4 Essential Lipstick Colors for Every Skin Tone

Note: This article was originally published on HerCampus.com

Before you attempt to recreate one of the many crazy makeup tutorials on YouTube, it is always best to buy the basics in case you need a simple, fast and easy way to coordinate your outfit. I love lipstick because it easily glams up a plain outfit and gives life to otherwise washed-out ensembles. Even some celebrities, such as Gwen Stefani and Marilyn Monroe, used lipstick to polish off their outfit and ultimately brand themselves with a signature color like red.

Here are four basic lip colors that every girl should own (or at least have in case of emergency), because you never know whether an impromptu outfit will call for red, purple, beige or pink!

Red
When you really want to make a statement, reach for the red tones in your arsenal of lipstick colors. Red works great if you desire to stand out, and is a must for swanky events, such as formals and prom. It can also be an everyday shade if you are confident enough to model it in the classroom.

Light Complexion: The paleness of your skin creates the perfect contrast for a bold red hue with orange undertones, like this lipstick.

Medium Complexion: Go for a classic red color to produce just the right amount of brightness for your skin tone.

Dark Complexion: You can handle deeper shades, so a maroon lip would look amazing on you.

Nude
When you want to don the most wearable of all the four essential lip colors, grab the nude lipstick in your purse. Of course, you can always go “nude” by not wearing any lipstick and swiping a layer of lip balm over your lips instead, but using nude lipstick creates a subtle yet stunning contrast. Remember, a “nude” color varies from person to person.

Light Complexion: Go for a beige color with a ruddy undertone so you don’t look washed out.

Medium Complexion: Warmer shades, such as almond and pecan, with a tint of pink help your nude lip stand out.

Dark Complexion: Variations of mocha and toffee aid in enhancing your natural pout.

Berry
Imagine eating a handful of strawberries, blueberries or blackberries and having that naturally stained color on your lips afterward. Berry tones help reconstruct that appearance, and in turn give a color that is more sophisticated than pink and more subtle than red. Choose a berry-hued lipstick when you want to be dramatic, yet casual.

Light Complexion: Vivacious tones such as raspberry complement the paleness of your skin and create a beautiful contrast.

Medium Complexion: Since your skin is in the middle of the spectrum, any berry color would work well, such as this mid-tone berry lipstick.

Dark Complexion: Opt for a vampy berry hue, one that is rich in color and packs a luxurious shot of pigment.

Pink
Pink is a great shade to use when you want to achieve a fun and flirty vibe. It will also make you appear more playful than other more serious, bold colors like red or plum. Who said you couldn’t wear a bubblegum pink lip color and chew bubblegum at the same time?

Light Complexion: Brighter colors like watermelon complement your skin without making you look too pasty.

Medium Complexion: Magenta and hot pink will help you give off the right vibe and look great.

Dark Complexion: Deeper variations of pink such as fuchsia work well with you because you can handle the intensity of the tone.

While these four lipstick options are what I consider to be essential for a collegiette to own, don’t consider this list be an end-all to your makeup concerns. If you really feel like a lipstick color suits you, by all means just use this list as a guideline. It takes time, practice and a boost of confidence to rock the more eccentric lipstick shades, such as charcoal and navy blue. If you’re more traditional like me though, these four shades are a classic staple that I don’t plan to stray away from anytime soon!