9 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Shade of Lipstick for Your Wedding

Every bride wants ultra-kissable lips on her wedding day. Aside from having soft, supple lips, however, you need to choose the right hue for your complexion or risk ruining your bridal glow.

Finding the perfect shade of lipstick can seem like an impossible feat with so many brands and shades to choose from. The key for a perfect pout begins with knowing your skin tone and choosing a shade to compliment it.

If you don’t already know your skin tone, our guide will walk you through the process of figuring out your complexion. Read on to learn if you have a cool, warm or neutral tone so you can choose an amazing lipstick shade to flatter your skin.

In This Article

tips for choosing the perfect shade of lipstick for your wedding understanding skin tones

Understanding Skin Tones: Which One are You?

There are a few different ways to determine your skin’s undertone, but the wrist check is one of the most accurate. If your veins appear to be blue or purple, you have cool skin. If they are greenish, you have warm undertones. If you can’t easily determine the color, you have neutral skin.

Still not sure? Your skin’s reaction to the sun is another tell tale sign. Women who burn easily, typically have cool undertones while ladies who tan easily have warm undertones. Gals who burn and then tan have neutral undertones.

Cool skin

Cool skin will have undertones of pink, red, or blue. Light and fair-skinned brides tend to have pink or blue undertones while those with medium skin will have pink or red. Brides with ebony skin typically have either red or blue undertones.

Celebrity examples: Emma Stone, Cate Blanchett, Amanda Seyfried, Adele, Anne Hathaway, Rosario Dawson, Iman, Jennifer Hudson, Alek Wek and Lupita Nyong’o.

Warm skin

If you have a warm complexion, you will have golden, yellow or peachy undertones. Peachy undertones are typically found in fair or light skin while yellow undertones are found in an olive complexion. Warm darker skin will often have golden undertones.

Celebrity examples: Blake Lively, Gwyneth Paltrow, Lucy Liu, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Alba, Kim Kardashian, Priyanka Chopra, Beyoncé, Halle Berry and Viola Davis.

Neutral skin

Your skin is neutral if it has a mixture of warm and cool undertones with equal amounts of pink and yellow. You’ll know you’re a true neutral if almost any color looks good on you.

Celebrity examples: Kristen Stewart, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Aniston, Natalie Portman, Sandra Bullock, Selena Gomez and Kerry Washington.

Choosing the Perfect Shade of Lipstick for Your Skin Cool Tone

The best way to flatter your cool complexion is with a lipstick that also has cool undertones. Opt for cool rosy and mauve shades as well as purplish shades of wine or red. You can also do a nude lipstick, but only if it has cool undertones. If you’re a fan of red, try cranberry, crimson or cherry.

choosing the perfect shade of lipstick for fair skin with cool undertones

Finding the Right Lipstick Shade for Your Warm Skin Tone

If you have warm undertones, warm shades of lipstick will flatter you best. Think peach, coral, rust, terracotta and nudes with warm hues. If you love a red lip, opt for orangey-reds such as brick, scarlet and vermilion.

lipsticks shades for fair skin with warm undertones

Lipstick shades for fair skin with warm undertones

Best neutral shade: Huda Beauty Power Bullet Cream Glow Hydrating Lipstick in Sweet Nude Honey Bun
Best long-lasting: Stila Stay All Day Long Wear Liquid Lipstick in Carina Shimmer
Best natural: INIKA Organic Lipstick in Soft Coral
Best hydrating: Sephora CollectionSatin Hydrating Lipstick in Full Ignition
Best matte: Makeup By Mario Ultra Suede Lipstick in Cam
Best shiny: UOMA Beauty Black Magic Hypnotic Impact High Shine Lipstick in Feminist
Best satin finish: Urban Decay Vice Hydrating Lipstick in Oatmilk
Best liquid lipstick: Maybelline New York SuperStay Liquid Lipstick in Amazonian
Best splurge: Christian Louboutin Velvet Matte Lipstick in Beige Very Gil
Best bargain: COVERGIRL Continuous Color Lipstick in Sugar Almond

lipsticks shades for medium skin with warm undertones

Lipstick shades for medium skin with warm undertones

Best neutral shade: Anastasia Beverly Hills Satin Velvet Lipstick in Haze
Best long-lasting: Juvia’s Place Nubian Earth Lipstick in Soil
Best natural: Treslúce Beauty Empower Me Matte Lipstick in Dark Cafecito
Best hydrating: Lise Watier Rouge Fondant Suprême in Reese
Best matte: Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Sexy Sienna
Best shiny: NYX Professional Makeup Shine Loud Vegan High Shine Long-Lasting Liquid Lipstick
Best satin finish: Guerlain Rouge G Satin lipstick in Brick Red
Best liquid lipstick: L’Oreal Brilliant Signature Shiny Lip Stain in Be Courageous
Best splurge: Rouge Hermès Satin Lipstick in Beige Tadelakt
Best bargain: Maybelline Color Sensational Ultimatte Slim Lipstick in More Honey

Lipstick shades for dark skin with warm undertones

Best neutral shade: Fenty Icon the Fill Semi-Matte Refillable Lipstick in Flaunty Auntie
Best long-lasting: BLK/OPL Cream Lipstick in No Filter
Best natural: RMS Beauty Wild With Desire Lipstick in Rapture
Best hydrating: Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick in Tiger
Best matte: GXVE Original Me Clean High-Performance Matte Lipstick in Loveable Me
Best shiny: Revlon Super Lustrous Glass Shine Lipstick in Sparkling Honey
Best satin finish: Anastasia Beverly Hills Satin Velvet Lipstick in Peach Amber
Best liquid lipstick: Maybelline New York SuperStay 24 2-Step Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in Bronzed Dream
Best splurge: YSL Slim Velvet Radical Matte Lipstick in True Chili
Best bargain: COVERGIRL Continuous Color Lipstick in Bistro Burgundy

The Best Lipstick Colors for Your Neutral Complexion

Brides with neutral undertones can wear a variety of colors. Those with fair skin tend to look gorgeous in shades of pink or peach while medium-skinned brides can wear mauve or coral. Brides with deeper skin look amazing in berry or wine shades. When it comes to choosing red, go with cool reds if your outfit is full of cool colors. If you’re rocking a warmer hued outfit, choose a warm red to match.