The Best Lipstick Shade for Every Colour Season
The most flattering lipstick shade for each of the 12 colour seasons — from warm coral to blue-red — with where to shop each. Match your lip to your undertone.
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Your undertone decides your lipstick, not your skin tone
The lipstick that makes your teeth look whiter and your face look lit is the one that matches your undertone, not your skin’s depth. Warm seasons — Spring and Autumn — glow in lip shades with a golden, coral, brick or brown base. Cool seasons — Summer and Winter — come alive in shades with a blue, pink or berry base. Get the temperature right and even a bare-lipped nude looks intentional; get it wrong and a beautiful shade turns your lips grey or your teeth yellow.
Depth and clarity fine-tune the rest. Light seasons want sheer, soft formulas; deep and bright seasons can carry saturated, opaque colour that would swamp a lighter face. Below is the single most flattering direction for each of the twelve seasons — a starting point to shop, then adjust to your own lips.
How to shop the shade
Swatch on your fingertip first — it is closer to your lip tone than the back of your hand. In daylight, the right shade makes your face look rested; the wrong one throws shadow around your mouth. Formula matters as much as colour: soft seasons suit satin and cream finishes, bright and deep seasons can take a bold matte, and light seasons look best in a sheer wash or tinted balm.
Spring — warm, clear lips
Sheer, warm coral and peach tints suit Light Spring’s delicate, sunlit colouring.
Clear coral-reds with a golden base flatter Warm Spring’s lively warmth.
Summer — cool, soft lips
Cool, soft rose-pinks in a sheer formula echo Light Summer’s airy pastels.
Blue-based berry and raspberry suit Cool Summer’s dusty, cool colouring.
Autumn — warm, muted lips
A soft, warm nude or muted rosewood suits Soft Autumn’s gentle warmth.
Earthy brick, rust and warm terracotta shades are made for Warm Autumn.
Winter — cool, clear lips
A clear, slightly cool true red is Deep Winter’s signature statement lip.
Blue-based reds and cool fuchsia give Cool Winter its icy contrast.
Ready to put it to use? Browse the 12 colour seasons → or try the colour analyzer →