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Perfectly Matched: The Best Lipstick for Skin Tone

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Rebecca Moses
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Best Lipstick for Skin Tone
Best Lipstick for Skin Tone

Finding Your Perfect Match: The Best Lipstick for Your Skin Tone

Finding the perfect lipstick shade is like discovering a treasure chest full of gold. It can elevate your look, boost your confidence, and make you feel invincible. But with so many selections on the market, it might be challenging to choose the right shade that complements your skin tone.

Choosing the wrong shade can make your lips look too bright, dull, or even clash with your complexion. So, what is the secret to finding the best lipstick for skin tone? It all comes down to understanding your skin’s undertones — warm or cool.

Whether you’re looking for an everyday shade or a bold lip color for a special occasion, we’ve covered you with the best lipstick shades for your skin tone. Read on to find your perfect shade!

Best Lipstick for Skin Tone

From fair skin to deep skin, warm to cool undertones, here are our curated picks of the best lipstick for skin tone on the market today. Check them out!

Fair skin with warm undertones: ILIA Colorblock High Impact Lipstick in Amberlight

ILIA Colorblock High Impact Lipstick in Amberlight
ILIA Colorblock High Impact Lipstick in Amberlight

If you have fair skin with warm undertones, ILIA Colorblock High Impact Lipstick in Amberlight is the perfect shade. This lipstick shade has a warmer, peachier hue that complements your skin tone perfectly.

This lipstick contains apricot seed oil, castor seed oil, and mango seed butter, which condition the lips while providing a vibrant hue. The high-impact color lasts all day and locks in moisture, preventing dryness or cracking.

Plus, it’s free from sulfates, parabens, phthalates, oxybenzone, and formaldehyde, making it safe to use daily.

Key Benefits

  • Natural ingredients
  • Nourishing
  • Enriched with organic oils
  • Non-toxic, vegan, cruelty-free, and clean
  • Dermatologist-tested
  • Vibrant color
  • Smooth, creamy finish

Fair skin with cool undertones: Lancôme Color Design Lipstick

Lancôme Color Design Lipstick
Lancôme Color Design Lipstick

For people with cool undertones, a soft, rosy pink or light mauve with blue undertones can give a natural look. On the other hand, a baked orange or coral is great for a bolder lip — like this Lancôme shade.

This Lancôme lipstick is hydrating and provides full coverage that lasts for hours with just one coat. You’ll only need to reapply after eating or exercising. It’s also non-drying, so you won’t have to worry about cracking or causing discomfort on your lips.

Key Benefits

  • Full coverage
  • Long-lasting
  • Non-drying formula
  • Glossy, moist finish

Fair skin with neutral undertones: Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel Silky Crème Lipstick in Beige Intime

Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel Silky Crème Lipstick in Beige Intime
Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel Silky Crème Lipstick in Beige Intime

If you want to add some color to your fair complexion and make it look as perfect as Adele, then Laura Mercier’s Beige Intime is the ideal choice — it’s not too light for your skin tone!

Not only is this satin-finish lipstick long-lasting (up to six hours!), but it is also extremely nourishing. This is because it’s enriched with Mediterranean Sea algae extract that helps hydrate and soothe — great for chapped lips remedies!

Key Benefits

  • Long-lasting for up to 6 hours
  • Enriched with Mediterranean Sea algae extract
  • Nourishing formula
  • Hydrates, soothes, and moisturizes chapped lips
  • Satin finish
  • Ideal for a natural look

Medium skin with warm undertones: Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Hi-Lustre Light Sculpting Lipstick Tiger Eye

Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Hi-Lustre Light Sculpting Lipstick Tiger Eye
Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Hi-Lustre Light Sculpting Lipstick Tiger Eye

Don’t you just love it when your medium skin looks fantastic in vivid, deep shades of copper and nude? You can go bold with a glossy finish to show off your warm undertones with this Estée Lauder product.

It has a frosty copper finish, making medium skin tones look warm and gorgeous. Plus, the bullet shape gives you that flawless application every time. Keep lips hydrated with its combination of castor seed and lanolin oil, so they don’t dry out!

Key Benefits

  • Frosted, glossy finish
  • Easy-to-apply bullet shape
  • Enriched with castor oil and lanolin oil
  • Moisturizes the lips

Medium skin with cool undertones: Urban Decay Cosmetics Vice Lipstick in Hex

Urban Decay Cosmetics Vice Lipstick in Hex
Urban Decay Cosmetics Vice Lipstick in Hex

Got medium skin and cool undertones like Taylor Swift? Then you should go for a beautiful nude lip: Hex from Urban Decay! It’s a dusty rose shade that brings natural warmth to your complexion.

The best part is that it is 100% vegan and packed with beneficial ingredients: aloe vera and avocado oil. These are great for keeping free radicals away and your lips hydrated for all-day wear.

Key Benefits

  • 100% vegan and cruelty-free
  • High-impact color
  • Long-lasting
  • Hydrating formula
  • Contains aloe vera and avocado oil
  • Creamy matte finish

Medium skin with neutral undertones: Tarte Color Splash Lipstick in Sunkissed

Tarte Color Splash Lipstick in Sunkissed
Tarte Color Splash Lipstick in Sunkissed

You can look up to celebrities like Vanessa Hudgens and Jessica Alba if you have medium skin with a neutral undertone. Light pinkish-brown and peach shades are perfect for giving this skin tone a natural glow.

A great option is Tarte Color Splash Lipstick in Sunkissed; it’s vegan and enriched with nourishing ingredients. The blend of marine plants, shea butter, and olive oil helps to hydrate lips while giving a creamy matte finish. Plus, this long-lasting product can last up to 12 hours!

Key Benefits

  • Vegan
  • Contains marine plants, shea butter, and olive oil
  • Hydrates and nourishes lips
  • Creamy matte finish
  • Long-lasting for up to 12 hours

Olive skin with cool undertones: Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Original Matte Revolution Lipstick

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Original Matte Revolution Lipstick
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Original Matte Revolution Lipstick

Olive skin is versatile when selecting a lip color since you can choose from a vast range of shades. One lipstick that will give you gorgeous lips for hours is the matte lipstick enriched with an orchid extract from Charlotte Tilbury.

Not only does the secret ingredient hydrate your lips, but it also prevents wrinkles and fine lines while promoting cellular turnover. You can enjoy all the advantages without worrying about smudging or fading — making it the perfect option for your next makeup look!

Key Benefits

  • Matte finish
  • Long-wearing
  • Paraben-free and cruelty-free
  • Contains orhid extract
  • Helps prevent wrinkles and fine lines
  • Smudge-free

Olive skin with warm undertones: Tom Ford Soleil Neige in Balm Frost

Tom Ford Soleil Neige in Balm Frost
Tom Ford Soleil Neige in Balm Frost

Olive skin with warm undertones will look stunning in deep reds, berry hues, or warm orangey nudes that bring out the honey tones in the skin.

Tom Ford Soleil Neige in Balm Frost is recommended for a lip color that will last all day long and look beautiful on olive skin. Not only does this creamy lipstick come with a non-toxic formula, but it’s also made with nourishing ingredients like cocoa butter and Monhoi Tahiti butter to provide lasting moisture.

Key Benefits

  • Creamy formula
  • Long-lasting
  • Free from harmful ingredients
  • Nourishes and moisturizes lips
  • Contains cocoa butter and Monhoi Tahiti butter

Olive skin with neutral undertones: Smashbox Be Legendary Prime & Plush Lipstick in Unbridled

Smashbox Be Legendary Prime & Plush Lipstick in Unbridled
Smashbox Be Legendary Prime & Plush Lipstick in Unbridled

Reds look stunning on olive-hued skin with neutral undertones. From blue-based to orange-reds, there’s a huge range of shades you can choose from to make your makeup look glow, including the Be Legendary Prime & Plush Lipstick by smashbox in the shade Unbridled.

This lipstick shade is perfect for a smooth, moisturized finish with a lip primer built right in — better than a lip balm! Cruelty-free and peptide-free, this lipstick is your go-to for an all-day pout that won’t disappoint you. So bring out the red in your olive skin and hit the town with confidence!

Key Benefits

  • Smooth, creamy finish
  • Cruelty-free and peptide free
  • Contain built-in primer
  • Vibrant color

Deep skin with cool undertones: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Choco-Liscious

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Choco-Liscious
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Choco-Liscious

For those with deep skin tones and cool undertones, like the famous actress Lupita Nyong’o, an intense, deep color with blue undertones is a great pick. One of the best options is this Revlon lipstick.

With its microfine pigments, the chocolatey hue stands out boldly, creating a stunning look. Plus, you can rest assured that your lips will stay hydrated all day long with vitamin E and avocado oil, so you won’t have to worry about a cakey appearance.

Key Benefits

  • Lightweight formula
  • Enriched with microfine pigments
  • Hydrates lips
  • Seals in moisture
  • Hight-impact and long-lasting color
  • Contains vitamin E and avocado oil
  • Prevents a cakey appearance
  • Perfect for a bold look

Deep skin with warm undertones: ​​Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge in Merlot

Lancôme L'Absolu Rouge in Merlot
Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge in Merlot

The warm Merlot shade from ​​Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge is specially made for a gorgeous look on women with deep, warm undertones. The luscious shade brings out the warm natural glow of the skin and gives it a healthy flush.

The Lancôme’s Satin Color™ Complex formula ensures an even coverage from the first application and will last up to eighteen hours with minimal creasing or caking. You can also opt for other 44 shades with three different finishes: sheer, cream, and matte.

Key Benefits

  • Ultra creamy texture
  • No bleeding
  • Smudge-resistant
  • Up to 18 hours
  • 30% moisturizing rose balm
  • Luminous finish
  • Intense color

Deep skin with neutral undertones: MAC Lipstick Matte in Sin

Lancôme L'Absolu Rouge in Merlot
Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge in Merlot

Get ready to sizzle and beam with the MAC Lipstick Matte in Sin! Its deep dark blue-red shade brings out the best in deep skin with neutral undertones.

This matte finish lippie brings bold color that lasts for hours without fading or smudging. You can easily pick this as a go-to lipstick every day or choose between the 34 shades available — you’re sure to find one (or more!) that’s perfect for you.

Key Benefits

  • Matte finish
  • Lasts up to 10 hours
  • Full coverage
  • Intense color
  • Non-smudging formula

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Choose Lipstick Based on Your Undertone?

Knowing your undertone is vital when selecting colors that will enhance your look. Here are several tips on how to choose the perfect lipstick based on the undertone shade for your skin:

  • Neutral Undertones: Choose a deep shade such as Sin from MAC if your skin is deep with neutral undertones. Bronzes, burgundy shades, oranges, and peaches all flatter this skin type in the best way.
  • Warm Undertones: If you have warm undertones, reach for softer colors with playful pinks or subtle corals. You can also use bold nudes or vibrant reds to make a statement.
  • Cool Undertones: For cool skin tones, try shades like berry hues and fuchsia tones to flatter your complexion. Metallic finishes will also look amazing on cool-toned skin!

With these helpful tips in mind, you’ll indeed find the perfect lipstick shade that complements your unique skin tone.

How to determine your skin tone?

Are you looking to determine your skin tone? It can be done with a few simple steps, including:

  1. Examine your skin in natural and artificial light. Natural sunlight will help you get the best results, as it is not filtered like indoor lighting.
  2. Look at the veins on your wrist or arm. Skin tones range from yellow/olive to pink/peach to brown/black. Your veins can give you an indication of which category you fall into.
  3. Compare yourself to neutral colors: gray, white, and black. This will help give you an idea of how cool or warm your skin tone is.
  4. If you are between two color categories, try different makeup shades to find out which looks better on your skin tone!

Conclusion

Now that you know the basics of finding the best lipstick color for your skin’s undertone, it’s time to get out there and experiment! With so many great shades and formulas available, there’s no reason not to find a color you love.

If you’re still unsure which shade is right, consult a professional makeup artist or ask a friend with similar coloring. And don’t forget to have fun with it — after all, lipstick is supposed to be fun!

Author

  • Rebecca Moses

    Depending on the day, you’ll find Rebecca in a well thought-out ensemble that she handcrafted herself, or in hiking and rock climbing gear. An avid outdoorswoman, cyclist, and cat lover, Rebecca reminds us all on the Groom+Style team just how much we need to get outdoors. She’s worked in spas and salons off and on before going full-time with the G+S team. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-moses-3158b914b/