When it comes to lipstick, there is a TON of different shades to choose from and sometimes, that can be daunting. On top of that, we get swayed to wear the “hottest lipstick shades this season”, which aren’t always complimentary to our skin tones. I remember when orange hues were hot a couple of years back, and I wanted SO badly to wear it, but no matter what shade of orange I tried, it just didn’t look right! Bottom line: you have to find the right lipstick shade for YOUR skin tone. Some can pull off bright reds, while others cannot: it’s just the hard lipstick truth!
1. Identifying Your Undertone
Everyone’s skin has an undertone: it can be yellow or pink. Yellow is warmer, while pink is cooler. Once you figure out which undertone you have, it’s easy to choose the right lipstick shades as well as other makeup and even clothing and jewelry.
A quick way to identifying your undertone is to look at the veins on your wrists. If your veins are blue, then you have a pink undertone. If your veins are green, then you have a yellow undertone. If they look both blue and green, then you have a combination of undertones: pink and yellow. This is good news because it means you have a neutral skin tone and can wear any color!
Still not 100% sure? Grab two pieces of jewelry: one gold, one silver. Hold each one up against your face and decide which one looks better (ignore your personal preference). Cooler tones (pink) work better with silver jewelry, while warmer tones (yellow) fare better with gold jewelry.
#2. Identifying Which Shades Work With Your Undertone
When choosing a lipstick shade, try to focus on colors that are similar to your undertone. Yellow undertones should stick to warmer colors, while pink undertones should go for shades with blue or purple tones in them.
#3. Still Not Sure? Pick Based on Your Skin Tone
You can have one of three skin tones: olive, fair, and darker skin tones.
Olive Skin Tones
If your skin tone is olive, then you’re in luck. This means that you have a neutral skin tone and can pull off just about any color. Nude, pink, orange, and red shades will look great on you – so anything goes. When picking a lipstick, try to pair it up with whatever you’re wearing. For an outfit with warmer colors, you should opt for a warm, bright lipstick shade.
Fair Skin Tones
Fair skin tones can really pull off bright reds and deep colors. Stay away from anything that’s too late or anything that has a yellow undertone so you don’t look washed out. Read more
Also read: 5 Tips for Proper Hair Care
