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From nostalgic satins to non-cakey mattes

It’s a tricky thing, finding the perfect nude lipstick. Go too pale and you risk looking just a little peaky, but veer too dark and you’ll end up looking like you’re really into the whole 90s revival.

Not to mention the fact that everyone's perfect "nude" completely varies depending on your skin tone. This definitely isn't a case of one nude to rule them all.

Even once you've found your spot-on shade, there's the texture to consider. Soft, slightly sheeny finishes are perfect for 'no-makeup' days, while satiny options are flattering on all ages and skin tones. A matte liquid or velvet mousse will deliver serious staying power beneath a face mask, while gloss has made a triumphant return, one that we're finally onboard with.

Thankfully, we’ve come a long way from the days of one-shade-fits-all in beauty, where a single pale-pink colour was considered sufficient for our entire spectrum of skin tones. Today’s best beauty brands have caught on fast, offering a host of inclusive natural shades for those your-lips-but-better vibes.

To help you narrow down the vast amount of options out there, we’ve swatched, swiped and painted on hundreds (probably) of hues – from obvious best-sellers to niche heroes we're obsessed with – to bring you the very best nude lipsticks on the planet.

It's a tough job but someone has to do it.

Dior's Rouge Dior lipstick is not only refillable but for £10 you can also get it engraved with your name, or your secret nickname perhaps.

Shade 100 is a rosy nude with a matte finish that isn't drying and just gives you that perfect 'my lips but better' look.

No one knows the diversity and the subtle shade differences of a nude more than makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic.

Of course it helps that his muse Kim Kardashian rarely wears anything but a perfect shade of brown.

Mario's new Ultra Suede Cozy Lip Creme's are a modern liquid lip formula. There's none of that paint stripper smell or hideous dry down, instead it's an almost whipped mousse formula that glides on, making your lips look instantly fuller.

Plus with shade names like 'Pinky brown' buying your makeup online has never been easier. - Laura

Selena Gomez's Rare Beauty has finally launched in the UK and let me tell you, it's more than worthy of the hype.

Their Dewy Lip Balm comes in 8 sheer shades and all leave your lips looking fuller, juicier and plumper.

The best part however? Zero stickiness. - Laura

Can you ever really beat a MAC lipstick? Not only do they have a nude lipstick for every single skin tone, but they also have one in every single finish.

Whether you prefer matte, bold, sheer, glossy or even metallic, our favourite counter has an option for you.

Oh, and in case you're wondering my personal favourite shades include Velvet Teddy, Teddy 2.0, Kinda Sexy and Sultry Move.

When a lipstick stays put through a three-course meal, you know it's worth stockpiling.

Maybelline's Super Stay Matte Ink is one you can truly trust not to flake, smudge or fade: it's satisfyingly creamy, highly pigmented, and stays looking freshly applied for hours on end.

Our love affair with internet phenomenon Il Makiage began with their viral foundation, but these brand-new lipsticks are our latest obsession.

Each of the 16 shades was created by one of the Il Makiage MUA community, and boasts an extra-creamy texture yet with a high-impact matte finish. Who said nude lipstick had to be subtle?

You cannot go wrong with the legendary Color Riche – the line has a perfect nude lipstick for everyone. Try the Ultra Matte collection for a powder-effect finish, or try the argan-oil infused Satin lipstick for something softer and shinier.

Trust Rihanna to deliver a lipstick we want to wear all day long, every day of the week. This sheer, buttery formula is so flattering, smoothing and hydrating lips to leave them looking full and pouty.

Forever our favourite affordable make-up brand, Elf never lets us down when it comes to high-performance make-up that delivers the goods just as well as the luxury names.

These lipsticks offer both high-pigment hues and a flattering, satiny finish: perfect for anyone who doesn't get on with ultra-matte liquids, yet still wants major impact.

Everything about this velvety matte lipstick is beautiful. The formula is one of the best we've come across, delivering long-lasting, creamy pigment that doesn't leave the lips feeling dry or cracked. The shade range is epic, so there's bound to be one that works perfectly on you.

We’re yet to find anyone that doesn’t love this creamy, ever-so-softly pink lipstick (and its matching liner, of course). If you’ve not tried it yet, add to cart immediately. There's a good reason it's the top-selling luxury lipstick in the entire country.

We didn't think anything could tempt us away from Pat McGrath's sublime MatteTrance lipstick, but this lighter alternative is perfect for laid-back days. The balm texture is ultra-comforting, while the pigment lends the kind of shine that makes lips look bigger and softer. It's love.

Nudestix makes some of the best your-face-but-better makeup in the business. A stand-out, these multi-use pencils can be scribbled over your cheeks and lips and blended with fingers for the prettiest veil of colour. Each one comes housed in a tin with an in-built mirror and sharpener – seriously, they’ve thought of everything.

Sometimes, we feel a little bit sorry for shiny lipsticks: after seasons and seasons of ultra-matte looks, they’ve been left a little neglected.

If any lipstick can bring us back to gloss, it has to be Kevyn Aucoin's aptly named Unforgettable line. These beautifully creamy formulas somehow offer glossy shine as well as saturated colour, all while staying put for a good few hours. They're incredibly moisturising, too.

These high-impact glosses deliver creamy colour and a lip-plumping shine in one quick sweep. With 24 shades to choose from, there's a nude for every single skin tone.

Dear Dahlia makes some of the most underrated lip products around. This fluffy, almost powdery mousse feels totally weightless on application, and can be smudged out with fingers to create that romantic diffused finish that only a K-beauty brand could master. A must-try.

Nineties hues are back and, if you're tempted, these brown-toned bullets are your shortcut to nostalgic success. Huda's Bossy Browns collection contains a hue to suit every tone, with an ultra-creamy pigmented finish to boot.

It’s a shame that Hourglass’s Confessions lipstick lasts so long on the lips, because you won’t get to keep pulling that insanely good-looking tube out of your bag.

Yes, the packaging is beautiful, but it’s what's inside that counts: this seed-oil infused formula is so incredibly pigmented, a single swipe will deliver totally opaque coverage with a not-quite-shiny finish that makes lips look plumper in an instant. The best part? It's refillable, so good for the planet, (and your wallet).