Nude lipsticks for medium skin

Nude lipsticks are muted, low-chroma shades close to the natural colour of lips or skin, from pale beige and pink-beige to caramel and rose. A cool nude reads rosy or pinkish, a warm nude reads peachy, golden or caramel, and a neutral nude sits in between. How a nude reads depends mostly on its lightness compared with the skin around it. For medium skin this page uses a reference lightness of L* 55. Contrast between lip colour and skin decides how strongly a shade stands out, and medium skin sits in the middle of the range, so shades of every depth are listed here, from very light to deep. Nudes are listed only when their lightness is within 18 L* points of the reference.

109 nude shades listed for medium skin, grouped by undertone.

Last verified 24 October 2026. How we measure.