Finding the perfect lipstick shade can be a challenge. With so many options on the market, it’s difficult to know which color will look best on you simply by swatching it on your hand or seeing it in the tube. Luckily, there are some tricks you can use to help determine what lipstick shade someone is wearing just from looking at a photo. Here’s how to find a lipstick color from a picture.
Look at the Base Tone
The first step is to look at the base tone of the lipstick shade. Is it warm, cool or neutral? Warm-toned lipsticks have yellow, peach or orange undertones. Cool-toned lipsticks contain hints of pink, berry or purple. Neutral lipsticks don’t lean warm or cool. Focus on the color of the lips themselves, not the lip liner or gloss on top, to determine the base tone.
Consider Skin Undertones
Along with the lipstick’s base tone, consider the model’s skin undertones too. Does she have warm olive skin, cool pink undertones or neutral tones? Lipstick colors often complement the wearer’s natural skin tone. So if the model has warm golden undertones, she’s likely wearing a warm-toned lipstick. If she has cool pink skin, she’s probably wearing a cool-toned lipstick. Matching the lipstick tone to the skin undertone helps create a harmonious look.
Analyze the Color Depth
Next, look at the depth of the lipstick color. Is it a pale nude, rich berry or deep plum shade? The depth of the color offers more clues into the lipstick type. Fair complexions tend to suit lighter lipstick colors while deeper skin tones can handle richer, bolder hues. Contextual clues like hair color and eye makeup can also help determine if the lipstick shade skews light, medium or dark depth.
Consider the Finish
The finish of the lipstick formula is also helpful to analyze. Does the lipstick have a sheer stain finish that blends into the lips? If so, that indicates a lighter, more natural looking color. Meanwhile, an opaque, full coverage formula typically means a deeper, more saturated shade. A cream finish and satin finish are somewhere in between for medium color payoff. So factor in the lipstick finish when trying to identify the color.
Use an Online Color Finder Tool
If you want to get super precise with nailing the exact lipstick color, use an online color finder tool. These allow you to upload a photo, then click on the lips to sample the color. The tool will then generate a hex code for the specific hue. You can search for lipsticks by that hex code to find perfect color matches. Popular color finder tools include the Image Color Picker by ImageColorPicker.com and Instant Eyedropper by Chrome. They provide an easy way to pinpoint any color from an image.
Swatch Similar Lipstick Shades
Once you’ve analyzed the lipstick color characteristics, it’s time to swatch. Based on the tone, depth and finish clues you observed, swatch similar lipsticks from your own collection on your arm. See if you can find a close match. Don’t forget to consider how the lipstick color might vary on actual lips compared to swatched on your arm. Test the top contenders on your lips to see which wears closest to the pictured shade.
Compare With Lipstick Reviews
Another tactic is to search for blog reviews of the lipstick shade modeled in the photo. Beauty bloggers will often provide helpful comparisons to similar colors along with photos of swatches. Seeing the lipstick color swatched on different complexions can give you a better sense of how it would look on you. Reviews also list the specific product name so you can easily purchase it yourself if it’s a perfect match.
Use AI Color Matching
Major makeup brands like L’Oreal and Sephora now offer AI-powered technology to match lipstick colors. You can upload a photo or add a product link, and the tool will analyze the color and texture. Then it provides personalized recommendations for lipsticks in your collection that are comparable to the one in the photo. This takes a lot of the guesswork out of trying to color match a lipstick yourself.
Test In-Store Lipstick Samples
When all else fails, head to the store to test actual lipstick samples based on the shade characteristics you’ve observed. Knowing whether it’s a warm red, cool pinky nude or deep berry will narrow your options. Test the lipsticks on your lips in natural lighting for the most accurate representation. And don’t forget to consider how formulas like liquid lipstick or lip stain will appear compared to a creamy bullet lipstick. Testing in-person helps ensure you walk away with the perfect match.
Conclusion
Finding a lipstick color from just a picture takes some detective work. But paying attention to the shade’s tone, depth, finish and how it complements the wearer’s complexion provides helpful clues. Use color matching tools and lipstick reviews to hone in on potential matches. And always test options in person on your actual lips for the best results. With the right analysis techniques and a few trial runs, you’ll be able to match any lipstick color from just a photo.
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Look at the base tone of the lipstick (warm, cool, or neutral) |
| 2 | Consider the model’s skin undertones |
| 3 | Analyze the color depth (light, medium or dark) |
| 4 | Look at the lipstick finish (sheer, cream, satin, etc.) |
| 5 | Use an online color finder tool |
| 6 | Swatch similar shades from your collection |
| 7 | Compare with lipstick reviews and swatches |
| 8 | Try AI color matching technology |
| 9 | Test lipstick samples in-store |