Makeup artist shares the ‘most flattering’ lipstick colours

You can wear any shade of lipstick that you gravitate towards, especially if it makes you feel confident and gorgeous. But with so many colours and brands on the market, it can be hard to know which one complements your skin tone. 

To find the most flattering shade, you need to know what skin tone you are – and a makeup artist has broken it down.  

Warm undertone 

Also known as golden, peachy and yellow, people with warm undertones quickly catch a sun tan and suit gold jewellery rather than silver. 

Some might also have red, brown, black or strawberry blonde hair and brown, hazel or amber eye colour. Veins on the wrist will also look green or yellow-golden. 

READ MORE: Beauty expert shares three skincare rules all women must follow

You can wear any shade of lipstick that you gravitate towards, especially if it makes you feel confident and gorgeous. 

But with so many colours and brands on the market, it can be hard to know which one complements your skin tone. 

To find the most flattering shade, you need to know what skin tone you are – and a makeup artist has broken it down.  

Warm undertone 

Also known as golden, peachy and yellow, people with warm undertones quickly catch a sun tan and suit gold jewellery rather than silver. 

Some might also have red, brown, black or strawberry blonde hair and brown, hazel or amber eye colour. Veins on the wrist will also look green or yellow-golden. 

As for what “the most unflattering lipstick” colour for those with warm undertones, makeup artist Kerrin Jackson said women should avoid “neutrals or cool” as they will “appear ashy” and won’t enhance one’s complexion. 

Dark lipsticks, on the other hand, can “give the illusion of thinning your lips”, and thin lips do not help someone look younger. Instead, warm undertones should opt for red, peach and orange shades when choosing lipsticks. 

Going for nude? A good rule of thumb is to correspond your skin tone with the lipstick shade, Byrdie suggests. For instance, if your skin is light, go for a paler nude, if your skin is deeper go for a richer nude.

Cool undertone 

Also known as blue, red or pink, anyone with a cool undertone typically burns easily or tan slowly, they also look better in silver jewellery. 

They also might have hair colours of brown, black or blonde and eye colour is typically blue, grey or green. As for veins on the wrist, they will look blue. 

Kerrin recommends anyone with cool undertones to steer clear from extreme lipstick colours – so very light or very dark shades. 

She explained: “Light lipstick shades such as skin tone shades…do nothing to enhance or bring warmth to your face,” and instead they can make someone look “sickly and unwell”.

So if you’re looking to bring a “glow or youthfulness” avoid these colours as they are “a big no”, She Finds published.

Anyone with cool undertones should opt for plums, light berries and pink-tone lipsticks. Or, if you want a nude lip, enhance the natural flush of your lips with a rosy, pink nude, or opt for a taupe beige for a more subtle look.

Neutral undertone 

People with neutral undertones tan slowly and don’t often burn when in the sun, they can also wear gold and silver jewellery. The veins on your wrist also look green or blue. 

Neutral skin tones have both cool and warm tones, so there’s pretty much nothing that doesn’t suit them.