Should you match your lipstick to your nipples to find the perfect shade?

Finding the perfect lipstick shade is often a long (and expensive) beauty road. There’s literally thousands to choose from in varying tones, tints and finishes. Not to mention price-point, ranging from the affordable chemist lines to the luxe designer cosmetics counter. But if you’re still on the hunt for a flattering nude—there might be a foolproof, and rather accessible, way to determine your best lip fit. Apparently, all it takes is a quick (or long) nipple check.

The latest makeup trend to circulate the Gen Z zeitgeist has seen TikTokers and Instagramers literally match their lip to their nips. Now we all know how saturated social media is with said beauty hacks—from “slugging” to using lube as a primer (yes, really)—but both makeup artists and medical professionals alike deem this one a goodie for 2023. But like most things, there’s a catch—and it’s not hard to guess.

BAZAAR breaks down the latest beauty trend to sweep the internet, which will get you almost ASAP comparing your girls to your current lipsticks (or is that just me with Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillowtalk?). 

Is nipple colour related to lipstick colour?

It sure is! Back in 2017, experts on The Doctors, a daytime medical-related talk show on America’s NBC, claimed the best natural lipstick is one which matches the colour of your areolas. Turns out your top lip is the same shade as your nips. “Nature knows best,” quipped the doctors. That may be so…but what do the cosmetic queens have to say?

Alexis Oakley, a celebrity makeup artist who has worked with Kris Jenner, Demi Lovato, and more, previously told POPSUGAR that yes, this fabled beauty theory is indeed a “fact.”

“Generally, your natural lip shade is the same colour as your nipple. If you are using this method to search for a nude lipstick, it will give your the perfect nude lip for your skin tone.”

Since the nipple/lip hack has made the TikTok rounds, there’s been a reported spike in “nipple shade” lipsticks. Melody Livingstone, CEO of Australian natural skincare brand MooGoo, told the Daily Mail that their “most nipple-like” shades, Chia Seeds, Maca Nude, Cacao Shake, and Guava Pink are soaring off the shelves.

“It’s the softer colours that match the body that are hugely popular right now,” MooGoo CEO Melody Livingstone said. “We’ve completely sold out of our two ‘most nipple-like’ shades. We sell one lipstick almost every hour and our Chia Seed vegan lipstick is our third most popular product.” 

Do your nipples change colour?

Before you commit to just one nude lipstick for the rest of your life, word of caution: your nipples do naturally change colour over time. This can be due to different biological events in someone’s life, such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, breast surgery and other hormonal changes such as menopause. Nothing to be concerned about as the colour change is generally temporary, with your nipples likely to lighten again after the normal body changes have occurred.

But if you notice any abnormal changes in your nipples or breasts, always best to consult a medical professional for an examination. 

So, how does the nipple match hack work?

It’s definitely as easy as taking a long, hard peek at your nipples while online shopping. But in the ‘real world’ it’s definitely more difficult to suss and sample without flashing yourself in Mecca. While theoretically you could take a snap of your girls to compare lipstick shades, perhaps avoid fact-checking with the sales team. In the end though, you do you.

This piece originally appeared in Harper's Bazaar Australia.