Perfect Nude Lips

We've all seen the pictures in magazines. Celebrities sporting flawless (which usually means airbrushed!) skin, together with perfectly made-up eyes and lips. It has taken me years to find the perfect products that help me to achieve the perfect nude lip colour and I'm sure there are lots of people just like me who would like to know what to use in order to get that amazing pouty look. It has taken me ages to find the perfect combination of products, and you too are about to find the secret to this look.

I have tried pretty much all the so-called "nude" shades of lip colour on the market that claimed to give the look I wanted. None of them ever did! They were always too red or too brown; all I really wanted was that gorgeous pinky-beige colour! When I had pretty much exhausted all the brands I knew, the only thing that came close (I am sure you will have tried this, too) was to use a dot of concealer on my lips and top it off with a pale-pink gloss. This was fine for about 5 minutes! It never really achieved the look I really wanted and I was beginning to wonder if I would ever find the perfect lipstick!

My search ended when I discovered MAC cosmetics. They do the most amazing range of lipsticks, in every colour and finish imaginable. I originally bought one called "Fleshpot", which was the PERFECT beige/pink and just what I was looking for. Finally!! I bought several of these until they discontinued the colour. However, they now do one called "Myth", which is another perfect nude shade and gives a really nice matt finish. If you then want the glossy high-shine (but non-sticky!) finish, then simply top it off with their lipgloss called "Wildy Lush". This is a similar colour to the lipstick, but it just gives it that special shine.

In order to prepare your lips for the perfect lip colour, you will need to make sure they are in great condition first. Nothing shows up dry lips like a pale lip colour! To achieve this, I use a toothbrush to gently buff my lips every morning before applying a moisturising balm; my favourite is a lip butter from The Body Shop. They smell yummy, so try to avoid eating them! Once this has soaked in for a while (I usually wait about 10 minutes) you are ready to apply your lip colour.

To achieve a long-lasting finish, apply a lip-liner similar to your lipstick and apply one coat with a lip-brush. Blot with a tissue and then apply another coat. If it looks a little bit heavy, simply pat with your finger to blend a little more. Finally, apply your lipgloss and you're good to go!

I hope this has been of use to you, as I searched high and low to find the perfect lipstick and lipgloss - now you don't have to!