Choosing the right lipstick shade isn't just about trends — it's about your skin's undertone, the subtle hue beneath the surface of your skin, whether warm, cool, or neutral. Knowing your undertone makes shade-picking far easier and guarantees a result that flatters your natural coloring.
How to Find Your Undertone
Look at the veins on your wrist in daylight: if they appear greenish, your undertone is warm; if bluish or purple, it's cool; if it's hard to tell, you're likely neutral. Another simple test: if gold jewelry suits you better, you're warm-toned; if silver suits you better, you're cool-toned.
Warm undertones are flattered by orange-leaning, coral, and brick-red shades. Cool undertones suit pink, berry, and blue-based reds. Neutral undertones are lucky — they can pull off almost anything, from cool pinks to warm reds.
Practical Tips
Always test a shade directly on your lips rather than just your hand, since your natural lip color affects the final result. If you're unsure where to start, pick a shade about two tones darker than your natural lip color — it tends to suit almost everyone.
- Warm undertones: try coral, brick, and burnt orange
- Cool undertones: try fuchsia pink, berry, and cherry red
- For daytime occasions, choose softer shades closer to your natural lip color
- Keep one classic red that works with almost any look
