We Found Over 10 Lipstick Shades That Flatter Every Skin Tone—Here's How to Apply Them and Make Them Last

A stroke of pretty lip color is instantly uplifting—and now finding your shade is a joy, too. We asked makeup artists for picks that truly flatter everyone, and their picks share an important quality: They all have cool undertones, which look great on every complexion and create the illusion of whiter teeth. Options like Maybelline Color Sensational Cream Finish Lipstick in Blissful Berry ($6, target.com), Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Cherries in the Snow ($8, walgreens.com), and Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lipstick in Original ($34, nordstrom.com) are universal. But before you dig into sourcing new products, evaluate what you already have; while it is hard to part with a beloved lipstick, they do expire. Look for an opened-jar icon on the packaging or the bottom of the tube, and note the number inside (it's usually around 12): That's how many months it'll stay fresh after the first twist. When you're through discarding old formulas, discover more ultra-flattering hues, below—plus, we have tips on how to apply them to chic, lasting effect.

Related: 13 Moisturizing Lipsticks We Love

Always make sure your lips are well moisturized. Any emollient balm is fine, but for quick absorption, New York City makeup artist Jamie Dorman likes vitamin E-enriched Lys Beauty Speak Love Glossy Lip Treatment Oil ($12, sephora.com). Blot off any excess with a tissue to prevent the color from smearing when you apply it. If your lips are rough or really dry, simply rub them with a damp washcloth or a mild exfoliator; Hanalei Sugar Lip Scrubs ($25, verishop.com) loughs with dissolvable sugars.

Choose the color family that catches your eye, then select a level of coverage you're comfortable with—from sheer, subtle glosses to dramatic colors and stains.

Related: How to Blend Lipsticks to Make Your Own Signature Color

And if pinks, reds, and berries don't speak to you? The right nude looks natural yet polished—like you, with a little oomph. The trick is to hold bullets close to your smile in a mirror to find a seamless match to your lip color, says Nashville, Tennessee, makeup artist Claire Balest. If you have fair skin, try Burt's Bees Glossy Lipstick in Peony Dew ($9, amazon.com). Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip Color in Angel enhances medium tones ($29, macys.com). And Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk Medium works well on deep complexions ($34, sephora.com). For just subtle shine and warmth on any skin tone, consider L'Oréal Infallible Pro Gloss Plump,in Lucid Glow ($10, walgreens.com) and Minori Lip Gloss in Cozy ($22, minoribeauty.com).

Sheer shades fade evenly and are easy to reapply, but giving solid colors staying power (and preventing patchiness over time) call for a bit of strategy. Use clean fingertips to press bold hues onto your lips for a stained effect, says Balest. Or make it matte with a light dusting of translucent powder on top, suggests Dorman. To amp up color at the first sign of fading, swipe on a hydrating balm.

Styling by Elizabeth Press