Make up gurus: help me with nude lipsticks?

[WilfSell]

I just can't seem ever to get the right shade. I want something right on the boundary of cool pink/nude, kinda like Kate Silverton off of that there telly news always look like she's wearing. It needs to be deep enough with lots of pigment so as not to look like I'm just a bit ill , but it can't be too brown.

I suit plummy, cool colours but whenever I try to buy one I get it wrong and end up with something sugary and too pale (like some 80s throwback), or violet (like some 60s weirdo).

Can anybody help? I don't mind paying a bit for the right shade, and I know it shouldn't be rocket science - you just, er, look at them right, and try them on. But I just CANNOT get it right and there should be a nude shade that suits me right?

The best one is MAC Patisserie. 'Tis gorgeous and would fit the bill perfectly I think...

go to mac counter and try on lots! i just got \link{http://www.flickr.com/photos/starsnrockets/3269661719/\this} mac velvet teddy

Yeah patisserie looks on the money. The teddy one nice but WAY too orangey brown for me. But thanks anyway - I hardly ever even look at the MAC counter and should know better!

I've had good results being matched on Bobbi Brown counters, though have now escalated to BB burnt red

BarryM Do a good range of nude/pale shades! also not expensive :)

I've got a Clinique 'Blushing Nude', lip colour but a bit darker. Can't see the mistakes which is always a bonus.

Estee Lauder Pinkberry

I have looked for the perfect nude for ages and have found Berry (almost like a lip balm) by Laura Mercier is the perfect 'just darker than your lips' colour. I have very dry lips and it is terrific for conditioning as well. I also suit more cool/plum shades and other neutrals go too orange or frosted pink on me.

This in 72 (soft sienna) is my perfect nude, it doesn't look like you are wearing lipstick but puts all the natural colour back in, very nice texture too.

Clinique is my 'go to' for lipstick in nude colours. Tender heart and creamy nude and blushing nude. They also do different coverage lippie.

OK is this actually nude? I want this shade, although I am considerably paler than Kate! I'm now doubting my 'nude' label. Maybe this is summat else...

I would say it is nude but it is more pale lippy, with a clear gloss over it.

I've got a Soap and Glory one called Red My Lips <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?num=10&hl=en&authuser=0&biw=1440&bih=785&tbm=isch&tbnid=0vrtMbsGZGXhqM:&imgrefurl=thoughtsinlittleboxes.com/2012/01/18/soap-and-glorys-super-colour-fabulipstick-review/&docid=mozCZMBmbzj2tM&imgurl=thoughtsinlittleboxes.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/red-my-lips-lips-1.jpg&w=2035&h=1396&ei=SDJaUNWzL8jV0QW6pIGYDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=173&vpy=152&dur=3151&hovh=186&hovw=271&tx=155&ty=107&sig=102731576298737837586&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=131&tbnw=176&start=0&ndsp=29&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:68" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this is not me but how it looks on me. Not red at all - very misleading name! Smells lovely and was about £8 I think in Boots.

Clinique does the best nudes, I think.

Tinted lip balm usually more flattering than an opaque nude.

See I don't think that's nude. I think it's a pale pink, slightly darker around the edges with a gloss

OK virgil, you may well be right. I dunno I just wanna look all glam but not trying too hard and sometimes my plummy colours are just too dark.

I can live with pink, but again I'm pretty bad at getting a nice subtle shade. I'm very pale usually and I often look sallow, with green eyes but I have a cool undertone to my skin which means I suit greys, blues, purples on the eyes, and although EVERY SINGLE MAKE-UP COUNTER I visit tries to put me in warm shades (they see the sallow skin, reddish brown hair and green eyes!) I know cooler shades work much better.

I know what works in eyes, foundation (in fact I just did the No.7 thing which put me as Cool Ivory), blusher and hair but I just can't get lipsticks right. Perhaps I'm just blind ?

Wilf I'm a make up idiot too

I have found that Mirror Shine lipsticks from Boots 17 really good. Belle is the same colour as my lips, but evens out the tone, and adds a gloss, that is wearable (I hate glosses). Looking at the make-up brands the others have mentioned, I am really punching low though.

I love urban decay lippie in Rush. It's beautiful mauve-pink-nude, and the texture is gorg. Proper lipstick but really moisturising. Very flattering.

Exactly, popcornia. You know what I want. Smoky eyes, sophisticated plump but not anaemic lips, that also don't look like I've vomited tango all over meself.

OK, I think I've got meself a list of things to try at the make up counter. Now, the big question: do I need lip pencil?

Kate's a bit partial to it, clearly. I am so old though I have a pathological horror of that early 90s thing that I everyone did, with the purple lipliner filled in with virtually white lippy. You know, think Eurotrash porn star or Jodie thingummy jig.