The Best Lipstick Colors for
Neutral Undertones
Neutral undertones are the lucky ones — you sit in the middle of the warm-cool spectrum, which means you have more workable lip color options than almost anyone else. Warm nudes, cool roses, classic reds, and deep berries can all look stunning on you. But that range also means it's easy to make choices that feel flat or slightly off. Knowing your specific range — and where the extremes break down — makes every lipstick purchase a better one.
Discover Your ColorsWhy Neutral Undertones Have More Lipstick Options
Neutral undertone skin has a roughly equal mix of warm (yellow, golden) and cool (pink, blue) tones beneath the surface. This balance is rare — most people lean clearly one way or the other. For lipstick, it means you don't have a strong undertone pulling in one direction that a lip color needs to align with. Both sides of the spectrum can work.
The practical result: while warm-undertone skin looks best in warm lip colors and cool-undertone skin looks best in cool ones, neutral skin can hold both warm nudes and cool roses without either looking wrong. This is why beauty editors often describe neutral undertones as "universally flattering" — the reference is to how many colors work, not that every color works equally.
The limits exist at the extremes. Very orange or very terracotta lip colors lean too warm and can make neutral skin look slightly sallow. Very grey, blue-grey, or ashy cool lip colors lean too cool and can make neutral skin look washed out. The sweet spot for neutral undertones is a genuinely wide middle range: warm nudes through classic reds to cool berry — with the extreme ends excluded.
Your Best Lipstick Shades
Warm Nudes & Peachy Roses
Warm nudes work beautifully on neutral undertones because the slight warmth resonates without clashing. A warm beige-nude or golden-pink creates a fuller-looking lip that looks polished but effortless. Soft peach-rose is particularly versatile — it has enough warmth to flatter the skin's golden notes and enough softness not to overwhelm. Warm mauve sits in the sweet spot between cool and warm and is ideal for everyday wear.
Classic & Blue-Based Reds
Classic red is neutral undertone's most iconic option — it works precisely because a true red sits in the middle of the warm-cool spectrum by nature. A blue-based crimson adds a cool richness that neutral undertones can carry without the lip looking disconnected. Warm fire-engine red adds energy and works with the golden notes. The only red to avoid: orange-red, which tips too far warm for a truly neutral skin tone.
Cool Roses & Berry Pinks
Because neutral undertones aren't committed to warmth, cool roses and berry pinks are accessible — a real advantage over warm-undertone skin, which can look ashy or washed out in the same shades. Cool rose adds a fresh, romantic quality. Raspberry rose has enough depth to be evening-appropriate. Dusty rose is the modern neutral-cool option that's universally elegant on neutral skin. Berry pink provides a rich, vibrant alternative without going into dark-plum territory.
Plums & Deep Berries
Deep shades are where neutral undertones genuinely excel. A berry plum sits in a temperature range that doesn't pull strongly warm or cool — making it flattering on neutral skin in a way it isn't on more obviously warm or cool complexions. Cool plum and deep wine rose create dramatic evening looks. Warm mulberry adds richness with enough warmth to keep the look cohesive without tipping into orange territory.
How to Wear Lipstick with Neutral Undertones
Choosing between warm and cool options
Even within neutral undertones, you may find you lean slightly warm or slightly cool — most people have a gentle pull in one direction. A simple test: hold a warm nude and a cool rose lipstick up to your lips unblended and look in natural light. The one that makes your teeth look whiter and your skin look more alive is your lean. Use this to prioritize within your wide range: if you lean slightly warm, gravitate toward warm nudes and true reds; if slightly cool, prioritize cool roses and blue-based crimsons.
Everyday lip color strategy
For daily wear, warm mauve and dusty rose are your most effortless options — they complement neutral undertones without requiring the precision that brighter or darker colors demand. Apply directly from the bullet and blot once for a soft, lived-in finish. If your lips tend to disappear, line first with a matching lip liner to give the color something to adhere to and create a defined edge that reads naturally throughout the day.
Making classic red work
Classic red on neutral undertones is one of the most powerful lipstick combinations there is. For the cleanest result, apply with a lip brush for precision, line with a true red liner, and blot once. The key: keep the rest of your makeup minimal — the lip does the work. If you're choosing between a slightly warm or slightly cool red, err toward a true red with no orange cast. Blue-based crimson adds drama for evenings.
Deep and dark shades
Berry plum and deep wine rose are ideal for evenings on neutral skin — the depth of color creates contrast against your complexion without the harshness that very dark colors can create on warm or very fair cool undertones. Line your lips carefully first — dark colors make asymmetry visible — then apply in two thin layers rather than one heavy one. Blot between layers and finish with a tiny touch of gloss at the center for dimension.
Lipstick Shades That Work Against Neutral Undertones
Extreme orange or terracotta lip colors
Very orange-based lip colors — think pumpkin, orange-red, or pure terracotta — lean too warm for truly neutral undertones. Instead of resonating with the skin's warmth, they tip the balance toward orange and can make the complexion look sallow or muddy. A warm coral or peachy-warm shade works; a pure orange does not.
Grey, ashy, or blue-grey lip colors
Lip colors with a strong grey or blue-grey base are at the extreme cool end that neutral undertones can't quite carry. They create a drained, slightly unwell quality — the lip color reads as disconnected from the skin rather than complementary. Dusty rose and cool plum are the cooler alternatives that stay within the workable range.
Very muted, washed-out nudes
Extremely pale, muted nude lip colors — particularly those formulated for very fair, cool skin — can make neutral undertones look slightly blank. The nude needs enough warmth or depth to show up against your skin. If a nude makes your lips disappear entirely, it's too muted. Choose warm nudes with some golden or peachy quality instead.
Fluorescent or neon lip colors
Highly saturated neon shades — neon pink, neon coral — don't interact well with neutral undertones because the fluorescent quality overwhelms the skin's balanced undertone and creates a clash rather than a complement. Vibrant shades work; unnaturally bright ones tend to read as costume-like rather than elevated.
Lipstick Swaps for Neutral Undertones
Swap out shades at the extremes for versions that sit in the neutral sweet spot.
Orange-red tips too warm for neutral undertones. True red sits in the middle of the spectrum — exactly where neutral undertones live.
A muted, very cool nude disappears on neutral skin. A warm nude-beige has just enough warmth to show up naturally.
Neon pink overwhelms neutral undertones. Raspberry rose has the vibrancy without the artificial quality.
Very cool-dark colors are at the extreme end neutral undertones can't carry comfortably. Berry plum hits the same depth without the cool-blue cast.
Pure orange and terracotta tip too warm. Warm coral-rose has the same warmth register with enough pink to stay balanced.
Strongly earthy browns can pull warm on neutral undertones. Warm mauve and dusty rose have the same subtlety with better undertone balance.
Which Seasonal Palette Fits Neutral Undertones?
Neutral undertones appear across several seasonal palettes, each with a slightly different emphasis on warmth, coolness, and contrast. Identifying your season refines your lip color palette from a wide range to a precise set.
Soft Autumn
Learn moreIf your neutral undertone leans slightly warm and you have medium contrast — medium brown or warm-blonde hair with medium-depth skin — Soft Autumn is a strong fit. Your best lip colors are muted and warm: dusty terracotta-rose, warm mauve, soft warm berry. Avoid bright or cool-dominant shades.
Soft Summer
Learn moreIf your neutral undertone leans slightly cool and you have low contrast — ash or cool-toned hair with light to medium skin — Soft Summer fits. Your lip colors are soft and cool-muted: dusty rose, muted berry, soft raspberry. Avoid very warm or very bright lip colors.
True Spring
Learn moreIf your neutral undertone has a bright, warm clarity to it and you have light, warm coloring, True Spring is a possibility. Your lip colors are warm and clear: warm coral-pink, peach, warm rose. The colors are brighter and warmer than Soft Autumn but share the warm-neutral quality.
Find Your Perfect Lipstick Palette
Neutral undertones have the widest workable lipstick range — but translating that range into the specific shades that are most flattering for your exact skin tone and contrast level takes precision. A personalized color analysis identifies your seasonal palette and translates it into a curated lipstick guide: the exact shades, undertone ranges, and product categories that will consistently work, and those to skip.
Get Your Color AnalysisRelated Color Guides
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Frequently Asked Questions
What lipstick colors look best on neutral undertones?
Warm nudes, classic reds, cool roses, and berry plums are all strong choices for neutral undertones. The sweet spot is the wide middle range — warm mauve, dusty rose, true red, raspberry, and berry plum all work. Avoid the extremes: very orange-warm lip colors and very grey-cool lip colors.
Can neutral undertones wear cool-toned lipstick?
Yes — neutral undertones can wear cool-toned lip colors like cool rose, dusty rose, and berry pink that would look washed out or disconnected on warm-undertone skin. The key is staying within the workable range: cool rose and raspberry yes; grey or ashy-cool no.
Can neutral undertones wear warm lipstick?
Yes — warm nudes, peachy roses, and warm mauve all work well. The warmth resonates with the golden notes in neutral skin without clashing. The limit is at the orange extreme: pure orange, strong terracotta, and orange-red tip too warm for truly neutral undertones.
What is the best red lipstick for neutral undertones?
True red or classic cherry red is the ideal choice — it sits in the middle of the warm-cool spectrum, which is exactly where neutral undertones live. Blue-based crimson works for evenings and adds drama. Avoid orange-red, which tips too warm, and very blue-toned reds, which can feel too cool.
What nude lipstick is best for neutral undertones?
A warm nude-beige or soft peachy-rose nude works best. The nude needs just enough warmth or depth to show up against your skin without disappearing. Avoid very pale, muted or grey-nude lipsticks, which can make neutral skin look blank. Warm mauve is the most versatile everyday option.
What seasons have neutral undertones?
Neutral undertones appear most often in Soft Autumn (slightly warm-neutral), Soft Summer (slightly cool-neutral), and True Spring (warm-neutral with brightness). If you're unsure which season fits, a color analysis will identify your precise palette and translate it into specific lipstick color recommendations.