This Is the One Makeup Item I Firmly Believe Everyone Should Own
As someone with a darker skin tone, finding the perfect nude lip gloss has been a journey, to say the very least. What’s often described as nude by a lot of makeup brands is usually way too pale and ashy for my complexion. And, let’s be real, “nude” means something completely different to each of us. Despite what TikTok may have told you, you don’t need to match the hue of your lip to your nipple. In fact, your natural lip colour, the colour of the inside of your lip, skin tone and undertone all play a part in determining what your perfect nude shade for your lipstick or lip gloss is.
I finally found my ideal nude lipstick in the form of Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution lipstick in the shade ‘So 90s’ (£29) earlier this year. But the honest truth is that I’m not a fan of a matte lip for everyday wear, and I soon grew tired of constantly having to layer a clear gloss over the top of it or a lip balm underneath. I therefore decided to keep my lipstick for nights out and start my hunt for the perfect nude lip gloss that not only matches my skin tone, but gives me the high-shine finish I’m looking for.
As with many beauty products, it was a case of trial and error, but after months of testing out hundreds of formulas, I’ve narrowed it down to nine nude lip gloss formulas that are perfect for any occasion. And never fear, as my edit includes something for everyone, from the palest to the deepest complexions.
Keep scrolling to discover the nine best nude lip glosses, tried and tested by an editor.
The Best Nude Lip Glosses for Every Skin Tone and Budget
1. Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath
Charlotte Tilbury
Collagen Lip Bath
Key Ingredients: Collagen, coconut oil. mushroom sprout extract, vitamin A, portulaca plant, jojoba seed oil
Pigment Level: Sheer
Nude Shades in the Range: Pillow Talk Fair, Pillow Talk. Pillow Talk Medium, Pillow Talk Deep
After finding my perfect nude lipstick at Charlotte Tilbury, it was only natural that the brand was my first port of call for a glossy formula. Available in four different nude shades, the Collagen Lip Bath is a sheer lip gloss enriched with skincare ingredients to give you a softer and naturally plumper pout. I love that the formula is pigmented enough that I can go without a lip liner when I use it. Not to mention that the packaging is beautiful, which is always a plus.
Pros
- Shades are sheer and wearable to suit a wide range of skin tones
Cons
- Plumping properties cause a tingling sensation on the lips
2. Victoria Beckham Beauty Posh Gloss
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Posh Gloss
Key Ingredients: Blackcurrant oil, vitamin E, aloe butter, plant-derived lipid complex, capric triglyceride
Pigment Level: Medium
Nude Shades in the Range: Top Down, Poolside, Tanline, Bikini
I love a bargain buy as much as the next person, but sometimes spending that little bit more is actually worth it, and Victoria Beckham Beauty Posh Glosses are well worth the splurge in my opinion. Available in four true-to-skintone shades, this long-lasting formula provides a medium level of pigment that can easily be built for a more dramatic look. I use the two deepest shades, Poolside and Top Down, depending on whether I want a bolder or more subtle brown lip.
Cons
- Slightly more expensive than other lip glosses on the market
3. NYX Professional Makeup Butter Lip Gloss
Nyx Professional Makeup
Butter Gloss
Key Ingredients: Mineral oil, beeswax
Pigment Level: Buildable
Nude Shades in the Range: Lava Cake, Brownie Drip, Sugar High, Butterscotch, Praline, Fudge Me, Madeleine, Fortune Cookie
Finding an affordable lip gloss that actually lasts can be difficult, so when you find one, you stick with it. I’ve been buying NYX’s Butter Lip Gloss for years now, and it comes in a wide range of different nude shades to suit different skin and undertones. It glides on easily, even on those days when my lips are extremely dry, as well as gives a high-shine finish without any stickiness.
Cons
- Doesn’t contain as many lipcare benefits as others
4. Refy Tinted Lip Gloss
Key Ingredients: Jojoba seed oil, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, vitamin E
Pigment Level: High
Nude Shades in the Range: Oat, Rosewood, Taupe, Fawn, Suede, Sepia
If you’re looking for a nude gloss with a high level of shine, Refy Tinted Lip Gloss is the one for you. With a number of different nude shades to choose from, along with its lightweight but glass-like finish, I’ve found myself reaching for this gloss more often than not recently. The only setback for me is that you need to be super careful with putting the cap back on, as this product can easily leak if you don’t.
Pros
- Provides a high-shine, glass-like finish
Cons
- Product can leak if you’re not careful with the packaging
5. Tower 28 ShineOn Lip Jelly
Tower 28
ShineOn Lip Jelly
Key Ingredients: Apricot kernel oil, raspberry seed oil, avocado oil, rosehip oil, castor seed oil
Pigment Level: Semi-sheer
Nude Shades in the Range: Almond, Cashew, Oat, Pistachio
If you prefer a gloss with a more natural finish, Tower28’s ShineOn Lip Jelly provides a wash of colour without the artificial glass-like shine. Enriched with rosehip oil, castor seed oil, and avocado oil, this lip jelly softens and moisturises the lips to give them a naturally hydrated look. The formula is described as ‘semi-sheer’, but I’d say that it’s significantly more pigmented than the other nude glosses in this edit.
Pros
- Super hydrating and naturally glassy
Cons
- Not as sheer as it might suggest
6. Rhode Peptide Lip Tint
Key Ingredients: Peptides, shea butter, vitamin E
Pigment Level: Sheer-Medium
Nude Shades in the Range: Toast, Salty Tan, Espresso
Rhode’s Peptide Lip Tint not only hydrates, smooths, and plumps the lips, but is a buildable formula that can be adjusted to suit your preference. Packed with peptides that will nourish and smooth out fine lines, this tint melts easily into the lips for a high-shine finish. I’ve been using the shade Espresso since its launch back in 2023, but the lighter nude shades Toast and Salty Tan have fast become my favourites since I started using them a few months back. I love how they can sheer out for everyday use, but also be built up and paired with my lip liner for nights out.
Cons
- Doesn’t have heaps of longevity
7. Makeup By Mario SuperShine Lip Gloss
Makeup By Mario
Supershine™ Lip Gloss
Key Ingredients: Sodium Hyaluronate, pomegranate extract, jojoba oil
Pigment Level: Sheer
Nude Shades in the Range: Bare, Midnight Mauve, Cocoa
A full coverage finish is not for everyone, so if you prefer a more subtle approach to your lips, Makeup By Mario’s SuperShine Gloss is for you. Providing the lips with a glass-like shine in a subtle wash of colour, the SuperShine gloss is perfect for any makeup minimalists out there. There are only three nude shades in the collections, but the pigment is so sheer that they will all work on every skin tone, which is always a plus in my book.
Pros
- Shades are sheer and wearable to suit a wide range of skin tones
Cons
- Not suitable for those looking for a high-pigment finish
8. MAC Lipglass Air
MAC Cosmetics
Lipglass Air
Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, jojoba seed oil, meadowfoam seed oil, vitamin E
Pigment Level: Sheer
Nude Shades in the Range: Aesthetic, Casual, Quality, Instinct, Behaved
The most common complaint you’ll hear about a lip gloss is how sticky it feels on the lips, but MAC Cosmetics’ Lipglass Air was created to be just the opposite. Like the name suggests, the gloss was created to “feel like air” and give your lips a wash of colour without any of the stickiness that usually comes along with it. And let me tell you, it definitely lives up to the hype. The pigment is on the sheer side, but it can also be built up without feeling too heavy on the lips. I will say that because of its lightweight formula, it doesn’t provide a glass-like finish like a lot of the other nude glosses I tried, but if you prefer a more natural shine, this is one to try.
Cons
- Not suitable for those looking for a glass-like finish
9. Summer Fridays Dream Lip Oil
Summer Fridays
Dream Lip Oil
Key Ingredients: Castor oil, shea butter, avocado oil, apricot kernel oil, jojoba oil, grape seed oil, raspberry seed oil, squalane, vitamin E
Pigment Level: Sheer
Nude Shades in the Range: Bare Sand, Warm Beige, Rosewood Nights
If you have dry lips like me, you’ll know that there’s no point in investing in a lip gloss that has no hydrating benefits. Summer Fridays Dream Lip Oil is a makeup-skincare hybrid that’s packed with a blend of skin-loving ingredients to nourish the lips for long-lasting softness, whilst also providing a glass-like shine. The sheer wash of colour makes all of these wearable to a vast range of skin tones. Plus, the packaging is small and concise, meaning it can fit in your handbag to take on the go.
Pros
- Provides a high-shine, glass-like finish
Cons
- Not suitable for those looking for a high-pigment finish
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products over the years—spanning skincare, makeup, hair and nails—and work closely with trusted experts including dermatologists, makeup artists and leading industry insiders to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.
