Perfect Lip: A Beginner's Guide to Finding Your Shade

Finding the perfect lip colour is one of the most transformative things you can do for your makeup look. The right shade enhances your natural features, complements your skin tone, and gives you an instant confidence boost. Here's your complete beginner's guide to finding your perfect lip shade.

Shade Me In Liquid Matte Lipstick by Brittany Cosmetics

Step 1: Determine Your Skin Tone

Your skin tone is the starting point for finding your perfect lip shade. Skin tones are generally categorised as fair, light, medium, olive, or deep/dark. As a general guide:

  • Fair skin — light pinks, soft nudes, peach, and berry shades tend to be most flattering
  • Light to medium skin — warm nudes, rose, mauve, and classic reds work beautifully
  • Medium to olive skin — warm terracotta, brick red, warm rose, and deep berry are particularly stunning
  • Deep skin — rich berries, deep plums, warm browns, bold reds, and vibrant fuchsia look extraordinary

Step 2: Identify Your Undertones

Your undertone — the subtle hue beneath your skin's surface — is just as important as your skin tone when choosing lip colour. There are three main undertone categories:

  • Warm undertones (golden, peachy, or yellow) — suit warm lip shades like coral, peach, warm red, terracotta, and warm nude
  • Cool undertones (pink, red, or bluish) — suit cool lip shades like pink-based nudes, berry, blue-red, and deep plum
  • Neutral undertones — can wear both warm and cool shades with ease; true reds, mauve, and rose-nude are particularly flattering

To identify your undertone, look at the veins on the inside of your wrist in natural light. Green veins indicate warm undertones, blue or purple veins indicate cool undertones, and a mix of both indicates neutral undertones.

Step 3: Consider Your Hair and Eye Colour

Your hair and eye colour can also guide your lip shade choices. Warm hair tones (golden blonde, auburn, warm brown) tend to suit warm lip shades, while cool hair tones (ash blonde, cool brown, black) complement cooler lip colours. Eye colour can also play a role — green and hazel eyes are enhanced by warm, earthy lip tones, while blue eyes pop against cool pinks and berries.

Step 4: Choose Your Finish

Once you've identified your ideal shade range, consider the finish that suits your style and occasion:

  • Matte — sophisticated, long-lasting, and transfer-resistant. Ideal for bold colours and all-day wear
  • Satin — a balance between matte and gloss, comfortable and flattering for everyday wear
  • Gloss — adds shine and dimension, makes lips appear fuller, and is perfect for a natural, effortless look
  • Sheer — a wash of colour with minimal coverage, ideal for beginners or a barely-there everyday look

Step 5: Start with Versatile Shades

If you're new to lip colour, start with versatile, wearable shades that work for multiple occasions. A warm nude, a soft rose, and a classic red are three shades that cover the majority of looks and occasions. Once you're comfortable with these, experiment with bolder colours like berry, plum, or coral.

Tips for Wearing Lip Colour

  • Always prep your lips by exfoliating and moisturising before applying any lip colour
  • Use a lip liner in a matching shade to define your lip shape and prevent feathering
  • Apply with a lip brush for the most precise, professional finish
  • Blot and reapply for longer-lasting colour
  • Don't be afraid to experiment — the only way to find your perfect shade is to try different options

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