How to Find the Best Lipstick for Your Skin Tone

With so many different undertones, formulas, and finishes, finding a new lipstick can be incredibly overwhelming. You can come into the cosmetics store knowing exactly what color of lipstick you want, only to find yourself totally lost among the eclectic variety of nudes, pinks, reds — and everything in between. But choosing a lipstick shade for your skin tone doesn’t have to be complicated. You really just have to know one thing: your skin’s undertone. (This comes in handy when choosing a foundation, too.)

Not to be confused with your skin tone, which is the depth of your skin and can range from fair, medium, and dark, your undertone is the natural underlying color of your skin that affects your overall hue. You can fall into one of three categories: cool, warm, or neutral.

There are three simple ways to identify your undertone: you can look at the color of your veins, notice how your skin reacts to the sun, or see what color of jewelry looks more flattering on your complexion.

Whether you want to buy a liquid lipstick or tinted lip balm, knowing your undertone will make it super easy to choose the right lip color for your skin tone.

If you want to choose the best lipstick color for your skin tone, then keep reading. In this article, we’ll show you how to identify your undertone and list the best lipstick shades for your skin tone.

How to Identify Your Undertone

1. Look at the Color of Your Veins

Take a look at your wrist and observe what colors your veins are. Blue or purple veins mean a cool undertone, whereas green veins indicate a warm undertone. If you have a fair amount of blue, purple, and green, then you most likely have a neutral undertone.

2. Notice How Your Skin Reacts to Sun Exposure

When you’re under the sun, is your skin more likely to tan or burn? If your skin tans easily, that’s usually an indication of warm undertones. If you burn easily, then your undertone is cool.

3. Try on Gold and Silver Jewelry

Seeing which metal looks more flattering on your skin tone can help you determine your undertone. Gold jewelry complements warm skin tones, while silver jewelry complements cool skin tones. If both gold and silver work, then you probably have a neutral skin tone.

Best Lipstick Colors for Cool Undertones

Cool skin tones can have blue, pink, or red in the base of your skin. The best lipsticks for your skin tone are shades with blue or purple tones (not to be confused with actual blue and purple lipsticks, though that would look just as stunning.)

For the perfect nude lip, opt for cool-toned shades like mauve or taupe. Avoid lipsticks with peach or coral undertones, as these can clash with your undertones and wash you out.

If you want to find the perfect red lipstick for your skin tone, go for cool-toned reds, as opposed to orange-based ones. Bright red shades with a blue undertone (think: raspberry and cherry red) will perfectly complement your skin’s cooler tones while making your teeth appear whiter. Best of all, they look just as stunning on fair skin as they do on deep skin. Darker shades of red like deep plum and burgundy

For a statement lip, go with cool-toned purples. Lighter shades like lilac and lavender look amazing on fair skin. Deeper shades of purple lipstick, such as plum and indigo look stunning on darker skin tones.

Best Lipstick Colors for Warm Undertones

Warm skin can have peachy, yellow, or golden undertones. The best lip color for warm undertones is any shade of lipstick with warm tones, such as orange, red, and brown.

If you’re looking for the perfect nude lipstick, the key is to match the lipstick shade to your natural lip color. Those with fair or light skin should go for lighter shades like pink or peach, whereas those with medium skin can opt for beige and rose. As for those with dark skin, you have a lot of room to play with rich nude shades ranging from dark caramel to chocolate.

For a bold lip shade, go for fiery reds, bright oranges, or vivid pinks. And if you really want to stand out, metallic lipstick shades like copper, bronze, and gold have a reflective finish that is perfect for a statement lip.

Best Lipstick Colors for Neutral Undertones

Neutral skin tones have a mix of pink and yellow undertones that work well with a wide spectrum of colors. In other words, you can pull off any lip color! So choosing the right lipstick shade is a matter of deciding what kind of look you want to go for.

A nude lipstick with a shimmery finish and gold tones will bring a warm glow to your complexion, while a cool nude color will subtly enhance your natural lip color. Just be sure to choose a nude shade that’s dark enough to stand out against your complexion. Otherwise, you might look washed out if it’s too close to your skin color. Go for light pink hues if you have light skin, mauve shades for medium skin, and brown shades for dark skin.

Reds are notoriously difficult to get right, but this isn’t really a problem if you have a neutral skin undertone. For the summertime, opt for a vibrant orangey-red lipstick to complement your tan skin. You can switch it out for a red shade with blue or purple undertones during the cooler months.

For something darker, go for lip colors with reddish-purple undertones or red-based browns. Plum colors with a matte finish are a great choice for an autumn or winter lipstick shade.

source https://degreesofvanity.com/how-to-find-the-best-lipstick-for-your-skin-tone/