20 Best Nude Lipsticks That *Actually* Flatter Dark Skin Tones

Bold lips are known for stealing the show, but the perfect nude lipstick can do the same. Nude lipsticks play up your best facial features without requiring the maintenance a bold lip does (eeek, all that smudging).

But, if your skin is darker like mine, finding the perfect nude lipstick can be a pain. I've ordered way too many lipsticks that gave me a washed out–even chapped–lip look, and not the natural glam I was hoping for. So, to save you from making the same mistake, here are a few tips for shopping for nude lipsticks for dark skin.

First, you should reach for warmer shades of nude, says AJ Crimson, celebrity makeup artist and founder of AJ Crimson Beauty. "Hues that have a touch of yellow or red in their undertone will make for an easier time finding the right shade of nude to match your skins undertone."

To prevent the washed out look, avoid going too pale or cool, since that can be a a recipe for a chalky-looking effect that no one will be excited about, says Crimson.

Also, remember that lip liner is optional. "You don’t necessarily need liner if you just saturate the color in the center of your lip and press to disperse and use your natural lip line," says Crimson. But a little liner doesn't hurt if you're up for it. Crimson says it can help define the shape of the lip and warm up the edges of the lips to make the nude liner more wearable. He recommends going for shades of medium brown or chocolate.

Before you start shopping for nudes, Crimson also says it's important to determine whether you really want a nude or neutral lip, as the two get confused often. "Nude is going to look barely there or slightly lighter than your skin tone," says Crimson, whereas a neutral tone might be a deep color, like purple, but works well with your skin tone without being too bright or bold.

If you're ready to glam up and want to cut down on browsing time, here are the 20 best nude lipsticks for dark skin.