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What's your "my-lips-but-better" shade?


What’s your “my-lips-but-better” shade? Share!
NARS Last Tango, Givenchy Rose d’Exception, Urban Decay Strip to name a few!

Thanks to Kappa for today’s question! Do you have a question idea? Submit yours here.

125 Comments

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Esther Avatar

I know I have a few in my collection, but the only one that comes to mind without rummaging through drawers is Bare Minerals Pretty Amazing Lip Color in Confidence.

Maddie Avatar

Same here! Seconding the too faced la creme lipstick in spice spice baby. I never thought I’d find an mlbb color but I did! It’s not only the perfect color, it’s rich and creamy and smells good!

trism Avatar

Before, it was either Nyx SMLC in Stockholm or Nyx Xtreme Lip Cream in Buttery Nude but those were either too drying or too gloopy. Then I found Wet N Wild Megalast in 912 C! Creamy-matte, long-staying, perfect MLBB-shade and affordable. Packaging sucks though, but I haven’t found any other shades from other brands that can match it’s performance. 🙂

zainab Avatar

the closest I’ve got to one is MAC Hug Me, it isn’t my actual lip colour, but it sort of looks right for my skin tone to the degree that I often forget I’m wearing it when I catch sight of myself in mirrors and windows. I’ve got to find a true MLBL.

Ryou Avatar

I like my lips to look a little deeper and redder/more pigmented than they really are. When I want a my lips but better look, I’d just put on a VERY sheer tinted lip balm, my favorites being Epically Epic’s tinted lip balms and Maybelline Baby Lips. When I want a more full-on product I’d go for The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain in Rose Pink and Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie. I’m thinking of trying Revlon Lip Butter in Sugar Plum next, since Berry Smoothie, while nice, still pulls a bit pink on me.

ms Avatar

mac super kissable lip color (LE), mac can’t get enough, UD liar,
honestly i have a hard time believing people when they say here that they can’t find a MLBB nude.

i am not a nude lip person, (although i should be since i have tiny lips), so 3 mlbb suffices for me, (i have backups for two of them, super and can’t get enough). and i can transform a couple of other lip colors into a nude lip by using a lip liner.

Kim Avatar

L’Oreal riche lipstick in nature’s blush when I apply it sheerly, I love it! My lips are like five different colors and this one is the best of the five and evens out my lips to a really pretty pout.

I love your makeup blog by the way! I’m just getting into makeup more and your reviews definitely help!

Astrogherkin Avatar

I loved the colour too – in fact, it was the only one of the range I bought because it was very MLBB. But the first (and only) time I wore it, I went to the bathroom half an hour later and it had changed colour to a neon-ish coral! When I reapplied, it went back to the original colour, but half an hour later, it happened again. I mean, I like neon corals but I thought I was wearing a MLBB colour! Have you noticed this colour change at all? :/

Bec Avatar

I totally noticed that too! Loved it as a natural MLBB colour, and then the freaky orange thing happened! Tried some ‘scientific’ tests with/without lipgloss and it was definitely Honey. Had to give it to someone with a warmer skintone 🙁

Glenda Avatar

I read somewhere that Smashbox Be Legendary lipstick in Primrose made a good dupe for Gem of Roses! I never tried GoR, but I do have Primrose and am quite fond of it. It doesn’t quite translate as the perfect nude for my lips, but it’s gorgeous nevertheless…
Maybe you could try it on and see what you think? 😉

Jennisa Avatar

Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stain in “Forbidden”, Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in “Mink” and “Chocolate Velvet” and Wet n Wild Mega Last lipstick in 913C “Sandstorm” to name a few. I have very pigmented lips (brown on the outer rim, pink in the middle of my lips…natural lipliner! lol) so I tend to go for a slightly darker brown shade to even them out. If I want to be true to my lips, I do the darker brown lipcolour with a pop of pink in the centre (I use MAC Viva Glam V, a pinky brown which is perfect for this).

Veronica Avatar

I don’t often wear nude lips, so I haven’t found my HG yet. I do have a few that I’m fond of, though – Urban Decay Naked (pencil), L’Oreal Fairest Nude, and Maybelline Born With It. I *really* enjoyed the way Dior’s Incognito looked on me when I tried it a few days ago, so I think that’s probably my next big lipstick purchase. For smokey eyes, I like NARS Madere – probably the *only* super nude shade I’ve come across that contains enough pink for my cool skin!

san Avatar

Mlbb:mac lipliner in whirl:)…now have to find a lipstick the same, wonder why they dont make lipsticks in same shade as lipliners.Also MAC creme in your coffee looks good.

Renee Avatar

Just found HOURGLASS Femme Rouge Velvet Crème Lipstick in Grace to be exactly my pale pink natural shade. The formula is luxurious as well. I didnt purchase it because it does nothing to enhance my lips its just its exact shade.

KY Avatar

Maybelline Color Whisper in Some Like It Taupe.

I LOVE reading what everyone’s MLBB shade is because it opens my eyes to our differences and similarities. I have NARS Dolce Vita in my stash and I’ve read that it’s an MLBB shade for a lot of people, but on me, it’s soooooo not my MLBB shade! Now I know that my natural lip color is more on the brown side, since Some Like It Taupe is not pink, red or peach at all.

faerieevenstar Avatar

A MAC artist told me mine was MAC Spirit which I bought, but I hardly ever wear it because it s similar!! If I’m going subtle, I’d rather just just a gloss or balm like MAC’s Tendertones.

Alyssa Avatar

Mac’s shy girl!

It is always my go-to lipstick when I am not sure what shade to wear. It goes well with any look.
I actually bought it after reading a review of it here 🙂

rashmi Avatar

Lovedddddd reading all the shades n as I haven’t found mine it would be great to pick one

on me I loveeeeee mac spice lip pencil
n now as I picked givenchy le rouge m excited to try it

Stephanie Avatar

Smashbox Flawless lipstick, it’s disco’d but I find it at the CCO every now and then.
Also, my holy grail pinky nude for WOC. I’m NC50 for reference.

Astrogherkin Avatar

Revlon’s Lip Butter in Pink Truffle and Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in Shade 105 (for NC40-42). It’s so hard to find this shade – which I define as one shade darker than my natural lip colour – because everyone’s natural colouring is different. The undertones that work best for me are more on the peach and orange side rather than the mauve toned nudes.

Astrogherkin Avatar

I just remembered another one that I love, my first MLBB find: the shade “Bon Bon” from the brand 17. I love it so much! Rimmel’s 105 was my latest find, and it hasn’t left my lips since. 😀

Amanda Avatar

My perfect my lips but better lipstick is Musk by Bite Beauty! I love this line of lipstick and I have a could of different shades. Creamy and it feels moisturizing to me but stays put. It has a great feel and look to me and usually last about 4-5 hours. It doesn’t feather and manages to fade pretty evenly (no ring around the lips)!

Jackie Avatar

NARS Pigalle & Velvet Matte pencil in Bahama
MAC Creme in your Coffee, Twig, Fast Play
Too Faced Spice Spice Baby
Stila Color Balm Sheri
Bobbi Brown Italian Rose

Ade Avatar

My favorite are NARS Dolce Vita Velvet Matte Lip Pencil (the best MLBB!), Chanel Mademoiselle Rouge Coco & Burberry Peony Rose Lip Velvet.
I also love Burt’s Bees Rhubarb Lip Shimmer and Carmex Berry Moisture Plus. Totally foolproof and hydrating!

AudreyNZ Avatar

Haven’t found my MLBB shade yet. Was thinking of Bobbi Brown Brightening Lipgloss in White. Apparently, it gives you a MLBB effect. Is it true? I’d like to hear from anyone who’s used this.

Aditi Avatar

From MAC- touch, creme in your coffee, spice, half n half. Cremesheen glass in deelight, but mostly, I love using the following lip liners for a no-make up effect: NYX natural and mauve, and Rimmel addiction

Skin color NARS Stromboli for reference

Eliz Avatar

I am very sadly without a currently-made MLBB shade. Dior’s Rose Scenario (rosy beige) used to be my go-to. Hey, this might be the perfect time to get a Tom Ford. Any suggestions for a MLBB shade in his range? I’m very fair, cool undertones, blonde hair, blue eyes, and my lips are pigmented with a good bit of pink, so super-light shades can go chalky. Santa might come early and bring me a new MLBB shade. I’d love your help!

kj hemeon Avatar

Like many, Nars Dolce Vita, followed by Bite Rhubarb. MLBP (pinker) =Nars Last Tango. MLBWB (way better) = Bobbi Brown Slopes. Thanks for that one, Christine! And thanks for the prodigious work you do. I adore Mellan + so look forward to his pix, and I’m not even a big Lab girl. His personality is precious. We should really be giving much thanks for our pets this holiday.

Kappa Avatar

This is awesome – thank you to all who posted!!! I’ve been on a hunt lately, since my Clinique Chubby (not the ones you can get now, but the previous generation that was an actual pencil that required sharpening) in Sweetheart finally bit the dust. I literally had a coworker ask me what I used, because she couldn’t tell if I was wearing lipstick or just had a pretty shade of lips!

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