When it comes to buying lipstick, what sounds like an easy task can end up becoming daunting. You might go into a store with your mind focused on the exact color you want, but once you get to the makeup aisle, your head starts to spin at all the beautiful color options.
What color lipstick should I wear? What will look good with my skin?
As far as what shades will look good with your skin – that will take some thought, but it’s not as hard as you think. Below, we’ll give you the full breakdown on how to choose a lipstick color that will go perfectly with your tone. So, stick around and let’s dig in, love!
Figuring Out Your Undertone
Undertone and skin tone are two completely different things. By definition, skin tone is the depth of your skin (fair, medium, dark, and deep) and this can vary throughout the seasons of the year. Undertone, however, refers to the base of skin. This is how deep skin can be cool-toned and fair skin can be warm-toned.
Choosing a lipstick for your skin tone begins with first identifying your skin’s undertone. A majority of people fall into one of two categories: cool or warm. The third category is neutral, which is a mix of cool and warm.
Use the descriptions below to help you identify your undertone:
- Cool Undertones: If you have a bluish, red or pink hue to your skin, you are cool-toned. Additional hints that this is your undertone are if silver jewelry complements your skin, your wrist veins look blue, or your skin generally burns before it tans.
- Warm Undertones: If you have a golden, olive or yellow hue to your skin, you are warm-toned. Veins in warm-toned people generally appear green instead of blue and gold jewelry tends to complement this undertone more than silver. Warm-toned people also tan with ease.
- Neutral Undertones: If you have both yellow and pink in the base of your skin, you are neutral-toned. People who have this undertone look great with both gold and silver jewelry. Additionally, almost any color goes great with this tone, as well! This is the easiest category for which to choose foundations and lipsticks!
Cool Undertones
For those who are cool-toned, the best lipsticks tend to veer toward the purple- and blue-shaded undertones. For example, if you’re trying to choose a red color for your cool-toned skin, go for cherry reds, as these have blue hues in them. If you’re on the hunt for a nude lip look, opt for a pink, rosy nude or taupey beige. If you’re at a crossroads and just can’t choose a color, a color-tinted balm will always be a good choice that’ll help hydrate your lips, too.
Warm Undertones
When it comes to the best lipstick shades for warm undertones, it comes as no surprise that the best colors are warm shades. Consider oranges that are bold, school-brick reds, and even lovely coppers. If you’re feeling a nude look, a general guideline for choosing a nude color is to go with a shade that corresponds to your skin tone. For light skin tones, pale nude colors work well while richer nudes will lend themselves better to deeper skin tones.
Neutral Undertones
If you have a neutral undertone, you have the luck of the draw. This undertone lends itself to a variety of colors and shades. Not only does both gold and silver jewelry complement this undertone, but so does a variety of lipstick colors, from deep wines to light nudes.
Check out the short guide below for hues to look for depending on your skin type:
- Fair Skin: Pink hues
- Medium Skin: Shades of mauve
- Deep Skin: Beautiful berry colors
Final Takeaway
Finding the ideal shades for your skin tone can be overwhelming if you don’t know your undertone. Once you understand what colors go best with your specific undertone, it’s easy sailing from there! Keep in mind: cool lipsticks work great for those who are cool-toned, warm shades flatter warm undertones, and neutral-toned people can go either way.
When the day is done and you’re ready to remove the rockin’ color you chose, be sure to follow these 5 easy steps to remove lipstick. Above all – don’t forget to have fun with the lipstick color you choose.
