Pillow Talk Lipstick in Every Finish, and Pink Nudes Like It

Pillow Talk Lipstick in Every Finish, and Pink Nudes Like It

Pillow Talk lipstick is the nude pink Charlotte Tilbury calls everyone's perfect shade, and it now comes in matte, satin, balm and blur. Here is how I would choose a finish, what to pair it with, and pink nudes from other brands that sit close by.

Charlotte Tilbury calls Pillow Talk everyone's perfect shade. Marie Claire, looking at why it took off after its 2013 launch as a liner, lands on the same idea: no nude suits every single person, but this nude pink has suited a remarkable range of skin tones, and the family has grown shade by shade since. If you have ever wondered why one shade got its own family, that is the reason. A Pillow Talk lipstick is meant to be the pink nude that flatters your natural lip color, not cover it.

Start with the Matte Revolution in Pillow Talk, a nude pink with an angled square tip that acts a bit like a lip brush. Pillow Talk Medium is a warm berry pink, a step deeper than the original. If matte feels heavy, the K.I.S.S.I.N.G Satin Shine version comes in Pillow Talk Fair, a cool nude pink, Pillow Talk Deep, a berry rose, and Pillow Talk Naughty Talk, a neutral nude glow. All three carry the same lipstick tree and Vitamin E formula for a soft satin shine.

For the softest option, the Hyaluronic Happikiss Lipstick Balm in Pillowtalk is a nudey pink balm with a dewy finish. The Airbrush Flawless Lip Blur in Pillow Talk Blur is the one to try if you like the shade but want a softer, blurred edge, so swatch it next to the matte first.

Tip: swatch two shades side by side on your lips, not your wrist, and look in daylight. Nude pinks can look close in a tube, so compare them on your own mouth.

Big numbers collage titled PILLOW TALK, six products numbered one to six with each product set beside its number: Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Pillow Talk, Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Pillow Talk Medium, Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G in Pillow Talk Deep, Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick in Pillow Talk Naughty Talk, Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath in Pillow Talk Medium and MAC Silky Matte Lipstick in Kinda Sexy
Pillow Talk Lipstick

Pillow Talk lipstick in every finish

Liners, glosses and tints in the same shade

The lipstick is only half of the Pillow Talk idea, because the Charlotte Tilbury family really works as a system. The Lip Cheat Long-Lasting Waterproof Lip Liner comes in Pillow Talk Fair, a cool pink nude, and Pillow Talk Deep, a berry rose. The brand says the formula is waterproof, transfer proof and lasts up to six hours without smudging or feathering. Outline just past your lip line, fill in, then put your lipstick on top.

For gloss, the Collagen Lip Bath Gloss comes in Pillow Talk Fair, Medium and Deep. It has marine collagen, mustard sprout extract and peppermint for a cool, fresh feeling, and a heart-shaped applicator. Pillow Talk Medium is the warm berry pink and Deep is the deep berry rose. Big Lip Plumpgasm in Fair/Medium is a pink nude plumping gloss with a lip oil feel.

For a wash of color, the Pillow Talk Long Lasting Blush Balm Sheer Lip Tint is a three-in-one lipstick, balm and tint. The Pillow Talk shade is a sheer nude pink tint, and Pillow Talk Medium is a sheer neutral cool rose. The brand says it uses pH color chemistry, so the result can shift a little from lip to lip.

Layering idea: liner, then the Matte Revolution, then a dab of the Collagen Lip Bath Gloss on the center only.

What I would skip: a plumping gloss over a matte lipstick you want to keep matte. Pick one finish per outing.

Pillow Talk liners, glosses and tints

Pink nudes from other brands

If you love the idea of Pillow Talk but want something from another shelf, these pink nudes are close cousins. I am not claiming they are the same color, just the same neighborhood.

MAC M·A·Cximal Silky Matte in Kinda Sexy is a neutral pinky rose with up to 12 hours of wear, and the formula has coconut oil, shea butter and cocoa butter. Westman Atelier Lip Suede in Je Reve is a matte with hyaluronic acid and meadowfoam extract. MAKEUP BY MARIO SuperSatin in South Shore is a cool pink nude with a soft sheen. Hourglass Unlocked Satin Creme in Oasis 312 is a neutral pink with a soft matte or satin finish.

For a lighter feel, MERIT Signature Lip in Baby is a neutral pink where one swipe gives a sheer finish and three swipes give rich color. YSL Lovenude Lip Blusher in 01 Undressed Pink is a warm pink nude with a balm-like texture. Pat McGrath Labs SatinAllure in Negligee is a neutral pink beige with a luminous, dewy finish. NARS Explicit Satin in Blame 829 is a refillable neutral pink.

A test: hold two pinks up beside your bare lip in daylight. The one that disappears into your natural color is your version of Pillow Talk.

What I would skip: a cool pink if your skin runs warm and looks tired in gray light. The warm pink nudes above are kinder.

Pink-nude lipsticks from other brands

Finding your own Pillow Talk

Choose the finish first, then the depth. Matte Revolution is the classic, the satin K.I.S.S.I.N.G is for anyone who likes a little shine, and the Happikiss balm is the easy everyday one. For depth, Pillow Talk is nude pink, Pillow Talk Medium is warm berry pink, and Pillow Talk Deep is berry rose. Add the liner if you want the color to stay put, and the gloss if you want an evening finish. If you want to try a neighbor, MAC Kinda Sexy or MERIT Baby are easy first swatches. I keep coming back to how simple the idea is: one pink nude, made in a range of depths so more people can wear it.