How to Select the Right Lipstick Shade for You

With so many choices of lipstick types—matte, glossy, and liquid—browsing the beauty aisle can become overwhelming. This guide will help you pick the ideal lipstick shade that complements your skin tone, outfit, and the occasion.

Examine your skin under natural light to assess your skin tone: fair, light, medium, tan, dark. Focus on the skin around your jawline.

• Fair: Your skin is very pale or light with a tendency to burn, with freckles or redness.
• Light: Your skin is light in color and tans slightly when exposed to sunlight.
• Medium: Your skin tans easily, and is generally not sensitive or prone to burning.
• Tan: Your skin has a warm, sun-kissed, or light brown tone. You rarely burn and maintain a tan even in winter.
• Dark: Your skin is deep in tone and never burns. Your hair might be black or dark brown.

Observe the color of the veins on your wrist. This is a quick way to determine if your skin tone is warm, neutral, or cool.

• Blue or purple veins indicate a cool skin tone.
• Green veins suggest a warm skin tone.
• If you're unable to determine whether your veins are blue or green, you likely have a neutral skin tone, which allows you to choose from both warm and cool shades. People with light yellowish-brown skin often have a neutral tone.

Consider how your skin reacts to the sun: Does your skin tan easily or burn?

• Skin that tans easily contains more melanin and has a warm tone. Most African American and Native American women have this skin tone.
• If you burn before tanning (and may not even tan), your skin contains less melanin and has a cool tone. Those with deep ebony skin may fall into this category.

Try on gold and silver jewelry. Which one suits you better?

• Gold jewelry complements warm skin tones.
• Silver jewelry works well with cool skin tones.
• Both gold and silver suit neutral skin tones.
• This can be a helpful tip if you're unsure about your exact skin tone based on the criteria above.

Select a lipstick shade that is one or two shades darker than your natural lip color.

• To find the closest match to your lip tone, apply lipstick only to your bottom lip. Compare the color to your upper lip. If there's too much contrast, you’ll need to try a different shade.

Decide whether you want to make your lips appear thinner or fuller. Dark shades will make your lips look thinner, while lighter shades give the illusion of fuller lips.

• Matte lipsticks tend to make lips appear thinner, whereas glosses and shimmers can make them look plumper.

Understand your undertone and skin type.

• Keep in mind that while undertones and skin type can guide you, they aren’t the most effective way to choose a lipstick shade. The most important thing is to try different shades and ultimately pick the one that makes you feel the most comfortable.

Experiment with colors recommended by experts for your skin type and undertone.

• If you have fair or light skin, try shades like light pink, coral red, peach, nude (skin tone), or beige. For cool undertones, go for light browns or nudes. If you have warm undertones, light pink or soft nude pink is ideal.
• If you have medium skin, try light pinks, lavender, or dark purples. For cool undertones, opt for dark pinks or reds. For warm undertones, try copper or light brown.
• If you have tan skin, avoid brown and purple shades, and choose colors with a touch of orange. Most other shades will work well. Try bright red-orange or deep pink.
• If you have dark skin, go for deep browns or purples like dark brown, mustard yellow, deep purple, or dark red. Cool undertones should pair with bright red or dark red, while warm undertones work well with copper or light brown.

Don’t overdo it. Unless you're aiming for a bold statement with dark lips (which is totally fine!), apply the dark lipstick only on your lower lip. Press your lips together and then blend the color using your fingertip for a more natural finish.

Choose a shade that complements your skin tone. As previously mentioned, your choice can be based on your skin and undertones. If you find a lipstick you love that doesn't follow the "rules," feel free to wear it!

• If you have fair or light skin, opt for earth-toned rose reds or coral reds. For cool undertones: try a bright red. For warm undertones: experiment with reds that have a hint of blue or coral red.
• If you have medium or tan skin, go for bright reds, dark reds, or pure reds (if you have a neutral undertone). For warm undertones: try coral red or vibrant orange. For cool undertones: dark red is your go-to.
• If you have dark skin with warm undertones, try a red with a blue undertone. For cool undertones: go for a shimmering pink-red or deep red.

Wear red lipstick. This classic color suits any woman, regardless of age, skin tone, hair color, eye color, or lip color. Apply it with confidence and embrace this timeless shade!

Test the lipstick before buying. Use alcohol to sanitize the tester (stores typically provide it in spray bottles) and apply the lipstick using a brush or cotton swab.

• If you prefer not to apply the lipstick directly to your lips, try applying it to the tip of your finger. The color of your fingertip is closer to your lips than your wrist or forearm.

Remove the old lipstick before trying a new one. If not, the colors will mix together. It’s recommended that the sales assistant provide makeup remover or water for this purpose.

Apply minimal or no makeup when testing lipstick. Choose a lipstick shade that brightens your face without the need for other makeup steps. This way, you can keep your look fresh and simple.

Seek assistance at the makeup counter. Sometimes it can be hard to objectively choose which lipstick shade suits you best. A makeup expert at the counter can help you find the perfect color for your skin tone.

Avoid matching your lipstick to your outfit color. For example, if you're wearing a bright red dress, matching your lipstick to the same shade will make it too bold and overpowering.

Enjoy experimenting, but if unsure, consider the following tips:

• A nude lipstick complements any outfit. It's a beautiful, simple color that can highlight your eyes.
• Red lipstick can make a strong statement with a simple outfit. Avoid overdoing it by pairing red lipstick with a bold red outfit and intricate patterns.
• Pink is a versatile color with many shades. A pink that's a few tones brighter than your natural lips works well for an elegant, everyday look.
• Dark purple can make an outfit with dark colors seem gloomy and can make a light summer style feel heavy. Pair dark purple with neutral tones for balance.

Apply lipstick or create a bold eye look, not both.

• Limit your eye makeup to mascara or a deep brown eyeliner along the lash line.