Lipstick Skin Tone Chart — How to Choose the Right Shade for You
Lipstick is the quickest way to brighten — or completely deflate — a face. The difference isn't the brand or the formula. It's whether the shade matches your undertone. This complete lipstick skin tone chart pairs every undertone with the shades that flatter most.
The short answer
The one rule of lipstick + skin tone
Two variables decide which lipstick flatters you:
- Undertone match — cool skin needs cool-leaning shades; warm skin needs warm-leaning shades.
- Depth match — pale shades on deep skin look ashy; deep shades on fair skin overwhelm.
Get both right, and even a $4 drugstore lipstick will look luxurious. Get them wrong, and even Tom Ford looks tired.
Step 1 — Find your undertone
If you haven't already, run two quick checks:
- Vein test: blue/purple veins = cool, green = warm, mixed = neutral.
- Jewelry test: silver flatters = cool, gold flatters = warm.
Full guide: 7 at-home tests to find your undertone.
Lipstick for cool undertones
Cool undertones glow in lipsticks with blue, pink, or berry bases. Avoid anything too orange — it'll clash and make teeth look yellow.
Best shades for cool undertones
Blue red
Berry
Rose
Wine
Cool nude
Plum
Avoid: orange-reds, peach, coral, terracotta. They compete with your skin's blue undertones and create dissonance.
Lipstick for warm undertones
Warm undertones light up in lipsticks with orange, peach, or gold-brown bases. Cool blue-pinks tend to look stark and unnatural.
Best shades for warm undertones
Tomato
Coral
Brick
Terracotta
Warm nude
Spice
Avoid: blue-based reds, fuchsia, cool berry. They wash you out and emphasize any redness.
Lipstick for neutral undertones
Neutral undertones win the lottery: they can pull off shades from both warm and cool families. The trick is to match depth — your lipstick should be a few shades deeper or lighter than your natural lip color.
Best shades for neutral undertones
True red
Mauve
Rosy nude
Raspberry
Russet
Beige rose
Lipstick by skin depth
| Skin depth | Best lip depths | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Fair / porcelain | Soft pinks, sheer reds, light nudes | Very dark plums, near-black |
| Light to medium | Most shades work — true reds, mauves, berries | Anything ashy or muddy |
| Medium to deep | Rich reds, berries, deep mauves, terracotta | Pale pastel pinks (look ashy) |
| Deep / rich | Wine, plum, deep crimson, oxblood, vibrant fuchsia | Light beige nudes (read grey) |
Lipstick by occasion
- Office / daytime: a my-lips-but-better nude in your undertone, or a sheer pink/coral.
- Evening / event: a saturated red or berry — pick your blue-based or orange-based version.
- Drinks / dinner: a long-wear matte mauve or terracotta.
- Bridal: a softened version of your power red, or a rose-mauve in your undertone.
Mistakes to avoid
- Buying a shade because it looks good on the model. Their undertone is probably different from yours.
- Wearing pure white-pink on warm skin. It looks chalky and ages the face.
- Wearing pure orange-red on cool skin. It clashes with the natural rose in your face.
- Skipping liner. A nude liner one shade deeper than your lipstick fixes uneven natural lip color.
- Not testing in daylight. Department-store light is a liar.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the best lipstick for my skin tone?
Match the undertone of the lipstick to the undertone of your skin. Cool undertones glow in blue-based reds, mauves, and berries. Warm undertones love orange-based reds, corals, and warm nudes. Neutrals can wear both — but should still match the lipstick depth to their skin depth.
What's the best red lipstick for my skin tone?
Cool undertones: a true blue-based red or cherry red. Warm undertones: a tomato red or brick red. Neutral undertones: a true red leaning slightly toward your softer undertone. Match the depth to your complexion — fair skin glows in classic reds, deep skin in rich burgundies and crimsons.
Can I wear any color lipstick if I have neutral undertones?
Mostly yes — neutral undertones are flexible. The rule still holds: match the lipstick depth to your skin depth. A pale pink will overwhelm deep skin; a deep berry will overwhelm fair skin.
What lipstick suits olive skin?
Olive skin has neutral-to-warm undertones with green or yellow notes. Earthy nudes, terracotta, brick reds, deep berries, and warm brown-based mauves are exceptionally flattering. Avoid anything too pink or icy — it'll fight your undertone.
How do I know my lip's undertone?
Look at your bare lips in natural light. Pinkish or rosy lips = cool undertone. Peachy or coral lips = warm undertone. Neutral mid-mauve = neutral undertone. Your natural lip color is a strong clue.
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