How to Choose a Lip Colour for Your Skin Tone

Short answer: Choose a lip colour by matching it to your undertone rather than only your skin's depth. Cool undertones suit blue-based pinks, berries and true reds; warm undertones suit corals, peaches and warm browns; neutral undertones can wear both. Your complexion's depth then guides how light or intense the shade should be. When unsure, a versatile my-lips-but-better shade flatters almost everyone.

Why does undertone matter more than skin colour?

Two people with the same depth of complexion can suit very different lip shades, and the reason is undertone — the subtle warmth or coolness beneath the surface of your skin. A lip colour that harmonises with your undertone looks intentional and brightening; one that clashes can make you look washed out or make the colour itself look off.

Depth of complexion still matters, but it mostly affects intensity — how soft or how saturated a shade reads on you. Get the undertone right first, then adjust the strength.

How to find your undertone

• Check your veins: bluish or purple veins suggest a cool undertone; greenish veins suggest warm; a mix suggests neutral.
• Consider jewellery: if silver flatters you most, you likely lean cool; if gold is more flattering, you likely lean warm.
• Look at how you tan: skin that burns easily often leans cool, while skin that tans readily often leans warm.

Which lip colours suit each undertone?

Once you know your undertone, shade families fall into place. Use this as a starting point rather than a strict rule — a sheer wash of an unexpected colour can still be lovely.

Factoring in your complexion depth

1. Fair skin: soft roses, peachy nudes and clear pinks flatter; very dark shades can look stark unless sheered out.
2. Medium skin: berries, warm nudes, mauves and true reds all tend to look balanced and rich.
3. Deep skin: saturated berries, deep plums, rich browns and bold reds look striking; pale nudes can look ashy, so choose nudes with warmth and depth.

How do I choose a nude that actually suits me?

Nude is where undertone matters most, because a nude that ignores your undertone looks either chalky or muddy. The trick is to pick a nude one to two shades deeper than your natural lip and in your undertone family.

• Cool undertones: favour rosy or pink-based nudes.
• Warm undertones: favour peachy or caramel nudes.
• Deep complexions: favour rich, warm brown nudes rather than pale beiges.

A sheer, buildable format takes the pressure off matching perfectly. A Tinted Lip Oil gives a your-lips-but-better wash that adapts to your natural lip tone, so it flatters across a wide range of undertones. It is an easy first step if you are still learning which shades suit you.

What if I want a versatile, do-anything colour?

Some shades are famously universal because they sit close to neutral. A soft rosy pink, a muted berry or a balanced my-lips-but-better tone will flatter most people regardless of undertone, which makes them a smart place to start a collection.

To keep any colour looking its best, prep matters as much as the shade. Smooth the lips with the Matcha Lip Scrub and condition with Lip Balm so colour applies evenly and true. If you would like a ready-made range of complementary shades to experiment with, the Full Lip Set is a considered starting point.

Testing a shade properly

• Swatch on your lips, not your hand — lip skin is a different colour and gives a truer read.
• Check in natural daylight, which shows undertone most accurately.
• Give it a minute to settle, as some shades shift slightly once worn.

Choose a lip colour by matching it to your undertone rather than only your skin's depth.

Key takeaways

• Match lip colour to your undertone first, then adjust intensity for your complexion depth.
• Cool undertones suit blue-pinks, berries and true reds.
• Warm undertones suit corals, peaches and warm browns.
• Neutral undertones can wear both cool and warm shades.
• Choose a nude in your undertone family, one to two shades deeper than your natural lip.
• Sheer, buildable formats flatter across undertones and are easy to wear.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if I have a warm or cool undertone?

Check your veins and preferred metals: bluish veins and a preference for silver suggest cool undertones, while greenish veins and a preference for gold suggest warm. A mix of both points to neutral.

Can I wear red if I have cool undertones?

Yes — choose a blue-based or true red rather than an orange-red. Blue-reds and cherry tones sit beautifully against cool undertones, while warm undertones tend to prefer brick and scarlet shades.

Why does nude lipstick make me look washed out?

A nude that is too pale or the wrong undertone drains colour from the face. Choose a nude in your undertone family and a shade or two deeper than your natural lip so it flatters rather than erases.

Do deep skin tones suit nude shades?

Very much so, when the nude has warmth and depth. Rich caramel and warm brown nudes look luminous on deep complexions, whereas pale beige nudes can read ashy.

What is the most universally flattering lip colour?

A soft rosy pink or muted berry sits close to neutral and flatters most undertones and complexions. A sheer, buildable my-lips-but-better shade is the easiest universally flattering option.