Shopping my stash for the perfect nude lip

Lately, I've been searching for the perfect nude. And I'm finding the search (from behind my computer) absolutely impossible. It is SO HARD to tell from online swatches whether a nude will flatter your skintone or not.

After a twitter conversation with the lovely Claire from aucuparia brumalis about "the nudes" I decided to shop my stash and see what my favorite nudes are!

Here's what I came up with:

 From left to right, we've got: MAC Blankety, MAC Hue, MAC Hug Me, Estee Lauder Crystal Baby, Marcelle Rouge Xpression in Sincerity, Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Cream in White Russian, Clinique Chubby Stick in Whole Lotta Honey, MAC Cremesheen Glass in Boy Bait.

From left to right, again: MAC Blankety, MAC Hue, MAC Hug Me, Estee Lauder Crystal Baby, Marcelle Rouge Xpression in Sincerity, Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Cream in White Russian, Clinique Chubby Stick in Whole Lotta Honey, MAC Cremesheen Glass in Boy Bait.

My daily favorites of the bunch are Estee Lauder Crystal Baby and the Clinique Chubby Stick. As nudes though, Crystal Baby literally looks pink on me, and the Chubby Stick is too dark to be a true nude. I love the creaminess of MAC's Blankety, but it tends to make me look a bit washed out, and if my lips are dry, it emphasizes that fact. I almost never reach for MAC Hue or Hug Me as I find them quite sheer, and prefer a more opaque finish. Plus, both of them are harsh on my already dry lips. Hue isn't incredibly flattering on me, and I never think to use Hug Me even though I like the color on me.

The closest "nude" I own that I consider nude on my skintone, is actually the Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Cream in White Russian. I got this lip gloss in a Sephora 100 point perk and really really like it. I'm not a lip gloss girl at all - I much prefer lipsticks. But this lip gloss' combination of being plumping (and not being allergic to the plumping agents for once!) and the perfect nude made me fall in love. Perhaps nudes work better on me as glosses? MAC's Boy Bait on the other hand, is too sheer  to give me the "nude lip effect".

Have you ever been on a mad search for the perfect nude? Right now, I'm contemplating NARS Pago Pago, MAC's High Tea, and various Le Metier de Beaute Lip Cremes.

Have you found your perfect nude lip? If so, please share! I'm so interested to know what your favorite nude lip products are!

The satisfaction of a most wanted acquired: Estee Lauder's Crystal Baby is mine! (+ a dupe?!)

I was seriously beaming when I purchased Estee Lauder's Crystal Baby finally. Beaming, walking through the mall. I should probably be embarrassed about this fact. But I'm not.

Crystal Baby has been on my most wanted list for a really long time. My local Estee Lauder counter didn't carry it, and any other counters I visited never had the tester, so I just assumed they never carried it. When I arrived at The Bay in Toronto, they ALSO didn't have the tester, but I asked anyway, just in case they had it. And they did. Apparently the tester was stolen. Go figure. So anyway, I was a happy camper when I finally got my hands on this baby!

I've always been a fan of Estee Lauder packaging - a base that shows the color of the lipstick and a sturdy gold case. Love.

Here is the lipstick swatched on my hand.

And on my lips.

The texture of this lipstick is amazing. Soft but not slippery and lightweight but still pigmented. I think it's the best type of color for an every day brown smokey eye (which I wear often). However, this lip color is so neutral, it basically works with anything, even brighter looks.

Here are some comparison pictures:

From left to right: Marcelle Rouge Xpression in Sincerity, MAC Hue, MAC Creme Cup, Estee Lauder Crystal Baby, Estee Lauder Crystal Rose.

Notice any similarities?

Marcelle in Sincerity left, Estee Lauder Crystal Baby on the right.

Marcelle's Xpression Rouge Creme in Sincerity is almost the same as Estee Lauder's Crystal Baby. They also have the same texture and moisturizing feel. I'd say Sincerity is a tiny little smidge pinker than Crystal Baby. But that's unnoticeable on the lips. If you don't want to shell out for an expensive lipstick, Marcelle is a great alternative. And at a $20 + price difference, I'd suggest going with the Marcelle option.

Overall, I'm very happy with my purchase. Estee Lauder rarely disappoints me in its products, and this is no exception. Now if I could only get my hands on the Violet Underground palette, I'll be happy.

Do you have a go-to, foolproof lipstick?