Complimentary Lip Colors for Your Undertone
Lip color can arguably be seen as the cosmetic version of the little black dress. Nothing else has quite the reputation for having standalone power in creating a beauty mood, and adding instant panache to a mediocre makeup look.
Although we love the “kid in a candy store” vibe evoked when we see a plethora of colors, having an endless array of options can sometimes feel overwhelming when trying to choose the one that best compliments your skin.
Making sense of how to narrow down the most flattering colors begins with knowing what works to enhance both your undertone and skin tone (the combination of which create your unique complexion). One foolproof method, is to use The Color Wheel as your guide.
It’s All About the “tone”
Within the context of the color wheel, our undertones are the different ratios of red, yellow, and blue that create the color below the surface of the skin (this affects your overall hue). Skin undertones fall under three main categories: Warm, Cool, and Neutral (to decipher your undertones, look at the veins in the back of your wrist. If they’re blue, you have cool undertones, green veins indicate warm undertones, and a mix of blue and green indicate neutral undertones).
Skin tone, by contrast, is the actual surface color (which is determined by the amount of melanin -pigment present in the upper, visible layer of your skin). It ranges in shades of rich brown to alabaster white. How deep or fair your skin tone is, has a major effect on the way a lip color translates onto your skin.
Two people can have the same cool undertone, but if one has a light skin tone and the other person a deep one, the same lipstick color will look different. This is because its ‘base color’ determines how it will read on the skin. A person’s skin tone will extract different color cues from the lipstick and respond accordingly; cooler bases are often brighter, while warmer tones appear softer.
A Match Made in Lipstick Heaven!
When choosing your best lip color shade, the depth of the lipstick color should correlate with your skin tone (deep or light) as well as the category of undertone you belong to (cool, warm or neutral).
A lip product made with a cool, blue base will read differently than one with a warmer base (that has more orange). If your skin has a cool undertone, a cool mauve will look more harmonious than a warm, orange-based coral. This is because you’re matching the lipstick undertone to the undertone of your skin, rather than fighting against it.
Matching lip colors to your undertone is one thing, but you also must take into account your desired effect (bold or subtle). Your skin tone will dictate the intensity of the shade. For example, a dark blackberry lipstick with a blue base will suit both fair and rich-deep skin tones (because of their cool undertone). On the deeper skin however, the shade will make a softer statement (since there is depth in both the skin tone and the lipstick color). On the pale skin, it will show up as a bold color choice (because of the contrast between the skin color and the depth of the lip color).
Color Collections Just For YOU!
Below is a guide to help you match your undertone with the lip colors that’ll improve your pout game! From succulent berries to subtle nudes, you’ll look & feel fabulous after having made choices that uniquely align with your beauty I.D.:
WARM
- If you have warm or golden undertones, seek the same warm base in your lip product too. Stick with shades of orangey-red, like brick, terracotta and even poppy;
- Also try deep purples or darker reds (like merlot, candy apple or sangria);
- Metallic gold works well to play up the yellow in your undertone, so look for lip glosses with gold shimmer instead of silver;
- Try nudes in soft, muted berry-rose tones, one or two shades darker than your natural lip color (like deep cranberry) or pinky browns;
- A caramel nude or coral beautifully enhances a medium skin tone with a warm undertone. Other options include mauvey-beige, deep rose, or shades veering towards peachy/brown.
COOL
- The best compliment to cool skin tones is a lip color that also has cool undertones:
namely, blue-ish and purple shades. Try a bright cherry red that veers more blue than orange or deep berry shades in pomegranate, maroon and deep plum; - If you’re fair with a cool undertone, a soft rose or a subtle mauve makes a nice everyday shade. It gives a lift to your skin, and doesn’t wash you out like a beige color would;
- Deep skin tones with cool undertones need to be mindful of choosing a nude color that isn’t too light beige, as it looks like you’re wearing concealer. Warm chocolates or bronzy browns are better suited (the warm shimmer enhances the depth in your skin tone).
NEUTRAL
- Neutral undertones work with a wide range of shades, especially purple/reds (like magenta), red-based browns (i.e. brick red), and plums;
- Pale skin tones can try subtle pinks to softly enhance and bright blue/reds (i.e cranberry) for a punchier color;
- Those with olive properties suit nudes in shades of caramel, rose-golds or duskier pinkybrowns;
- For medium skin tones, mauves are a nice nude-ish option that gives just enough color to also brighten the skin;
- Deep skin tones with neutral undertones are complimented with shades in deep berries, wines, and brick reds.