Disclaimer: If you couldn’t care less about lippies, you will probably just want to skip this post and come back next week… However, if you’ve been hunting for a way to get that perfect-yet-subtle pout, I’ve got your back.

I’m a total lipstick lover, and I’m VERY guilty of overspending in this department (sorry, Luke)… I think it’s one of the best “accessories” a girl can wear, and it’s one of the easiest ways to change your whole look. A white v-neck and jeans looks drastically different with a red lip as opposed to a nude lip. I like to spice up my colors a bit more on the weekend, but I have several tried-and-true neutral lip combinations that I stick to pretty consistently and rotate during the week. BTW, if you’re afraid of “going nude” because you think you’ll look like a corpse, consider that not all neutral toned lipsticks have to be tan and flesh colored. I stick with more rose and pink nudes as my neutral lip staples because those work best on my lighter skin tone. It’s all about finding what works for you—some shades are universal, others are not.

Before I break down my favorite colors, let’s talk liner. Specifically, NYX Slim Lip Pencil in “Nude Pink,” which is hands-down my favorite. It’s a neutral but can be paired with bolder lipstick colors, too. It has great staying power and evens out the natural outline of your lips for flawless application. I also have recently tried NYX’s “Peekaboo Neutral.” It’s a darker nude, so it adds extra definition. Lip liner is something that I enjoy using, but hate to spend money on. NYX fits the bill for good color, quality, and price.

Favorite All-Around Neutral:

SMASHBOX Be Legendary Lipstick in “Audition.” Whenever my friends ask me my opinion about the best nude lip color out there, I respond with this one. It seriously looks gorgeous on any skin tone. If I could only pick one neutral lip color for the rest of my life, this would be it. A little pink, a little taupe, it blends so nicely and looks like your natural lips, but better.

Favorite Darker Neutral:

NARS Audacious lipstick in “Anita.” Whenever I’m a bridesmaid or have an event where I need my lips to really show up but not be too distracting, I choose this color. The staying power is amazing. It’s not really matte, but not super shiny either… and most importantly, it’s not drying. Anita is also a great neutral for fall and winter because it has a deeper, rose tone to it.

Favorite Tan/Brown Neutral:

Because of my skin tone, I don’t wear tons of tan nudes. But I do wear some with a hint of brown at times. My mom has always loved brown or “spice” colored lips on me… I’ve never been 100% convinced, but she’s generally right about everything else when it comes to me, so there is probably something to that. Lately, I’ve been using Revlon Kiss Plumping Lip Crème in “Barely Blush“ and “Nude Honey” and loving them. They are silky, smell good, and make your lips feel cool. Also, they aren’t a huge investment, so bonus points there.

Favorite Pink Neutral:

Bobbi Brown Lipstick in “Pale Pink.” I love this one for year-round wear, but especially in spring and summer. It has a semi-matte finish, so it’s still creamy and non-drying. It’s really light in color, so I like to wear this with brighter outfits for a good contrast (and so I don’t leave the house looking like a piñata exploded on me with ALL the colors).

Favorite Liquid Lip Neutral:

ANASTASIA Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in “Lovely.” I feel like I could get called out for (wrongly?) considering this a nude lip color but, I’m doing it anyways.  Especially for fair/light skin tones. Overall, this shade is still pretty neutral, but adds a touch of pink to not totally wash out your face. The only con in my opinion is that it can be drying, so make sure you’re using a lip mask or heavily hydrating your lips the night before you wear this one if you want to avoid that cracked lip look (and I can’t imagine anyone would be shooting for that ha). *Unfortunately, I did just discover that I think this color has been discontinued (if you track it down somewhere, please let me know). However, I’m also a fan of the shades “Pure Hollywood” and “Crush” in this line.

Previously, I mentioned a lip mask. I’m currently obsessed with this one by Laneige. I use it at night and when I wake up in the morning, which leaves my lips feeling AMAZING. I also enjoy using this lip exfoliator by E.L.F a few times a week to make sure I’m sloughing off any dead skin. These are two products I definitely recommend if you love liquid lipsticks and matte formulas.

I’m not a huge fan of color swatches on the hand because I don’t think they are always an accurate representation of what a color looks like on lips, but wanted y’all to have some frame of reference for these colors.

Hope everyone enjoys the long weekend ahead. Thanks for stopping by! xoxo.