All of us have wondered, at one point or another, or have asked ourselves, "what is the best lipstick match for me?" Or even, "what is the perfect lipstick shade to go with my look/outfit?" It can be hard knowing what to choose when there are so many shade options available. 

We totally understand, but you don't have to wonder anymore. Here at Red Apple Lipstick, you can say we know a thing or two when it comes to lipstick and how to choose the right shade of it. So, we got you! And this article is all about how to get the perfect lipstick match. 

What to Know When Choosing the Perfect Lipstick Shade for You 

To get the perfect lipstick match for whatever look you want - follow our method of narrowing down your best shades.

Step 1: Look at the hues & shades that are best according to your skin tone (how light or dark your skin is).

Step 2: From that list of hues, determine what shades are best for your undertone (how warm, cool, or neutral your skin is).

Step 3: Decide what vibe or outfit you're going for out of the shades that are best for you - and you'll have your perfect match. Keep reading below for all these specific recommendations and guides.

Example: Warm, medium skin wants a natural looking lipstick for everyday. Here's how to find that: Note all shades good for Medium skin, then note which of those shades also works for warm skin - and note the hue within the shade you'll be looking for (like warm brownish pink)...then find a shade that's 1-2 shades darker than your natural lip color - would lead you to dusty rosey brown shade in Ooh La La.

In our opinion, every makeup bag should at least have 3 types of shades: My lips but better (natural looking, no-lipstick-lipstick), Pop Of Color shade, and a Just-Right-For-You-Red-Lipstick.  Once you have these three, then you can start having fun with nudes, power shades, and other fun colors that make your skin vibrant and your smile big!

Know Your Skin Tone 

Skin tone is the natural color of your skin, your surface skin color.  Your skin tone will be generally light, medium, or dark - described below.

• Fair Skin and Light Skin Tone: Fair or light skin tones will usually look best in lighter shades. Shades such as dusty pink and light pink as well as light shades of peach, coral, nudes, and dusty reds. 
• Medium Skin Tone: Medium skin tones include a broad range from medium light to olive skin, to tan complexions. Medium-toned skin can rock just about any lip color when it's the right lipstick shade. Shades such as rose, bright pink & deep pink, mauve shades, berry shades, corals, and even bright red shades (like cherry red) look great on medium skin. However, tan skin tone ladies may not always look the best with brown and purple shades. 
• Dark & Deep Skin Tone: Deeper and bolder, even bright lipstick shades will look amazing on darker/deep skin tones. Wine and plums are perfect on deeper skin, and they can rock caramel and blue-red shades amazingly. 

Know Your Undertone 

Skin undertone is the color tone or hue underneath the surface of the skin. 

• Cool Undertones- having pink, blue, or even red undertones to the skin. Skin tones with a cool undertone will have blue or purple veins on the inside of their wrist. They look better in silver jewelry rather than gold jewelry and usually will burn when in the sun for too long. In general, cool skin tones will look best in cooler lipstick undertones. The best lipstick shades will be those with blue or purple undertones as well as pink undertones. Head on over to Lipstick Colors for Cool Skin Tones article for more on this. Or click here for a gallery of lipsticks for cool undertones.
• Warm Undertones- having peachy or golden/yellow undertones. Skin tones with warm undertones will have green veins on the inside of their wrist and gold jewelry complements their skin better than silver. They will usually tan easily. The right lipstick shade for those with warm tones to their skin will be warm shades, with warm undertones. Think of shades with orange/yellow undertones like peaches and corals. Also, shades with brownish undertones like golden beige and burnt sienna. Head to Lipstick Colors for Warm Skin Tones article for more on this. Or click here for a gallery of lipsticks for warm undertones.
• Neutral Undertones- neutral tones are a mixture of both warm and cool undertones. Skin tones with neutral undertones will have veins that appear to be both blue and green or will not be able to tell what color they are. Both silver and gold jewelry will look good on a neutral skin tone. Those with a neutral undertone to their skin have it the easiest when it comes to selecting a lip color. Lipstick shades of just about any color, with either cool undertones or warm undertones, will look great on anyone that has a neutral skin undertone. And If you are neutral - keep reading below to use your hair color or special needs of your lips! 
• Olive Undertones- having either warm or neutral undertones (warm & cool) mixed with a green undertone/olive hue. Just like those with a neutral undertone, they often cannot tell if the veins are green or blue and they have an overall green or grayish cast/tint to their skin. Depending on which undertone they have, either warm or more neutral, olive skin will look its best in lipstick shades such as corals, pinks, reds, wine, and nude lipstick. 

More Tips to Help Choose the Best Lipstick Match 

Knowing your skin tone and undertone is very important to find the best lipstick match. However, they are not the only things that should be taken into consideration. 

Here are some tips that a makeup artist finds important when helping you choose the best shade of lipstick. 

Do You Want Your Lips to Look Bigger or Smaller? 

Certain lipstick shades will make your lips appear smaller than they really are while other shades can make your lips appear larger.

Darker and deep lipstick shades will make lips appear smaller - they tend to make you look older.

A lighter lipstick shade is appreciated once this change occurs due to Collagen Loss. The lighter and brighter the lipstick, the fuller lips will appear.

Lighter lipstick shades give bigger plump lips appearance.

If you have thin lips already, we suggest rocking a beautiful light nude color or any light-to-medium shade with some sheen or shimmer that suits your skin.  Avoid dark & vampy lipstick if you have thin lips.

If Your Lower Lip is Bigger Than Your Upper Lip 

For bottom-heavy lip: choose a color that suits your skin that isn't too dark. Apply a light nude shade to center upper lip. 

For top-heavy lip: try bright lipstick shade on bottom lip and slightly darker same color upper one. 

When Choosing an Everyday Shade 

If you're looking for subtle everyday lipstick shade try one that's one-two shades darker than natural lip color.

Avoid Matching Too Closely With Outfit - Or Match Precisely.

The goal when matching lipstick clothes is complementing not matching exactly.