The Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Perfect Shade of Brown Lipstick

Porcelain-complected and ivory-toned beauties like Jennifer Lawrence want to look for a deep brown lipstick with red undertones and earthy nudes with tints of pink. Cosenza also likes stone brown for girls with cool undertones, but make sure they're several shades darker than your natural skin tone so you don't appear washed out.

Romy Soleimani, makeup artist and beauty director at large for Beauty.com, recommends that women with fair skin should go for pinkish-brown shades. The underlying warmth to this color family will create a nice contrast with your delicate complexion. It will also bring out the natural flush in your cheeks and the brightness in your eyes.

If you have pale skin, avoid browns that lean heavily toward gray. These colors are often too light and feature frosty finishes that could make you sickly.

Giorgio Armani Rouge Ecstasy Color & Care Lipstick in Caffe ($37)

NYX Cosmetics Matte Lipstick in Maison ($6)

Tom Ford Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in Pink Guilt ($46)

Those with skin tones like Camilla Belle have more options when it comes to finding the right shade of cocoa, but don't just grab any lipstick off the shelf! While your medium complexion has a warm aspect to its tone, the peachy hues in your skin call for a lip color with a cool, taupe undertone, says Laura Geller, founder of Laura Geller Beauty. Geller also advises against brown lipsticks with red or green undertones. Because these clash with your complexion, they can make your face look flushed.

Because of their cool undertones, dusty mauves and tawny roses are your most flattering colors — they'll bring out your natural glow. Consider trying chestnut browns with reddish hues and warm caramel with beige tones, too. Cosenza says to check out pinky concrete-browns, icy mochas, and cafe con leche colors. Sounds yummy to us!

Maybelline Color Sensation Lipcolor Buffs in Touchable Taupe ($5)

Gorgeous Cosmetics Lipstick in Grounded ($25)

Vincent Longo Thinstick Lipstick in Sugar ($27)

If your skin looks like Shay Mitchell's, you are the luckiest girl in the bunch: you can wear virtually any shade of brown. Your olive and yellow undertones pair well with warm, coral browns, says Soleimani.

Cosenza suggests also trying moody red-based or vampy browns. Bold, berry-brown colors bring out your golden glow and add more warmth to your complexion. For a nude, go for colors that are sheer and reflect light with either shimmer or gloss. This look is quintessential, understated sexy on olive skin.

Nars Cosmetics 'Audacious' Lipstick in Deborah ($32)

Kevyn Aucoin Expert Lip Color in Dantrice ($35)

Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Park Ave Princess ($17)

It can be a little tricky to find the right shade of cocoa for beauties with complexions like Christina Milian. The key is to find a shade that has a distinct contrast to your natural skin tone and has shine to help reflect light off of your lips. This way you won't look washed out!

Soleimani recommends a glossy mauve brown for tan skin. Cosenza’s trick: use a nude brown lipstick, then apply a darker lip liner on the outer edges to add a bit of dimension and create an ombré look. Just remember to blend!

MAC Cosmetics Lipstick in Fleshpot ($17)

BareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Plumping Lipgloss in Risk Taker ($18)

Butter London Lippy Liquid Lipstick in Yummy Mummy ($18)

Burgundy-brown shades of lipstick almost have a regal effect on deep complexions like Lupita Nyong'o's while creating the effect of a plump pout. This is all because of the contrast between your skin and your lip color. According to Cosenza, you can rock dark, moody shades or go much lighter with colors like a metallic nude.

"Contrast is crucial when it comes to wearing brown and neutral lip shades," notes Geller, "so for dark skin tones, pale, nude browns and mauves look amazing." The shimmery highlights in these shades play beautifully off deeper skin tones. Additionally, colors like coffee and tan help bring out the natural brightness of your skin and play up your features.

L'Oréal Color Riche Lip Color in Bronzine ($6)

Armour Beauty Lip Gloss in Foxy ($24)

Laura Geller Beauty Iconic Baked Sculpting Lipstick in Soho Nude ($21)

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