers because you'll run the risk of sticky lips.

    $20 (Shop Now) 

  • Courtesy of brand
    12/17

    Brown: Propa Beauty Luminous Satin Lipstick in Empower 

    If matte lipsticks aren't you're thing, then Black-owned Propa Beauty's buttery Luminous Satin Lipsticks are what you need. We especially love the dark chocolate Empower because of its deep hue and the '90s nostalgia it inspires. 

    $12 (Shop Now) 

  • Courtesy of brand
    13/17

    Brown: Dose of Colors Liquid Matte Lipstick in Cork

    Upgrade your lipstick collection with the golden-brown Dose of Colors Liquid Matte Lipstick in Cork. Before commerce editor Nykia Spradley discovered this shade, she had just about given up on trying to find a nude lip for her brown skin. "I remember literally gasping the first time I tried it, and it's been my nude of choice ever since," she says. "It even works when I’m more golden during the summer."

    $18 (Shop Now) 

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  • Courtesy of brand
    14/17

    Brown: Maybelline New York Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick in Mocha Inventor

    While there are several gorgeous shades of Maybelline New York Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipsticks, Moore is a fan of the warm, chocolate-brown shade Mocha Inventor. The smooth liquid formula sits beautifully on the lips, and the teardrop applicator makes filling in your lips a breeze.

    $8 (Shop Now)

  • Courtesy of brand
    15/17

    Brown: The Lip Bar Liquid Matte in Savage

    With a name like The Lip Bar, it's no wonder that the brand consistently hits it out the park with its lip products. We love the way the Liquid Matte lipsticks — which are infused with shea butter, avocado oil, and jojoba oil — sit comfortably on the lips all day long. Both Sheriff and Medhin are big fans of the shade Savage, a true brown hue with hints of orange undertones.

    $13 (Shop Now)

  • Courtesy of brand
    16/17

    Brown: Coloured Raine Liquid Lipstick in Mocha

    If you want a deep brown nude, then add this dark chocolate lipstick to your cart immediately. The cool-toned Coloured Raine Liquid Lipstick in Mocha has a gorgeous matte finish that feels comfortable on the lips. And its staying power holds on all day long with little to no retouches. 

    $17 (Shop Now)

  • Courtesy of brand
    17/17

    Brown: CTZN Cosmetics Nudiversal Lip Duo in Stockholm

    CTZN Cosmetics offers 25 shades of its Nudiversal Lip Duos with the hopes that everyone can find one that works for them. We love Stockholm, a cool-toned dark brown hue, so much that we had to give it a 2019 Best of Beauty Award for best nude lip for dark skin. It comes with a matte lipstick on one end and a matching lip gloss on the other, allowing you to customize the finish. 

    $25 (Shop Now)

Keywordsnude lipsticksnude lipsticknude makeupbrown lipsticklipsticksliquid lipstickmac cosmeticJuvia's Placemented cosmeticsblack beautydark skindarker skin tonesdark skin tonesIman cosmeticsMaybellinenarss