How to Choose Lipstick Colours That Complement Your Skin Tone

Choosing lipstick can be exciting—and sometimes confusing.

There are countless shades of pink, red, nude, coral, brown and berry, and two colours that look similar in the tube can appear completely different once applied.

One of the best ways to narrow your choices is to understand your skin tone and undertone.

Understanding Skin Tone

Skin tone generally describes how light or deep your complexion appears.

You may fall somewhere within a light, medium or deeper range.

However, skin tone alone doesn't determine which lipstick colours you can wear.

Undertone also matters.

Understanding Undertone

Undertones are generally described as:

Warm: golden, yellow or peachy tones.

Cool: pink, red or bluish tones.

Neutral: a balance between warm and cool.

Knowing your undertone can help you identify colour families that naturally complement your complexion.

If You Have a Warm Undertone

Warm undertones often pair beautifully with shades containing warmth.

Consider:

• Warm coral
• Peach
• Terracotta
• Warm nude
• Brick red
• Warm brown
• Orange-red

These colours can create a harmonious appearance.

If You Have a Cool Undertone

Cool undertones can work beautifully with shades that contain pink, berry or blue-based qualities.

Consider:

• Rose pink
• Mauve
• Berry
• Plum
• Blue-red
• Cool pink

If You Have a Neutral Undertone

You have greater flexibility.

Both warm and cool shades may complement your complexion, allowing you to experiment with a wider variety of colours.

Don't Be Afraid of Nude Lipsticks

"Nude" doesn't mean one universal colour.

A flattering nude should work with your complexion rather than make your lips look washed out.

For some people, a peachy nude works beautifully. Others may prefer pink nude, rosy brown or deeper caramel-inspired colours.

Red Lipstick Is for Everyone

Red lipstick isn't limited to a particular skin tone.

The trick is finding the right red.

You can experiment with:

• Coral red
• Classic red
• Brick red
• Deep red
• Berry red
• Wine-inspired red

MAAKE Beauty's current lipstick collection includes a broad range of colour families, from Sunset Coral and Bloom Kiss to Crimson Silk, Rouge Inferno and Berry Noir.

Test Before You Decide

If possible, test lipstick on your lips rather than judging the shade only from the packaging.

Natural lighting is especially useful.

Take a photo in daylight if you're comparing several colours.

Your Best Shade Is the One You Love

Colour theory can provide guidance, but makeup is also personal.

If you love a shade, wear it.

Your confidence is more important than following a strict beauty rule.