Best Lipstick Shades & Colors For Indian Skin Tones

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Quick fact: It’s one of the top searches on Google when we last checked! What color of lipstick looks best on your skin tone is a question we at Nykaa get asked most often. And when we posed that to celebrity makeup artist Namrata Soni, she said, “Any lipstick color you want is fine, as long as you know your undertone.”

It's All About The Undertone

She’s absolutely right. Undertones are those base colors in your complexion that determine whether you’re a warm, neutral or cool color. And this is how you find out: Are you more likely to burn in the sun or tan? If you burn, your undertone is cooler. If you tan, your undertone is warm. Namrata has another fool-proof guide: “Look at the color of the veins on your wrist—blue usually means cool and green usually means warm, but if you can’t quite tell, you might be neutral.” Still confused? She recommends standing in the bathroom under the light wrapped in a white turby with a white towel draped around your shoulders. “Wear a gold necklace. If your skin glows you’re a warm undertone. If silver makes you sparkle you’re a cool undertone.” Now onto the best lipstick colors of all time, organized by the amount of melanin in your skin.

Here are the best lipstick shades for Indian skin, be it dusky, wheatish or fair skin:

1.For The Love Of Red

“Indians in general are scared to wear reds and brights because they don’t think they can carry them off. Here’s an easy solution: Olive skinned, dusky and yellow undertones look stunning in reds with hints of oranges. Meanwhile a shade of red lipstick with hints of wine will look superb on cooler undertones. Dusky beauties can opt for deeper berry hues.”

Nykaa Recommends: Nykaa So Matte Lipstick Collection, Notorious Red (with orange undertones), Colorbar Velvet Matte Lipstick - 58 BARE (with hints of wine), L'Oreal Paris Pure Reds Color Riche Collection Star Lipsticks - Pure Rouge (with hints of berry) and For The Love Of Red- Lakme 9 to 5 Primer + Matte Lip Color - LC MR1 Red Coat.

2. Say Pink

“I know brown is having a moment but that’s because most Indian girls think they won’t look good in brighter hues. To them I say, ‘Try pink lipsticks, both muted hues for day and brighter colors for evenings.’” She says everyone looks good in pink and you have a whole spectrum of hues to pick from, from the sheerest baby pinks to hot pinks and corally pinks in between. “And if you do want brown opt for berry or wine hued brown lipstick,” adds Namrata.

Nykaa Recommends: Nykaa Paintstix - Tender Rose 05 (with hints of lilac), NYX Professional Makeup Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick - Pink Lust, Diana Of London Pure Addiction Lipstick – 35 (neon pink) and Lakme Absolute Sculpt Matte Lipstick (a coral pink).

3. To Purple Or Not To Purple

“Please stay away from light purples that border on lilac unless you want to look like a Smurf.” Deeper shades of purple lipstick can look great on both warm and cool undertones. “I recommend plum shades that contrast beautifully with Indian skins and brown eyes.” Take your pick to relive the ’90s vibe.

Nykaa Recommends: Nykaa So Matte Lipstick - Mischievous Plum 10 M (purple with hints of berry), L.A. Colors Matte Lipstick, Entice (a pure aubergine purple) and To Purple Or Not To Purple -Lakme Absolute Matte Melt Liquid Lip Color - Wine n Dine (6ml).

Now that we’ve sorted your lipstick wardrobe, it’s time for a guide as per skin tone. Stay with us, we’re about to decode the lipstick shades for Indian skin.

4. Lipstick Shades For Dusky Skin

Contrary to popular belief, deliciously dusky skin tones are the easiest to style. Lipstick for dark skin is easier to figure out because the dusky tone acts as a great blank canvas for poppy shades. While neutral shades like copper brown and peach work brilliantly as an everyday wear, shades like red, magenta and taupe look great on dressy evenings.

Nykaa Recommends: Deborah Milano Red Lipstick - 3 Copper Blazer,Maybelline New York Color Show Matte Lipstick - Peach Personality M303, Dazller Eterna Superstay Lipstick - 917 Magenta , Nykaa So Matte Lipstick - Taupe Thrill 12 M and Lipstick Shades For Dusky Skin - Lakme 9 to 5 Weightless Matte Mousse Lip & Cheek Color - Blush Velvet (9gm)

5. Lipstick Shades For Wheatish Skin

Now it’s time to talk about the best lipstick shades for wheatish skin. Choosing lipstick shades for medium skin tone can be tough but not with our help. For daytime colors, go for nudes and lighter corals. For evenings when you need to make a statement with your pout, go for brick reds, burgundys, wines or berries. In fact, wheatish skin toned women can pull of vampy shades very well.

Nykaa Recommends: Lakme 9 to 5 Primer + Matte Lip Color - Coral Date, Nykaa Pout Perfect Lip & Cheek Velvet Matte Crayon Lipstick - Brick Me Red 04 , L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Shine On Lipstick - 907 Burgundy Craze, Huda Beauty Power Bullet Matte Lipstick - Ladies Night.

6. Lipstick Shades For Fair Skin

Picking lipstick colors for fair skin is probably the easiest, since most hues look striking on your complexion. Also, there are zero chances of you looking OTT with a vibrant color. Right from blood reds, fuchsias, to plums – there’s no color that you wouldn’t love on a fair-skinned brunette.

Nykaa Recommends: NYX Professional Makeup Powder Puff Lippie Cream - Boys Tears, Wet n Wild MegaLast Liquid Catsuit Matte Lipstick - Nice To Fuchsia , L'Oreal Paris Infallible Le Rouge Lipstick - 737 Persistent Plum and Lakme 9 to 5 Primer + Matte Lip Color - MR20 Ruby Rush.

A LIPSTICK FOR EVERY SKIN TONE WITH CELEBRITY MUA NAMRATA SONI