In This Story:
You know that universal moment when you swipe on a lipstick that looked divine in the tube, only to glance in the mirror and wonder if you’ve just fast-tracked yourself into an audition for “pale and tragic”? Meanwhile, your best friend is wearing the exact same shade, strutting around like she was cast as the face of a lipstick commercial. Cue the spiral: is your mirror lying, or are your lips just uncooperative?
The truth is, lipstick is not a “one-size-fits-all” fairytale. What absolutely is a smash perfection on someone else might betray you completely, and it’s not your lips’ fault. The culprit hiding in plain sight? Your undertone. Yes, that subtle undertone running beneath your skin is the reason why a classic red transforms into a bombshell statement on one person but goes clownish on another. Once you get that decoded, you stop wasting money on shades that betray you and start curating a lineup that always works in your corner.
Lipstick Meets Undertone
Lipsticks, like people, behave differently depending on who they’re with or rather, in this situation, what undertone they are on.
If You’re Cool-Toned
You’ll want lipsticks that echo your undertone’s chill vibes: blue-based reds, berry hues, wine shades, and rosy pinks. These shades cancel out sallowness and make teeth look brighter. Imagine a cranberry gloss for daytime drama or a velvety plum matte for cocktail hour. What won’t work? Orange-heavy shades, they’ll fight you like oil and water.
Nykaa Recommends:
If You’re Warm-Toned
Bring out your inner sun goddess with corals, peachy nudes, terracotta, and warm reds with hints of orange. These colours harmonise with the golden glow in your skin, making you look radiant without trying. Picture a burnt coral stain on a beach day or a cinnamon-red lipstick at dinner. What to avoid? Shades with too much blue can leave you looking muted instead of magnetic.
Nykaa Recommends:
If You’re Neutral
Congratulations, you lucky shapeshifter, you can wear the best of both worlds. Nude beige? Chic. Deep blackberry? Smoldering. True red? Iconic. The key for you is balance: avoid shades that lean too extreme on either spectrum (think neon orange or icy lilac). Everything else? Yours to play with.
Nykaa Recommends:
Lipstick Alchemy
Let us let you in on a secret: You don’t have to marry just one lipstick. Some of the most iconic looks come from layering, creating your own cocktail of tones.
Warm + Cool Fusion: Layer a warm terracotta base and dab a cool berry gloss in the centre. Result? A customised shade that adapts to your undertone without looking flat.
Nykaa Recommends:
Nude Reinvention: That “dead-looking” nude? Try it with a lip liner one shade deeper than your natural lip colour. Suddenly, it’s model-off-duty chic instead of zombie extra.
Nykaa Recommends:
The Ombre Trick: Apply a darker shade on the outer corners, blend inward with a lighter hue, and boom, instant pout enhancement without fillers.
Nykaa Recommends:
Key Takeaways
Honestly speaking, there’s no one lipstick that will carry you from Monday meetings to Friday night chaos. Instead, build a lip wardrobe: a go-to nude, a statement red, and a wild-card shade that makes you feel unstoppable. Keep your undertone in mind when shopping, test textures, and don’t shy away from layering. When your lineup works with you instead of against you, you’ll never feel betrayed by a tube of lipstick again.
FAQs
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What’s the best starter lipstick shade if I’m totally new to makeup?
Go for a “my-lips-but-better” nude like Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Original and work outward from there. It’s the safest introduction.
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What’s the best everyday lipstick shade?
It depends on your undertone, but a “my-lips-but-better” nude is universally chic. Try finding a shade one to two tones deeper than your natural lip colour.
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How do I make a shade last longer without it looking cakey?
Start with a lip liner, apply lipstick, blot with tissue, then add a second light coat. A touch of translucent powder pressed through tissue seals the deal.
