Best Pink Lipsticks for Every Skin Tone and Undertone | Red Apple Lipstick
When you are choosing lipstick, pink can feel soft, playful, or powerfully polished. The trick is finding the pink that works with your skin tone and undertone so it looks flattering instead of washed out or too bold.
Below you will find simple tips to figure out your tone and undertone, plus specific Red Apple pink lipstick shades that pair beautifully with fair, medium, and deep complexions.
- Learn how to identify your skin tone and undertone.
- Match pink lipstick depths and undertones to fair, medium, and deep skin.
- See real Red Apple pink shades that flatter each category.
- Get ideas for testing shades without committing to a full tube right away.
Table of Contents
How to choose your perfect pink lipstick
Pink lipstick is considered very attractive because it looks fresh and soft, and it is often easier to wear than a bold red. The key is choosing the right depth and undertone so the shade complements your natural coloring instead of fighting it.
In general:
- Cool-toned complexions look best in cool pinks with blue or lavender undertones.
- Warm-toned complexions glow in pinks with peach, coral, or golden undertones.
- Neutral undertones can wear most pinks and play with both warm and cool options.
To use this guide, first identify your skin tone, then your undertone. From there, you can scroll to your section and pick from the suggested shades that fit you best.
Step 1: Know your skin tone
Your skin tone is your surface skin color. Most people fall into one of three broad categories.
- Fair / Light: The lightest skin tones. Fair complexions usually burn easily. Light complexions may tan a little more but still stay on the lighter side.
- Medium: Light-medium, olive, and tan complexions. Many people fall into this range.
- Dark / Deep: The deepest, richest complexions with beautiful natural depth and intensity.
Step 2: Find your undertone
Your undertone is the subtle color that lives under your skin. One of the easiest ways to figure it out is by looking at the veins on the inside of your wrist in natural light.
- Cool undertone: Veins look blue or purple.
- Warm undertone: Veins look green.
- Neutral undertone: Veins look both blue and green, or it is hard to tell either way.
Once you know your skin tone and undertone, you can use the shade guides below to find flattering pink lip colors that feel like they were made for you.
Best pink lipsticks for fair and light skin tones
Fair and light skin tones usually look best in softer, more delicate pinks. Super dark or very bold pinks can sometimes feel harsh on lighter skin, while gentle rosy, mauve, and peachy pinks tend to look naturally flattering.
Use this as a guide:
- Cool undertones: Rosy pinks, pinks with blue or lavender undertones, and soft magenta shades.
- Warm undertones: Coral pinks, peachy pinks, and pinks that lean slightly toward tangerine or nude.
- Neutral undertones: You can play with most pinks in this range and switch between warm and cool options.
Best pink lipsticks for medium skin tones
Medium skin tones can usually pull off a very wide range of pinks, from soft rose to bold fuchsia. Raspberry pinks and hot pinks look especially flattering, and medium skin rarely gets washed out unless the shade is very pale and cool.
Use this as a guide:
- Cool undertones: Reach for pinks with blue, purple, or berry undertones.
- Warm undertones: Try pinks with peach, coral, or warm red undertones such as coral pinks and peachy pinks.
- Neutral undertones: Enjoy the full range, from warm corals to cool berries.
Best pink lipsticks for dark and deep skin tones
Pink lipstick looks stunning on dark and deep skin tones, especially when you choose richer, more saturated shades. Deeper berries, hot pinks, and rosy mauves stand out beautifully without looking too strong.
Use this as a guide:
- Cool undertones: Look for pinks with purple or berry undertones and blue-toned hot pinks.
- Warm undertones: Choose deeper corals, orange-toned pinks, and pinks with warm depth.
- Neutral undertones: Enjoy a mix of bold berries, fuchsias, and warm pinks.
How to try pink lipstick with less risk
There are no strict rules in makeup. These suggestions simply make it easier to narrow down shades that are likely to flatter you. If you are still unsure, the best next step is to test shades in smaller sizes.
Red Apple offers lipstick samples in both singles and bundles so you can try several pinks on your own lips before committing to a full tube.
If you would like even more help choosing your everyday and special occasion pinks, you can also read our guide to the best pink lipsticks for daytime and nighttime looks.
FAQs
How do I know if a pink lipstick is too light for my skin tone?
If your lips seem to disappear or your face looks a bit dull or chalky, the pink is probably too light or too cool for you. Try a slightly deeper shade or pick one with a bit more warmth to bring life back into your complexion.
Can one pink lipstick work for both day and night?
Yes. A neutral pink like Audrey or a medium rosy shade such as Petal to the Metal can be blotted for a soft daytime tint and applied more fully for evening. You can also pair the same lipstick with softer eye makeup for day and more definition at night.
What if my natural lip color is very pigmented?
If your lips are naturally darker, very pale pinks may not show well. In that case, choose more opaque formulas or deeper pinks like Hibiscus, Unpinkable, or Love My Kiss so the color shows over your natural lip tone.
I feel stuck between cool and warm undertones. What should I do?
If you see both blue and green in your veins or different lighting makes you look slightly different, you probably have a neutral undertone. The good news is that you can wear many types of pinks. Try a mix of warm and cool pink lipstick samples and keep the shades you feel happiest wearing.
- Pink lipstick is flattering for every skin tone when you match depth and undertone.
- Fair and light skin loves softer rosy, mauve, or peachy pinks.
- Medium and deep skin can play with richer berries, hot pinks, and bold fuchsias.
- Samples let you test several shades at home so you can keep only the ones you love.
