Undertones can be broken down into three main categories – cool, neutral and warm. Those with cool undertones tend to have a rosy tinge to their skin, those with warm undertones will have a golden or yellow tinge to their skin, and neutral is somewhere in between.
Emolyne adds: “I always encourage my clients to test and see whether they are a cool, warm or neutral undertone, as this helps them discover the shades that suit their skin tone without looking dull. I feel it is key to identify what tonal shades are the most flattering for you, to make you feel confident when rocking a nude lip.”
While this may sound slightly confusing, there are a few quick and easy ways to tell at-home. Look at the colour of any visible veins. Are they purply blue, or green? If they're the former, you probably have cool undertones, and if they're the latter, you probably have warm undertones.
Pat McGrath Labs MatteTrance Lipstick
SEPHORA COLLECTION Cream Lip Stain Matte Liquid Lipstick
Huda Beauty Power Bullet Cream Glow Sweet Nudes
Rare Beauty Lip Soufflé Matte Lip Cream
“I also recommend testing shades in natural lighting and experimenting with different tones to help pinpoint your perfect match. If ever in doubt, I always look for a nude which enhances my natural lip colour to give me an effortless look. For darker skin tones like myself, I love using nude lipsticks with warm undertones such as rich browns, warm peaches, or deep terracottas. These shades harmonise with the natural undertones of darker skin, creating an immediate sense of being pulled together.” adds Emolyne.
According to Kay, you'll also want to make sure you've got a little base makeup on when you test out different shades. “Whatever skin tone you are, and in order for a nude to look good, it’s important to ensure that you have a little coverage on the face first, as a nude lip will accentuate any discolouration,” she says. “A nude lip is definitely a make-up product that works in tandem with other cosmetics, it is not a ‘solo’ product like mascara, blusher, or bronzer.”
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