Makeup

3 Lipsticks That Work on Every Woman

Skeptical? We tested hundreds of "flattering on everyone" shades on four women with very different skin tones. Here are the winners -- and the pictures to prove it

by Sharon J. Yi

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Since we spend all our waking hours talking to pro makeup artists and celeb hairstylists, we editors are walking beauty encyclopedias. Have brittle nails? Take a fish oil supplement. Want to elongate your face? Get side bangs and contour your face with bronzer. But ask us which lipstick shades flatter women of all skin tones and we're stumped.

Skip to see which lipstick shades work on four different skin tones now.

Choosing the perfect coral, and even harder, the perfect red, can take months of trial and error. That's because finding the exact right hue depends on your undertones. If you have greenish veins and yellow undertones, then you're warm and should get colors with an orange base. On the flip side, if you have bluish veins and pinky undertones, you're cool and should get colors with a blue base.

Or so we thought.

According to some makeup artists, there are universal shades -- magical hues that flatter all of us, regardless of our skin tone or undertones. Skeptical? So were we. Which is why we spoke to celebrity makeup artist David Maderich, and Miami-based makeup artist Marissa Nemes. When they told us about a few lipstick shades that really do work on anyone, we asked four women with varying skin tones and undertones to give them a test run. Here are the results.

SEE NEXT PAGE: Light pink on fair skin with pink undertones

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products mentioned

Prestige Classic Lipstick

6.2

Lancome Juicy Tubes Original

7.1

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Maybelline New York Color Sensational Lip Color

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Too Faced Lip of Luxury

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Older comments

You're right--they absolutely work! I especially love the pink lip shades.

by GigiSD Friday, April 12, 2013 at 09:56PM Report as inappropriate

Love the coral shade! Going to have to try it.

by nursesuz77 Friday, March 1, 2013 at 05:39PM Report as inappropriate

those are gorgeous

by LittleBunny Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 09:40AM Report as inappropriate

Hold-up where is Clinique's Black Honey?!? That color looks amazing on everyone...an all-time classic.

by MizzPink Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 06:58AM Report as inappropriate

Yes to light pink, very light pink

by EricaC123 Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 06:55AM Report as inappropriate

Pink is more universal than coral, never heard of prestige brand before.

by lilas Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 10:47PM Report as inappropriate

yeah for people who are very light in skin tone the red might be too much..

by springsblue Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at 08:42AM Report as inappropriate

coral was the best for sure, but i think the shade chosen fot the red wasnt quite right for every skin tone. Very fun to see though i hope to see more like this

by Sohee Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 02:29PM Report as inappropriate

Didnt know about Coral lipsticks. Gonna search about it. Never heard of Prestige lipsticks too

by Pinky5 Friday, October 12, 2012 at 07:44AM Report as inappropriate

definitely want to check out some coral lipsticks now!

by Chris213 Thursday, October 11, 2012 at 07:44PM Report as inappropriate