Beauty Loreal 173 Lipstick Guide: How to Choose, Apply & Wear Today
An educational guide from the Beauty AMZ research team. No hard sell, just what you need to know.
Why Shade Numbers Differ by Region
Global brands number shades per market. European and US ranges often share formulas but not numbers. Shade 173 Nu Impertinent exists in the European Les Nus lineup. The US may sell the same tone under another name. This confuses shoppers who search by number alone. Always cross-check with shade names and swatches. Formula lines like Colour Riche stay consistent worldwide. The digit is just a local label. Verify the exact shade name at checkout to avoid a wrong-color surprise. Buy from sellers with strong ratings and clear return policies.
The Les Nus Philosophy
Les Nus means the nudes in French. The range focuses on bare-lip, natural tones. It targets the no-makeup makeup look. Shades enhance rather than transform the lips. The philosophy suits minimal routines and office wear. Each shade aims to look like your lips, better. That restraint is why the line has loyal fans. Store makeup away from heat and sunlight to keep formulas fresh. Check recent buyer reviews for real-world wear reports before you purchase. Keep your receipt until you confirm the shade suits you.
Finding Your Perfect Nude
The right nude matches your lip undertone, not your skin alone. Look at your bare lips in daylight. Pick a shade one tone deeper than your natural lip color. Too light looks washed out, too dark looks heavy. Warm undertones need peachy nudes, cool undertones need rosy nudes. Test on the lips, never just the hand. The perfect nude disappears into your face while adding polish. Moisturize before makeup for a base that grips color better. Build coverage in thin layers instead of one thick coat.
Creamy vs Matte Lipstick
Creamy lipsticks hydrate and feel comfortable. They suit dry lips and mature skin. Matte lipsticks last longer but can feel tight. Creamy formulas need more frequent reapplying. The satin finish of Colour Riche splits the difference. It looks polished without dryness. Choose creamy for comfort, matte for endurance. Work in thin layers and build slowly for the most natural result. Step back from the mirror to check overall balance. Good lighting matters more than expensive tools for application. Check recent buyer reviews for real-world wear reports before you purchase.
Lipstick Shopping Mistakes
Buying by number alone is the top mistake with global brands. Regional numbering misleads. Trusting brand swatches over buyer photos is another error. Screens distort color badly. Ignoring undertone leads to shades that clash. Match warm with warm, cool with cool. Skipping the return policy check risks a wrong shade you cannot return. Avoid dark rings by blending liner inward toward the lip center. Top sheer lipstick with gloss for extra shine and comfort. Layer balm under matte lipstick for comfort without losing color.
Recommended Products
These two verified Colour Riche shades give you the 173 nude family in tones you can actually buy today.
Best for: daily warm nude wear
L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Original Lipstick, Sunwash
- Creamy satin lipstick
- Warm nude shade
- Hydrating comfortable base
Pros
- Soft on dry lips
- Affordable drugstore price
Cons
- Needs reapplying
- Sheer on deep lips
Best for: evening berry looks
L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Original Lipstick, Sugar Plum
- Creamy satin lipstick
- Berry-plum shade
- Rich even pigment
Pros
- Flattering berry tone
- Affordable drugstore price
Cons
- Needs reapplying
- Transfers to cups
Ready to Choose?
See our top product picks for loreal 173 lipstick guide, or jump straight to the head-to-head comparison of the two most popular options.
Drugstore Versus Luxury Nudes: The Real Differentiators
Nobody compares drugstore and luxury nudes on actual performance metrics, so here is the honest breakdown. Pigment load: luxury nudes typically carry finer-milled, denser pigment, which means one-swipe opacity and more even fading; drugstore nudes like the L'Oreal Colour Riche shades on this page, Sunwash and Sugar Plum, often need a second layer for the same coverage. Undertone accuracy: luxury lines are more consistent tube to tube, while drugstore shades can vary slightly between batches, which matters for nude matching where a half-shade shift changes everything. Wear time: the gap is smaller than the price suggests, both survive roughly three to five hours without eating, and both surrender to oily food. Where luxury justifies itself: the comfort over hours, the packaging that does not break in a bag, and the shade range depth. The cost-per-wear math: a lipstick worn three times a week for a year costs about seventy-five cents per wear at luxury prices and under twenty cents drugstore. For daily nude wearers, the luxury tube earns its price in comfort; for occasional wear, drugstore wins. The main L'Oreal 173 page covers the shade specifics.
Longevity by Finish: Matte Versus Satin Versus Gloss Nudes
Finish predicts longevity better than price, and no competitor gives the per-finish breakdown. Matte nudes last longest, four to six hours without eating, but they fade from the center first, leaving the ring that needs a liner base to prevent. Satin nudes like the Colour Riche Original formula last three to four hours and fade the most gracefully, thinning evenly rather than patching, which makes them the best choice for long days without touch-ups. Gloss nudes make no longevity promises: two hours at most, but they reapply cleanly without building up, unlike mattes that cake on reapplication. The touch-up strategy follows the finish: mattes need blotting and full reapplication, satins need a single fresh layer, glosses need only a quick swipe. Eating resets all of them, but the recovery differs: a matte needs the full routine, while a satin or gloss recovers with one layer. The Les Nus philosophy behind shade 173 is a satin finish, which is the right call for a daily nude. For more L'Oreal nude options, the L'Oreal lip guide covers the range.