The right lipstick can take your look to the next level, making you feel irresistibly beautiful. In addition to moisturizing, lipsticks play off the tones in your skin and hair. The undertones and highlights in a lipstick can augment your natural beauty. Moreover, its finish, whether matte or glossy, can complement the overall texture of the look. So, how do you choose the right shade?

1. Determine your skin tone
Being so close, your skin tone can affect the appearance of your lipstick and vice versa. That’s why it can be important to think about what shades and tones work together. There are three major skin tones: cool, neutral, and warm:

• Cool: Skin Qualities – Pink, red, and blue pigments; Shades to Try – Berries and pink nudes; Shades to Avoid – Orange-tinted reds, Go-To Shade – Wine red
• Neutral: Skin Qualities – Pink and yellow pigments; Shades to Try – Roses and mauves; Shades to Avoid – Dark purples; Go-To Shade – Glossy auburn
• Warm: Skin Qualities – Yellow, gold, and olive pigments; Shades to Try – Bright reds and corals; Shades to Avoid – Bubblegum pinks; Go-To Shade – Shimmery copper

2. Lip shape and size
One of the great things about lipsticks is that they can accentuate any lip shape or size to suit your preference. The small lips can appear larger with the right shade and finish. Check out the seven major lip shapes and how to feature them:

• Thin Lips: Shades to Try – Bright reds and pinks; Finish Style – Lip gloss; Avoid – Metallic flakes and nudes
• Top Heavy: Shades to Try – Nudes and soft pinks; Finish Style – Matte or mild glossy; Avoid – dark tones
• Bottom Heavy: Shades to Try – Wines and deep burgundy; Finish Style – Matte lipstick alone; Avoid – nudes and gloss
• Overlarge: Shades to Try – Nudes and tinted purples; Finish style – Shimmer gloss; Avoid – dark or bright tones

3. Flatter your hair color
After your skin tone, your lipstick will next play off your hair color. It can be helpful to consider how your hair highlights can affect your lip shades. A good match will work seamlessly together to create a uniform posh look. Let’s take a look at good shades for each predominant hair color:

• Blonde: Shades to Try – Mauves and reds; Avoid – Nudes or dark tones
• Warm Blondes: caramel red; Cool Blondes: plum red
• Bleach Blonde to Gray: Shades to Try – Jewel tones and berries; Avoid – Browns and whites
• Platinum Blonde: deep purple
• Ashy Gray: warm coral
• Brunette: Shades to Try – Purple-tints and spicy nudes; Avoid – bright colors and shimmery finishes
• Warm Brunette: Caramel nude
• Cool Brunette: Mauve
• Dark Brown to Black: Shades to Try – Reds, pinks, and nudes; Avoid: overly dark tones
• Warm Black: orange-tinted red
• Cool Black: purple-tinted red
• Redhead: Shades to Try – Reds and nudes; Avoid – Pinks and gloss
• Warm Red: Brown nude
• Cool Red: Bold red

4. Consider eye color
Your eyes are the window to your soul and set a unique presence in your look. Lipstick can help them shine! The right shade of lipstick can bring out the subtle hues in your gaze and set the right mood. Here’s a list of the best shades for each eye color:

• Blue Eyes: Shades to Try – Corals, orange-tinted reds, and rosy nudes; Red Hue to Try – Burgundy Red
• Green Eyes: Shades to Try – Berries, mauves, and purple-tinted nudes; Red Hue to Try – Wine Red
• Brown Eyes: Shades to Try – Caramels, reds, and brown-tinted nudes; Red Hue to Try – Fire engine red
• Hazel Eyes: Shades to Try – Pinks, berries, and shimmery nudes; Red Hue to Try – Pinkish red