Learn how to choose lipstick shades for your skin tone and undertone, with practical tips for finding flattering nudes, pinks, reds, and berry shades.
Finding a lipstick shade that suits you involves more than matching your skin tone. Your undertone, natural lip color, and the depth and finish of a lipstick can all affect how it looks on your lips. A shade that looks flattering in the packaging may appear different when applied, so understanding these factors can help you choose colors you enjoy wearing, from everyday nudes and soft pinks to classic reds and deeper berry shades.
What’s the Difference Between Skin Tone and Undertone?
Your skin tone describes how light or deep your complexion is. It is often described as fair, light, medium, tan, or deep. Your undertone refers to the subtle color cast beneath the surface of your skin and is commonly described as warm, cool, neutral, or olive.
These are two different characteristics. For example, someone with fair skin can have a warm undertone, while someone with deep skin can have a cool undertone.
Both can be useful when choosing lipstick. Undertone can help you compare the warmth or coolness of a color, while skin depth can help you decide how light, dark, or intense you want the shade to appear.
Not sure about your undertone? Read our guide on how to find your skin undertone before choosing your lipstick shades.
How to Identify Your Skin Undertone
You do not need to identify your undertone perfectly before shopping for lipstick. A few observations can help you get a general idea.
Look at Your Skin in Natural Light
In indirect daylight, notice whether your complexion appears more golden or peachy, pink or rosy, or somewhere between the two. Warm undertones often have golden or yellowish qualities, while cool undertones may appear pinker or rosier. Neutral undertones can show a balance of both.
Olive undertones may have a muted greenish or grayish cast, sometimes alongside golden tones. Surface redness alone does not necessarily indicate a cool undertone.
Compare Gold and Silver Jewelry
Hold gold and silver jewelry near your face in natural light. Notice whether one seems to complement your complexion more naturally. Gold may look harmonious with warm undertones, while silver may complement cool undertones. If both work well, you may have a neutral undertone.
This is a general styling clue rather than a definitive test.
Compare Warm and Cool Clothing Colors
Try holding warm cream, camel, or peach fabric near your face, followed by cool pink or blue-toned colors. Notice which shades make your overall coloring appear more balanced to you.
Use these observations together rather than relying on a single test. If the results are mixed, you do not need to force your complexion into one category.
How to Choose Lipstick Shades for Your Skin Tone
Once you have a general idea of your skin tone and undertone, consider the following factors when comparing lipsticks.
- Start with the color you want to wear. Decide whether you are looking for a nude, pink, red, berry, or brown lipstick. This gives you a starting point without limiting you to one color family.
- Consider your undertone. Look at the underlying color of each lipstick. A pink may lean peachy, blue, or purple, while a red may lean orange or blue. These differences can influence how the shade looks against your complexion.
- Think about your skin depth. Consider how much contrast you want. Soft pinks, peachy nudes, and lighter reds can create a subtle look on fair or light skin. Medium skin can work well with rose, mauve, and richer coral shades, while bright reds and fuchsias can stand out against deep skin. Deep berries and browns offer another option for a more understated look. These are suggestions rather than strict rules; the depth of the lipstick also affects the result.
- Pay attention to your natural lip color. Your natural lip pigmentation can change how a lipstick looks once applied. A nude may appear pinker, browner, or paler than it does in the tube, while sheer lipsticks, tinted balms, and glosses allow more of your natural lip color to show through.
- Consider the finish and intensity. Sheer formulas give a softer wash of color, while highly pigmented matte lipsticks create a more defined look. Satin and glossy finishes offer different levels of shine, so consider the effect you prefer as well as the color itself.
- Compare shades in natural light. If possible, swatch a few similar colors side by side and compare their warmth, depth, and intensity. Check how each looks against your skin and natural lip color rather than relying only on product photographs or the shade shown in the packaging.
Best Lipstick Colors for Warm Undertones
Warm undertones often pair well with lipstick shades that have peach, coral, orange, or golden-brown elements.
Colors to explore include:
- Peachy nude: A soft option for everyday makeup.
- Warm rose: A pink shade with a slightly warmer character.
- Coral: A brighter option for a fresh, colorful look.
- Brick red: A red with brown or orange tones.
- Terracotta: A muted reddish-brown.
- Caramel brown: A deeper nude option, depending on your natural lip color.
If a nude looks too pale, try a shade with more depth or a hint of peach, pink, or brown.
Best Lipstick Colors for Cool Undertones
Cool undertones may pair well with lipstick shades that contain blue, violet, or cool pink elements.
Consider trying:
- Cool pink: A fresh option for understated makeup.
- Rose pink: A versatile shade for everyday wear.
- Berry: A deeper color with red, purple, or blue tones.
- Blue-red: A classic red with a cooler appearance.
- Mauve: A muted pink-purple shade.
- Plum: A deeper option for evening makeup.
If a shade feels too bright, a softer or more muted version of the same color family may be easier to wear.
Best Lipstick Colors for Neutral Undertones
Neutral undertones can work with a broad range of lipstick colors, including both warm and cool shades.
Options to explore include:
- Balanced rose: A natural-looking everyday shade.
- Pink-beige nude: A subtle option for understated makeup.
- Classic red: A versatile choice that does not lean strongly orange or blue.
- Rosewood: A muted pink-brown.
- Soft berry: A deeper color that adds definition.
Your undertone is only one factor, so consider the shade’s depth and intensity as well.
Best Lipstick Colors for Olive Undertones
Olive undertones can have golden, greenish, or muted qualities, which may make some lipstick shades appear different than expected. A pink lipstick, for example, may look more purple or muted on one person than on another.
Colors worth exploring include:
- Muted rose: A softer pink with a subdued appearance.
- Rosewood: A pink-brown shade.
- Terracotta: A muted reddish-brown.
- Brown-based nude: An option for a more understated lip.
- Warm berry: A deeper shade that adds color without relying on bright pink tones.
These are starting points rather than strict rules. Skin depth and natural lip pigmentation can influence which shades work best for you.
How to Choose a Nude Lipstick
Nude lipstick is not one universal color. The right shade depends on your complexion, natural lip color, and the effect you want.
When comparing nudes, try a shade close to your natural lip color, one slightly lighter, and one a little deeper. Look at whether each appears balanced against your complexion.
You can also compare the color base. A nude may lean peach, pink, beige, or brown, and each can create a different look. If a shade makes your lips appear washed out, a deeper or more saturated version may be worth trying.
Should Your Lipstick Match Your Skin Tone?
Your skin tone and undertone can help you narrow down your options, but they do not need to dictate every lipstick you wear. You may prefer a bold contrast, a bright pink outside your usual color range, or a red that simply suits your personal style.
Use color recommendations as a starting point, then choose shades that give you the look you want.
Final Thoughts
Choosing lipstick is easier when you consider both your skin depth and undertone. These details can help you compare color families, but your natural lip color, preferred finish, and personal style also matter. Experiment with different shades to find the ones you enjoy wearing.
Disclaimer: Lipstick shades can look different depending on your natural lip color, skin tone, lighting, and product formula. The suggestions in this article are general beauty tips, not strict rules. Choose the shades that suit your personal style and preferences.
Written by Pure as Beauty