Wine, Brick, Nude: A Guide to Autumn Lipstick Shades

Autumn Lips: Why Cooler Days Call for Richer Shades

As the morning air cools and knitwear, coats, and scarves in earthy tones return to our wardrobes, we subtly change what we reach for in our makeup bags. The fresh coral and light pink shades that complemented tanned skin and bright sunshine in the summer suddenly seem less natural. This shift towards deeper and warmer lip colors in autumn isn't just a fashion dictate—there are quite practical reasons behind it.

Autumn daylight is softer, the skin gradually loses its summer tan, and clothing transitions to more muted, richer tones. In such moments, bolder lips add contrast to the face and connect the makeup with the colors of the fabrics—burgundy pairs with a wine-colored sweater, brick with a camel coat, and richer nude with beige and gray. Cooler days also invite coziness, and a deeper lip shade naturally enhances this feeling without having to change your entire makeup look.

In this guide, we'll focus on three autumn trends that return in various forms every year:

• Burgundy – Deep berry and burgundy tones for moments when you want your lips to be the focal point of your makeup.
• Brick – Warm, slightly earthy shades on the border between red and brown that are striking yet casual.
• Nude – Beige and pink-beige tones that are slightly richer than in summer, suitable for everyday wear and the office.

The selection we'll be working from includes lipsticks and glosses from four brands: Dermacol, Maybelline, Lancôme, and Clarins. Dermacol and Maybelline represent the mid-price range, offering long-lasting formulas and glossy lip oils. Lancôme and Clarins belong to the luxury price range, offering creamy lipsticks and delicate glosses. Whether you're looking for an everyday lipstick or something special for the evening, these brands offer a variety of options across prices and textures.

A practical note right from the start: the shade range of each line varies, and not every lipstick is available in all three autumn trends. Always check the specific color against the shade chart in the product details. We'll gradually explore what distinguishes each trend, how to match the shade with your skin tone, and what to expect from each texture—and at the end, you'll find a specific tip that suits your complexion, style, and occasion.

Burgundy, Brick, Nude – Three Autumn Trends and Their Character

Each of the three autumn trends speaks a different language. It's not just about the shade you choose, but more importantly, the mood your lips bring to the entire look. Whether you're looking for a color for a festive evening or a regular workday, knowing what each trend offers and suits can help.

Burgundy – Elegance with an Evening Mood. Deep tones of red wine, blackberries, or plums exude elegance and confidence. Burgundy lips naturally belong to evening occasions, like theater or a formal dinner, but in a softer version, you can wear them during the day. If you're just starting to explore burgundy, try the Dermacol Diamond Lip Oil in the berry shade Berry Bloom, which gives your lips a hint of dark fruit and provides a gentle introduction to the world of rich autumn colors.

Brick – Warmth and Earthiness. Brick, terracotta, and rusty brown-red remind us of fallen leaves and autumn landscapes. They feel warm, earthy, and relaxed – bold yet less formal than burgundy. They pair well with knitted sweaters, mustard and brown tones in your wardrobe, and a weekend walk in the park. You can find brick tones in the long-lasting ranges of Dermacol 16H Lip Colour and Maybelline Superstay, which offer a wide range of colors. The selection of shades varies and changes over time, so we recommend checking the shade chart in the product details before choosing.

Nude – A Subtle Choice for Every Day. Nude shades are the quietest of the trio. Beige, caramel, and earthy pink tones unify and refine the lips without drawing attention, making them suitable for the office, a business meeting, or the weekend. In autumn, it's worth opting for a nude that's a bit warmer or richer than in summer, so your face doesn't look tired in the greyer daylight. From the catalog, consider Lancôme L'Absolu Rouge Cream in shades 217 Nude Shot and 202 Beige Boost – two options of nude tones for everyday makeup.

How to Match Lips with the Rest of Your Autumn Makeup

Rich autumn lips have one pitfall: when paired with equally bold eyes, blush, and bronzer, the face can look overloaded. A few simple rules can help.

• One Main Accent. When choosing burgundy, keep the eyes more understated – just mascara and softly shaded lids in brown or taupe tones. Bold smoky eyes along with dark lips can easily create a too-heavy impression.
• Warm with Warm. Brick lips pair well with bronze, copper, and caramel eyeshadows. The overall look feels unified and autumnal.
• Nude Gives Space to the Eyes. Subtle lips are a great opportunity for bolder eyeliner or smoky makeup. To avoid a pale look, complement with a gentle blush.
• Blush as a Bridge. Choose the blush shade in the same color temperature as the lips – for burgundy, opt for pinkish plum tones, for brick, peach and terracotta.

With darker shades, you'll also appreciate a lip liner in a similar tone to the lipstick. It helps maintain a clean outline, so even rich burgundy or brick colors look neat and precise.

Light or Darker Skin? Autumn Shades According to Undertone

The same lipstick can look completely different on two women. It's not just about whether your skin is light or darker, but primarily about its undertone – a subtle hue that shines through beneath the skin's surface and doesn't change even after a summer in the sun. Once you identify it, choosing an autumn shade becomes much simpler.

How to Determine Your Undertone at Home

A makeup artist can pinpoint it exactly, but you can make a rough estimate yourself by a window with natural light:

• Veins on the Wrist: If they appear more greenish, you likely have a warm undertone; blue to purple suggests a cool undertone.
• Jewelry: If gold flatters you more, it indicates a warm undertone; if silver, then a cool one.
• White or Cream: A pure white shirt near your face usually suits a cool undertone, while cream and beige tones flatter a warm one.

If no test gives a clear answer, you might have a neutral undertone – and that's good news, as both directions generally suit you.

Light Skin: Subtlety Over Contrast

Very dark shades can stand out on light skin, and any imprecision in the lip line is immediately noticeable. For everyday wear, softer nude and pink-brown tones might suit you better. For a cool undertone, Clarins Lip Perfector 19 Intense Smoky Rose can work well, with its smoky rose adding autumn depth to lips without harsh contrast. Similarly, Dermacol Diamond Lip Oil 05 Rose Flame leans towards a pink tone, but it's best to check the exact shade on the product detail swatch.

A warm undertone on light skin is usually flattered by beige and caramel nudes. Consider the creamy lipstick Lancôme L'Absolu Rouge Cream 202 Beige Boost or the gloss Clarins Lip Perfector 07 Toffee Pink Shimmer, which combines a caramel hint with pink and a gentle shimmer.

Darker Skin: Room for Richness

Darker skin can generally carry much richer colors, while very light nudes might appear ashy. For a cool undertone, berry and wine shades are worth trying – such as Dermacol Diamond Lip Oil 06 Berry Bloom, which relies on the tone of ripe berries.

A warm undertone on darker skin usually pairs well with deep brick, terracotta, and cinnamon tones. Look for specific brick shades in broader ranges like Maybelline Superstay Vinyl Ink or Dermacol 16H Lip Colour. The shade offerings differ across ranges, so we recommend comparing swatches in the product detail. If you want to stick with nude, try Lancôme L'Absolu Rouge Cream 217 Nude Shot – the swatch will again indicate if it's deep enough for your skin.

Undertone Isn't the Only Guide

Consider these recommendations as a starting point, not a strict rule. Lip color perception is also influenced by hair and eye color: copper hair or warm brown eyes can enhance warm tones, while dark hair combined with light eyes often highlights cooler wines. Lighting also plays a role – a shade that seems subtle indoors may appear more vibrant outside. If possible, test lipstick in natural light and assess the result with your entire face, not just your lips in a compact mirror.

Creamy or Long-lasting? How Lipstick and Gloss Textures Differ

The same shade can look completely different on your lips depending on the texture you apply it in. A creamy lipstick softens the color and gives it a satin shine, oil or gloss makes it more translucent, and a long-lasting formula "locks" it in place. To fairly compare the textures, we'll look at the same four properties for each – coverage, shine, feel on the lips, and longevity. For longevity, we stick to what the manufacturer states; the actual result is always influenced by eating, drinking, and how prepared your lips are.

Creamy texture is the choice for those who want bold color and comfort. A typical example is Lancôme L'Absolu Rouge Cream, for instance, in shades 217 Nude Shot or 202 Beige Boost.

• Coverage: medium to full, you can layer the color depending on how bold an effect you want.
• Shine: gentle satin, lips don't look flat or wet.
• Feel on the lips: soft and flexible, the lipstick applies smoothly and is usually comfortable to wear even throughout a long day.
• Longevity: rather short – expect to reapply after eating or drinking.

Creamy lipstick is suitable for the office, meetings, or dinner, anywhere you have it on hand and don't mind touching it up during the day.

Light glossy textures sit between care and color. Clarins Lip Perfector (for example, 07 Toffee Pink Shimmer) and Dermacol Diamond Lip Oil (like 05 Rose Flame) give lips shine and a subtle hint of color.

• Coverage: sheer to light, the shade tends to tint rather than cover the lips.
• Shine: pronounced, reflects light, making the lips appear fuller.
• Feel on the lips: light and gliding, without a tight feeling.
• Longevity: the shortest of all three groups, the gloss needs to be reapplied throughout the day.

Glosses and oils are perfect for weekends, travel, or days when you want to highlight rather than fully color your lips. You can also apply them over creamy lipstick if you want to refresh the color with some shine.

Long-lasting formulas are for days when there's no time to reapply lipstick. These include Dermacol 16H Lip Colour, which boasts long wear right in its name, as well as Maybelline Superstay Vinyl Ink with a glossy vinyl finish and Maybelline Superstay Teddy Tint, a light tint with a slightly matte effect.

• Coverage: from full in liquid lipsticks to lighter, buildable coverage in tints.
• Shine: varies by range – Vinyl Ink is glossy, Teddy Tint is more matte.
• Feel on the lips: light after drying, but less "creamy"; it's good to prep your lips with balm beforehand.
• Longevity: the longest of the three groups; specific details can be found in the manufacturer's description for each product.

You'll appreciate long-lasting lipsticks for all-day events, weddings, theater, or parties where you don't want to worry about whether the color stays put. Be precise when applying – once dry, correcting an uneven line is harder than with creamy lipstick. For removal, a two-phase makeup remover or oil-based care is worth it.

The shade selection varies across different ranges, and not every texture is available in all autumn tones. If you're looking for a specific burgundy, brick, or nude variant, check the shade chart in the product details – it's the best way to see how the color looks in the given texture.

Our Autumn Picks: Lipsticks and Glosses for Day and Night

If you're looking to select a few autumn shades that will cover a typical workweek and a Saturday dinner, it's helpful to categorize your choices by occasion. Below, you'll find tips from the Brasty catalog arranged by when you're most likely to use them, along with a verbal description of the price range—from mid-range brands like Dermacol and Maybelline to luxury lines like Lancôme and Clarins.

For Every Day

For regular days, nude shades and light glosses are ideal as they enhance your lips without requiring a mirror check after every coffee.

• Lancôme L'Absolu Rouge Cream 217 Nude Shot – a nude shade that evens out lip color and gives a polished look without drawing attention. Falls into the luxury price range.
• Clarins Lip Perfector 07 Toffee Pink Shimmer – a gloss with a subtle shimmer in a caramel pink tone for days when you want just a hint of color. Also in the luxury price range.
• Dermacol Diamond Lip Oil 05 Rose Flame – a lip oil with a pink tint that's easy to apply even without a mirror. Mid-range price level.

For Work

In the office, you'll appreciate a shade that lasts through meetings and lunch while maintaining a calm appearance. Consider a subtle nude or brick direction—warm enough to feel autumnal, yet civil enough for a work environment.

• Lancôme L'Absolu Rouge Cream 202 Beige Boost – a beige nude shade for a polished, understated look suitable for meetings and appointments. Luxury price range.
• Maybelline Superstay Vinyl Ink and Dermacol 16H Lip Colour – lines labeled as long-lasting by manufacturers, in the mid-range price level. Ideal for days when you don't have time to touch up your makeup. The shade offerings differ between the two lines, so if you're specifically looking for a brick tone, check the color swatch in the product details.

For Evening

In the evening, you can opt for richer berry tones or smoky shades that look elegant in dim lighting and pair well with darker eye makeup.

• Dermacol Diamond Lip Oil 06 Berry Bloom – a berry shade with gloss that fits into the berry direction and is suitable even for those who are a bit hesitant about darker lips. Mid-range price level.
• Clarins Lip Perfector 19 Intense Smoky Rose – a more intense smoky pink tone for evening makeup, which can be layered depending on how bold you want the color to be. Luxury price range.

If you're just experimenting with autumn shades, it makes sense to start with mid-range brands like Dermacol and Maybelline—this way, you can more easily find out which of the three directions suits you. You can turn to luxury lines like Lancôme and Clarins once you know what you're looking for and want a shade you'll return to throughout the season.

All mentioned lipsticks and glosses can be found in the product block below. When choosing, it's worth considering when you'll be wearing the lips most often—and when in doubt between two shades, it's often more practical to choose the one that matches most of your wardrobe.