Knowing the best lipstick shades for medium skin tones can help you decide on a lipstick color when you are faced with an abundance of options. The right color choices will both complement your complexion and brighten your smile.
Determine Your Undertone

Always consider your skin's undertone when choosing a color. Besides the basic light, medium and dark skin tones, you can also classify a complexion as cool or warm depending on whether there is a yellow or pink hue to the skin. Shades that complement your undertone will leave you looking fresh and radiant. On the other hand, shades that clash with your coloring can leave you looking pale or washed out.

Cool Undertones
Women with medium skin tones and cool undertones may have a very faint pink tint to their cheeks or may even have pale cheeks.

Warm Undertones
Those with medium skin tones with warm undertones may have a yellow, beige, peach or gold hue to their skin.

One easy way to determine your undertone is by looking at the veins on the inside of your wrist. If the veins look blue, you're likely a 'cool'. If the veins appear greenish, you're likely a 'warm'.

Hair and Eye Color
Hair and eye color should also be taken into consideration when selecting lipstick shades for your skin tone. If your natural hair is brown and has gold, copper or auburn highlights, you'll likely look best in warm colors. The same goes for women with dark eyes or hazel-brown eyes. If your hair is ash blonde, grey, cool brown (without red tones) or black, you'll look best in cool shades. Those with blue or green eyes tend to look best in cool tones as well.

Best Colors for Cool Complexions

Women with a cool/medium skin tone can brighten their complexions by choosing lipstick shades with a blue-based pigment. Avoid neutral colors to avoid looking washed out. Medium skin tones with a cool undertone should try the following shades:

Red
Magenta
Berry
Mauve
Pinks
Rose
Coffee brown
Best Colors for Warm Complexions

Women with warm/medium skin tones look best in earth tone colors or berry and mauve shades. Avoid bright pinks and browns that are too light. The best lipstick shades for women with medium skin tones with warm undertones are:

Caramel
Rich brown
Coral
Orange or yellow based red
Deep burgundy
Wine
Mauve
Red Lipstick Shades for Medium Skin Tones

Finding the perfect shade of red lipstick may seem like an overwhelming task with all the shades of red that are available. The trick to finding the most flattering shade of red lipstick for your skin is to look for shades that work with your undertones.

If you have a cool complexion, opt for blue-based shades of red like wine or berry. If you have a warm complexion, brick reds or reds with a hint of gold or tan will complement your skin.

Which Nude Lipstick?

You should wear nude lipstick when you're aiming for a natural look. Nude lipstick can also help to balance out dramatic eye makeup. To find the right nude shade, take a look at the flesh inside your lip. The lipstick shade that matches your lips' flesh color will help to enhance this natural look yet seductive look.

Nude or brown lipstick shades that are too light can lead to a washed-out look so you'll want to opt for a nude shade that flatters your coloring. Warm tones should choose nude lipstick shades that lean toward beige while cool tones should opt for nude shades with a touch of pink.

Those with medium skin tones will look great in colors ranging from the lightest pinks to the most brilliant reds. The key is to finding colors that enhance your natural beauty is to learn which shades complement your skin's undertones. In addition to your skin, also consider your natural hair and eye color. Once you determine whether you're a 'cool' or 'warm', you'll be able to pinpoint which lipstick shades for medium skin tones work best for you.