How to Choose the Best Lipstick for your Skin Tone

​
There are so many different lipstick undertones, consistencies, and finishes that can make your makeup shopping trip seem more like a mission than a fun escape. So where do you begin? Well, the first step is to identify your skin's undertone (bonus tip: this can help with choosing a foundation, too).

According to our Beauty Insider,  Janet Persaud , most people fall into one of three categories: warm, cool or neutral. Those with cool undertones tend to have fairer skin, while those with warm undertones typically have a golden or olive hue. If you're having trouble deciphering your undertone, you could be neutral (a mix of both warm and cool).
  • Cool Undertones: you can tell your undertone is cool if the veins in your wrist look blue or purple, if silver jewelry complements your skin, or if your skin tends to burn in the sun before getting a tan. The best lipstick choices have a blue or purple hue not to be confused with an actual lipstick colour.  For example, like plum, cherry, mauve, crimson and purples.
​
  • Warm Undertones: Also referred to as golden, peachy, and yellow.  You typically have a warm undertone if your veins in your wrist look green, if gold jewelry complements your skin, or if you tend to tan easily. The best lipstick choices have a red or orange hue like coral, gold, copper, and all the way to siennas and browns. Peachy pink shades, orange-toned reds will complement your skin tone best.
​
  • Neutral Undertones: you have a neutral undertone, if your veins in your wrist neither looks green or blue,  both silver and gold jewelry look good on you. The best lipstick choices is pretty much dependent on how adventurous you want to be since your skin will compliment a spectrum of colour.

Next step relates to your hue.  Depending on rich your skin is, below are some general guidelines on what to look for to compliment your tone.
  • Fair skin with cool undertones: Think mauve coloured browns and pinks for those who prefer neutral shades, while crimson reds and berry-toned pinks will work for a statement lip.
 
  • Fair skin with warm undertones: Yellow-toned neutrals and pink-browns can do wonders for the warmth in your skin. Orange-reds, or red-toned browns will also work for those with fair skin and warm undertones. 
 
  • Olive skin with neutral undertones:  Falling somewhere between cool and warm undertones, olive skin is often described as neutral. You can get away with more yellow-toned shades and bright colours like corals, reds and hot pinks. Though deep plums and dark berry tones can also bring out a sun-kissed warmth to your skin. 
 
  • Medium skin with cool undertones:  Avoid anything light or too pale, it’s the fastest way to drain any colour from your face and can leave your skin looking ashy or grey. Choose wine coloured purples and reds, rose-coloured or beige-inclined neutrals and warm pinks.
 
  • Medium skin with warm undertones: One of the easiest and most common mistakes for medium skin tones when finding the right shade of lipstick is picking a colour that will wash you out; rose-coloured neutrals, true oranges and cherry reds—anything vivid—will enhance your undertones. 
 
  • Deep skin with cool undertones: Deep tones like plums, cool reds and berry hues are ideal for darker skin tones with cool undertones. However, if blue-toned purples or pastels are your thing, experimenting with lip liners underneath certain shades can neutralise colours and bring depth to others. 
 
  • Deep skin with warm undertones:  Opt for nudes or pink shades with warm undertones, anything you might describe as peachy or golden. And avoid anything with a yellow undertone as this can wash you out. When it comes to something a little brighter, corals, cool reds, pinks and warmer browns will bring out the natural warmth in your skin. 


Details from Vogue Australia 

​At the OLVE,  we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. We are not affiliated nor do we have an advertising partnerships with the brands we may feature. 

Article written by Janet Persaud  

​Photo by Marek Studzinski on Unsplash