Colour them nude

Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif. Pics/Instagram

As far as make-up enthusiasts are concerned, nude lips are considered a safe bet - they are versatile, relatively easy to apply and, if you know your colour, don't need as much prep or thought to slap on. It's no wonder then that several celebrities including Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif have been gravitating towards nude tones on their social media photographs, with each adding their own interpretation to their nude lip of choice - while Kaif prefers a pink-infused hue, Bhatt's nude lip is more skin-toned, in keeping with the rest of her barely-there make-up look.

Pick the right shade

"Nudes work well for the hot summer months when the mantra of less is more must dictate your make-up choices. When it comes to choosing the right nude for you, in terms of colour and finish, pay attention to a few basic factors - your skin type, your undertone and your skin tone. For medium to dusky skin tones which have warmer undertones, peachy browns work quite well. Fairer Indian skin types have a natural pink undertone, which makes cooler, pink-toned nudes more preferable. Next, if you have oily skin, it's advisable to skip using gloss or shiny or greasy formulas. Creamy mattes work much better in these cases. For drier skin types, pair a glossy lip with matte skin," advises make-up artist Natasha Nyss.

Natasha Nyss

Your final consideration when wearing a nude lip should be the colour of your outfit. "If you are wearing a lot of neon or cool tones in your outfit, pick a cooler-toned nude lip colour. Conversely, with warm-toned ensembles, such as a red dress, pick a peachy brown nude to complement your outfit and keep your make-up from competing for attention," she explains.

Layer it right

When wearing a nude lipstick, Nyss emphasises on the importance of contouring your lips so that your lips look plump and defined, and the nude colour does not wash out your features and make you look pale. "Line your lip with a lip pencil that's a shade darker than your lip product of choice. Slightly overline your lips near the middle and make the outer corners of your lip a little darker. This adds definition to your lip shape and highlights the centre of your lips. Add your lip product [lipstick and/or gloss] over this for a seamless nude lip," she signs off.