Lipstick is more than just a makeup staple—it’s a powerful tool that can elevate your look, boost your confidence, and express your personal style. With a spectrum of shades and finishes available, finding the perfect lipstick can seem overwhelming. The key lies in understanding your skin tone and undertone to select shades that complement and enhance your natural beauty.
Understanding Skin Tone vs. Undertone
Before diving into colors, it’s essential to differentiate between skin tone and undertone:
- Skin Tone: The surface color of your skin, ranging from fair to deep.
- Undertone: The subtle hue beneath the surface, categorized as warm, cool, or neutral. This remains consistent regardless of sun exposure or season.
How to Determine Your Undertone
Vein Test: Examine the veins on your wrist under natural light.
- Blue or purple veins indicate a cool undertone.
- Greenish veins suggest a warm undertone.
- If you can’t distinguish between blue or green, you likely have a neutral undertone.
Jewelry Test: Consider which metal flatters you more.
- Silver jewelry complements cool undertones.
- Gold jewelry enhances warm undertones.
- Both metals suit neutral undertones.
Sun Reaction:
- If you burn easily, you may have a cool undertone.
- If you tan easily, you likely have a warm undertone.
- If you burn then tan, you might have a neutral undertone.
Understanding your skin’s undertone is essential in finding lipstick shades that enhance your natural beauty.
Best Lipstick Shades for Your Undertone
Cool Undertones
If you have cool undertones with pink, red, or bluish hints in your skin, opt for lipsticks with blue or purple hues.
Recommended Shades:
- Soft Mauves
- Deep Berries
- Blue-based Reds
As makeup artist Sean Harris notes, opting for lipsticks with cool undertones like blue reds and deep plums flatters cool skin tones.
Shop Our Picks:
- Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Love Liberty (deep berry) – Buy here
- MAC Cosmetics Lipstick in Ruby Woo (blue-red) – Buy here
Warm Undertones
Warm undertones feature yellow, golden, or olive hues. Lipsticks with warm shades will illuminate your complexion.
Recommended Shades:
- Corals
- Strawberry Reds
- Terracotta Browns
According to makeup artist Manuel Espinoza, warm-toned lipsticks like warm reds, corals, and orange-based shades are ideal for warm undertones.
Shop Our Picks:
- Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Stoned Rose (coral) – Buy here
- NARS Lipstick in Heat Wave (orange-red) – Buy here
Neutral Undertones
Neutral undertones are a balanced mix of warm and cool. You can experiment with a wide array of colors.
Recommended Shades:
- Mauves
- Rosy Pinks
- Nudes
Neutral undertones offer versatility, allowing you to enjoy both warm and cool shades.
Shop Our Picks:
- YSL Rouge Volupté Shine in Nude Lavallière (mauve nude) – Buy here
- MAC Cosmetics Lipstick in Twig (soft brownish-pink) – Buy here
Additional Tips for Choosing Lipstick
Consider Your Skin Tone Depth
Your skin tone’s depth (fair, medium, deep) can influence how a lipstick shade appears.
- Fair Skin: Light shades like pale pinks, peaches, and nudes enhance natural beauty. For a bold look, try deep reds or berries.
- Medium Skin: Rich shades like mauves, deep berries, and reds complement your skin.
- Deep Skin: Vibrant colors like bold reds, dark berries, and deep plums look stunning.
Selecting a shade that complements both your skin tone and undertone is key for a flattering finish.
Test Before You Buy
- Try it On: Whenever possible, test the lipstick on your lips, not your hand, to see the true effect.
- Lighting Matters: Check the color in natural light to see its real appearance.
Lipstick Finishes Matter
- Matte: Offers bold color with a flat finish but can be drying.
- Satin/Cream: Balances color with a slight sheen, comfortable for daily wear.
- Glossy: Adds shine and makes lips appear fuller.
Hydrate Your Lips
Before applying lipstick, ensure your lips are moisturized.
- Use a lip scrub to exfoliate dead skin.
- Apply a hydrating lip balm or treatment.
Makeup artist Tamara Boyd recommends hydrating your lips to ensure the lipstick looks its best.
Embrace Personal Preference
While guidelines are helpful, the most important factor is how a lipstick makes you feel.
“Ultimately, personal preference and confidence in a shade should be the deciding factors in lipstick choice,” notes beauty experts. Don’t shy away from experimenting with colors outside the traditional recommendations if they make you feel fabulous.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the perfect lipstick shade involves a mix of understanding your skin’s undertone, experimenting with shades, and expressing your personal style. With this guide, you’re well-equipped to find lipsticks that not only complement your complexion but also make you feel confident and beautiful.
Remember, makeup is an art form—have fun with it!