Mixing Colors for Nude Lip Gloss/Lipstick

Creating your own custom nude shades for lip gloss or lipstick is a great way to get exactly the color you want! Based on the staff's initial advice and common color mixing principles, here's how you can approach mixing nude pink and nude orange tones using the colors available.

To achieve a "nude" shade, which is typically softer and less vibrant than pure colors, you often need to incorporate white or brown pigments to tone down the brightness.

Nude Orange

Start with the staff's suggestion:

• Mix D&C Red No.6 Lake EasyMix™ (India) (as your red) and FD&C Yellow No.5 Lake EasyMix™ (as your yellow). This will give you an orange base.

To make this orange a "nude orange," you will need to soften it. You can do this by adding:

• ReadyMix™ White (Cyclopentasiloxane Based): Add a small amount of white to lighten the orange and make it softer and more pastel-like.
• Iron Oxides Brown (non-coated): Add a tiny amount of brown to give the orange a more muted, earthy, or brownish tone, which is characteristic of many nude shades.

Experiment with the ratios of white and brown added to your red/yellow mix until you achieve the desired nude orange depth and tone.

Nude Pink (like Revlon Mauve it Over)

Revlon's Mauve it Over is often described as a pinky-brown or dusty rose nude. To recreate a similar tone, you'll need red, white, and crucially, brown.

• Start with D&C Red No.6 Lake EasyMix™ (India) (your red) and ReadyMix™ White (Cyclopentasiloxane Based) (your white). Mix these to create a basic pink shade.
• Gradually add Iron Oxides Brown (non-coated) to this pink base. The brown pigment will transform the bright pink into a more muted, brownish-pink or mauve nude tone.

The amount of brown needed will depend on how deep or brown you want the nude pink to be. Start with a very small amount and add more gradually, mixing thoroughly each time, until you match the desired shade.

General Tips for Mixing

• Start Small: Always mix a small test batch first before committing to a larger quantity.
• Record Ratios: Keep track of the approximate ratios of each color you use so you can replicate the shade later.
• Mix Thoroughly: Ensure the pigments are fully dispersed in your lip gloss or lipstick base for an even color.
• Adjust Gradually: Add white or brown pigments in tiny increments, as they can change the color dramatically very quickly.

By using D&C Red No.6 Lake EasyMix™ (India), FD&C Yellow No.5 Lake EasyMix™, ReadyMix™ White (Cyclopentasiloxane Based), and Iron Oxides Brown (non-coated), you have the basic building blocks to create a range of nude orange and nude pink shades. Happy mixing!