Napoleon Perdis Shares the Bare Truth About Nude Lips

Erykah Badu raised eyebrows recently in her striptease video, Window Seat, but what about when a client wants to go nude? I say go ahead—but, of course, I’m referring to nude lips. There is something undeniably sexy about creamy beige and taupe lips, especially when juxtaposed with a strong, smoky eye and sleek nails. This past season at New York Fashion Week, natural lipstick tones were in high demand. It’s a trend that has international legs, too. At Australian Fashion Week in Sydney earlier this month, so many of the designers requested a buff look for pouts. The trick is how to make a nude statement as impacting as traffic-stopping red—without pulling an Erykah Badu, that is. Here’s how.

Napoleon Perdis DeVine Goddess Lipstick in Lianna

Create a base: Priming lips with a balm or primer moisturizes and hydrates the pout and ensures long-lasting lip color. Try my NP Set Lip Primer to properly prep your client’s lips. Then apply a touch of foundation to even out any blotchy pigmentation. Your canvas is ready.

Three dimensional: Apply a small amount of concealer to an angled brush to sculpt the lips and create dimension. Blend a liquid concealer into the lip line, and apply all the way into the corners of the lips on both the top and the bottom. Avoid thick concealers as they can produce an unsightly cakey effect.

Make the pout pop: Dab a bit of white gel eyeliner onto your brush and blend it with a nude color, like my DéVine Goddess Lipstick in Lianna or Hess. The white liner gives it more dimension. If applying a nude gloss, try jazzing it up with some golden loose dust to create a sensual shine.

Define with a line: Definition is critical when going nude. Depending on your client’s skin tone, select a lip pencil that’s a shade or two darker than their coloring. Apply the pencil using the side (not the tip) and avoid a harsh line by using the edge of the pencil for a fuller outline. It’s nude with attitude.

napoleonperdis 200x300 Napoleon Perdis: Secrets of a Jersey Shore MakeUNDERIn 1995, celebrity makeup artist Napoleon Perdis debuted his line of cosmetics and launched his first concept store and Makeup Academy in Sydney. Today, Napoleon Perdis has 59 stand-alone concept stores and more than 800 point-of-sale locations across Australia and New Zealand. In the U.S., the brand has three Napoleon Perdis stores and is sold in select independent retailers. Celebrity fans of the brand include Jessica Szohr, Lady Gaga, Becki Newton, Debra Messing, Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Bynes, Shenae Grimes, Whitney Port, Adrienne Bailon and more.