The perfect red lipstick for your skin tone

Little black dresses, trench coats and white sneakers – no this isn’t a modern rewriting of My Favourite Things, just a list of staple items everyone should consider owning. And when it comes to beauty products there is but one iconic staple: the red lipstick.

Don’t let the simplicity of red fool you, there are many shades of red and there is one out there for everyone. Find the perfect shade of red for your skin tone and never worry about a date night look again.

Find your undertone

As with finding the right foundation it all starts with figuring out your undertone. You can be one of three options: cool (pink), warm (yellow) or neutral and there are several ways of determining where you fall. One of the easiest ways is checking the veins in your wrist. If the veins appear blue then you have a cool undertone whereas green looking veins indicate a warm undertone. If you can’t tell which colour they are you have a neutral undertone. A neutral skin colour means you can dabble in colours that suit both warm and cool. Check out our suggestions below to find your shade.

Find your shade

Fair skin and cool undertones are complemented by blue-based reds so opt for a raspberry shade. The cool tones in these reds will contrast with the pink in your skin. Try NYX’s matte lipstick in Bloody Mary.

Light complexion (warm)

For a fair skin with warmer undertones reds with just a hint of orange are more suitable. You can get away with hot red such as Too Faced’s Peach Kiss in Where My Peaches At.

Olive tone (cool)

An olive skin with cool undertones is best suited with a berry or wine colour lipstick. Look for an earthy shade such as the Gosh Velvet Touch Lipstick in Grape to complement your skin.

Olive tone (warm)

A warm olive skin works best with a similarly warm red. A colour like MAC’s Just Add Romance will not only blend perfectly with your skin but give it a golden tanned glow.

Dark skin (cool)

To complement a cool, darker skin pick a darker berry, a brown hued red. Too Faced’s Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Melted Velvet will bring out your skin’s cooler tones.

Dark skin (warm)

Bright reds with an orange base really pop on a dark skin with warm undertones, bold lips are the perfect match for this skin tone. Try MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour in Quite The Standout.

Sally Wijers