Published on October 29, 2024 by Yidan Zhong

Finding the right lipstick color can elevate your look, highlight your best features, and boost your confidence. The perfect shade should complement your unique skin tone and undertone, adding harmony to your overall appearance. Here’s a guide on choosing the ideal lipstick based on your skin tone, helping you to achieve a flawless look every time.

1. Understanding Skin Tone and Undertone

Before selecting a lipstick, it’s essential to understand two things about your skin: your skin tone and undertone.

Skin Tone refers to the color of your skin’s surface and generally falls into categories like fair, light, medium, tan, or deep. Knowing your tone helps narrow down shades that naturally flatter your complexion.

Undertone is the subtle hue beneath your skin’s surface, which can significantly influence how colors appear on you. There are three main undertones:

Cool Undertones: Pink, red, or bluish undertones.

Warm Undertones: Yellow, golden, or peachy undertones.

Neutral Undertones: A balance of both cool and warm tones.

A simple trick to determine your undertone is to look at your veins. If your veins appear blue or purple, you likely have a cool undertone. If they look greenish, you probably have a warm undertone. If you can’t easily determine their color, you may have a neutral undertone.

2.Matching Lipstick Shades to Your Undertones

Now that you know your undertone, choosing a shade becomes much easier. Different shades complement each undertone uniquely, so here’s how to match lipstick colors based on your skin’s natural hues.

Cool Undertones: For cool undertones, opt for colors with blue or purple undertones. Think berry shades, mauves, and cool reds. Light pinks can give fairer cool-toned skin a fresh look, while deeper wines and plum tones add sophistication to medium and deep cool-toned skin.

Warm Undertones: Warm undertones glow in lipsticks with orange, red, or golden hues. Coral shades, peaches, and warm nudes bring out the natural warmth in lighter skin tones, while rich brick reds and warm browns enhance medium to deep warm-toned skin. These shades play beautifully with the golden and peachy tones in your skin.

Neutral Undertones: Neutral undertones have the advantage of being versatile. Many shades, from rosy pinks to deep nudes, look natural on this skin type. Neutral undertones look lovely in both pink-based nudes and warm-toned corals. Medium skin tones can experiment with shades from rose to berry, while deeper skin tones with neutral undertones shine in dark, rich hues like burgundy or chocolate.

Selecting colors that align with your undertone gives you a polished look, and it can enhance both casual and dramatic makeup styles.

3. Finding Your Ideal Lip Shade

Now that you have an idea of which colors align with your undertone, it’s time to experiment with different shades and finishes. Here’s how you can further refine your choice to find your ideal lip color.

Consider the Occasion and Style: Bold reds and berry tones make a statement, ideal for special occasions or evening wear. For everyday looks, subtle nudes, soft pinks, and warm browns are more versatile and easier to style.

Try Different Finishes: The finish of a lipstick affects its appearance and wearability. For a long-lasting, dramatic look, go for a matte lipstick, which provides a rich, opaque finish that works beautifully in bold shades. A satin finish adds a bit of sheen, creating a softer, more natural look ideal for day-to-day wear. Glossy lipsticks or tinted glosses are fantastic for adding volume and dimension to the lips, making them look fuller and more hydrated.

Experiment with Layering: Mixing and layering lipstick colors is a great way to create your unique shade. Start with a base color that suits your undertone, then layer a slightly different shade or a tinted gloss over it. Using a lip liner to outline or shade in your lips can also enhance the color and give the illusion of fuller lips.

Stay True to Your Preferences: While these guidelines are helpful, the best lipstick is ultimately the one that makes you feel confident. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try new colors! Sometimes, a daring shade outside your usual palette can become your new favorite.

With these tips in mind, you’re ready to find the perfect lipstick that complements your skin tone. Whether you’re drawn to bold reds or soft nudes, the key is to choose shades that highlight your natural beauty and make you feel great. Experiment with a few colors to see what you love most, and enjoy discovering the shades that bring out your best.