How to Choose
the Perfect Shade of Red Lipstick for Your Skin Tone

There’s a common misconception among numerous women that red shade lipsticks don’t suit them! However, today we will prove that myth wrong, kicking it to the curb with a final blow (from our red, pouty lips!).

Women of all colors can not only rock red lipsticks, but they have been doing it in the fashion industry for a long time now. The key is to find the right shade of red that complements your skin tone perfectly!

Choosing the Perfect Shade of Red Lipstick for Your Skin Tone

We have composed a step-by-step guide to help you choose the perfect shade of red lipstick for your skin tone.

Step 1 - Find Your Undertone

Most people don’t know what their skin undertone is. However, it is a make-up basic that can help us find the ideal shade of lipsticks, foundations, and concealers.

Our skin has two layers. The outer layer determines our complexion — fair, light, medium, olive, or dark. We refer to the inside layer as the undertone, which can be of three distinct shades - cool, neutral, and warm.

Here’s how you can identify your undertone, using two types of tests:

Test # 1 - Vein Test

Check the vein color in your wrists. If they are purplish-blue, you have a cool undertone. However, if your veins are bluish-green, you have a neutral undertone. And if they are a shade of green or a mix of purple, blue, and green, it is an indicator of a neutral undertone.

Test # 2 - Jewelry Test

If the vein test doesn’t work out for you, the jewelry test can help determine your undertone. Get a piece of silver and gold-tone jewelry, such as necklaces or bracelets. Now, figure out which one looks best on your skin tone. If it’s silver, you’ve got a cool skin tone. If it’s gold, the answer is a warm undertone. However, if your skin tone complements both, it means you have a neutral undertone.

For effective results, use both tests to determine your skin undertone.

Step 2 - Subtle or Pop

Now that you have an idea about your skin undertone, you can use this information to figure out which red shade you would need if you want a subtle or lurid look.

For a muted look, you will have to go with the shades that have the same undertone as you do. Similarly, if you want a contrasting look, the opposite undertone colors will work best for your red lip shade.

Note for future reference: Cool reds lean towards purple and pink, such as cranberry red and watermelon. On the other hand, warm reds are mixed with orange and brown shades, like tomato red and salmon.

Step 3 - Complexion and Undertone Pairing

Now, for the final effect, pair your complexion and undertone shades for choosing the perfect red lipstick!

Fair/Light Complexion with Cool Undertone

If you have a pale complexion with a cool undertone, go with the blue-based red lipsticks like cranberry and raspberry. However, if you have a pink-tone complexion, we recommend choosing cool reds so they can contrast nicely with your ivory skin tones.

Fair/Light Complexion with Warm/Neutral Undertone

Fair complexion with warm or neutral undertones is complemented by the warm reds the best. However, the ideal pick would be to go with the orange-red specifically!

Medium/Olive Complexion with Any Undertone

Women with medium complexions have the best luck as they can get away with all red shades. They can easily follow the second step (subtle or pop) and have fun with the best of reds. However, talking in specific terms, cool undertones should look best with blue-based red lipsticks, while warm and neutral undertones pair exceptionally well with orange-red or purple-based red lip shades.

Dark Complexion with Any Undertone

Darker complexion women can style fun and summery fashion-statement by picking the bright red, crimson-like colors. Purple-based red colors should give the best results for their skin tone, giving a more sophisticated look.