“The mouth has to be nude but not dead.”
—Makeup artist Serge Hodonou
These words spoken backstage at Rabih Kayrouz resonated with me. A warm golden nude, or even a peach toned nude can be an exquisite accessory to a bold eyeshadow or liner, but get it wrong and you are left looking more scary than sultry.
In the 1960s, starlets like Brigitte Bardot, Twiggy, and Veruschka popularized the look, with kohl-rimmed eyes and copious sets of eyelashes. The lipsticks had a metallic sheen to them, making the look more space age than spooky. As we have digressed back to the nude mouth for the umpteenth time, the emphasis has been on matte textures rather than metallic ones. Worn with flawless skin and contoured cheeks, the new nude is warmer in tone, excellent news for the olive-skinned beauties who want to pair their nude lipstick with a tan and sweeping of coral blusher.
I went on a mission to find the best nude lipstick, and I think I’ve found it: the Givenchy Le Rouge in 102 Beige Plume. A semi-matte formula means this won’t dry out your lips; your pout will be moisturized and will hold the highly pigmented color in place for longer. It’s lightweight, too, which may coax non-lipstick wearers into trying the trend. Presented in an indulgent calfskin leather case, this product is a precious addition to your beauty cabinet.
