We’ve all been there: You’re feeling excited to try out a fabulous new lipstick color, only to come home and see it fall flat when you get in front of the mirror. It can be so disappointing when a lipstick color or lip gloss you’re drawn to doesn’t end up flattering your skin when you put it on. If you’ve been wondering how to find your perfect lipstick color, we have some tips and tricks to help guide your shade selection process. It’s as easy as asking yourself a few questions, such as:

• What are my undertones?

• Do I have cool undertones?

• Do I have warm undertones?

• Do I have neutral undertones?

What color lipstick should I wear? Start with undertones

Finding the perfect lipstick color has less to do with your skin tone, which refers to the depth of your skin, from fair (light) to deep (dark). Instead, the undertone of your skin will be the guiding force when it comes to how to find your perfect lipstick color. Skin undertones tend to fall into one of three categories: cool, warm or neutral.

Do I have cool undertones?

If you have cool undertones, you may see hues of blue, purple or pink in your skin. One way to pick up on cool undertones is by looking at the veins on the inside of your wrist. If they look blueish or violet in color, you may have cool undertones. You might also feel like silver jewelry looks better on you, and that a bright white shirt looks more flattering than a cream-colored shirt.

What lipstick color is best for me if I have cool undertones?

If your skin has cool undertones, we suggest matching like with like: Try a lipstick color that also has cool undertones. Some examples of cool-leaning lipstick colors include plum, mauve, magenta, cranberry, cherry red—all colors with a base of cool colors, such as blue and purple.

For a longwearing lip color with nourishing vitamin E, try Glo Skin Beauty Lipstick in Glaze (a shimmery plum) or Darling (a cool pink). Another fantastic option is the Triple Luxe LongLasting Naturally Moist Lipstick in Rose (a light merlot) or Natalie (a bright magenta) from jane iredale.

Do I have warm undertones?

If your skin has warm undertones, you may see hues of yellow or gold in your skin. To determine if you have warm undertones, look for greenish hues on the veins on the inside of your wrist. Greenish veins indicate that you may have warm undertones.When it comes to jewelry, you might also feel like gold makes you glow, and a cream-colored top suits you better than stark, true white.

What color lipstick should I wear if I have warm undertones?

Here’s an easy way to remember how to find the perfect lipstick color: If you have warm undertones, look for warm-hued lipsticks that have orange undertones. Look for lipstick colors in shades of peach, coral, apricot, orangey red, tangerine and brown. For a matte look, try Smart Pout Transfer-Resistant Matte Lipstick in Guru (a light peach, pictured below) or Brilliant (a subtle coral, also pictured below) from Laura Geller. If you prefer more of a creamy lip color, try Maifanshi Lipstick, which has a lightweight moisturizing texture, in OR01 (a bold apricot coral) from Koh Gen Do.

Do I have neutral color tones?

If you’re having trouble figuring out whether your skin falls into the cool or warm undertone category, it’s possible you might have neutral undertones. You might find that gold and silver jewelry looks equally flattering, and when you take a look at your veins, you might see both green and bluish tones. If this sounds like you, you likely have a neutral undertone.

What lipstick color is best for me if I have neutral undertones?

It’s a free for all! No, really: If you have neutral undertones, a variety of lipstick colors will flatter your skin. You can give both warm and cool shades a try, or look for neutral shades that have a balance of warm and cool undertones, such as red with both blue and orange undertones, like the Mineralist Hydra-Smoothing Lipstick in Courage (a classic red) from bareMinerals. For a more natural look, try Mineral Cosmetics Lipstick) in Barely Nude (a muted neutral pink, pictured below) from Youngblood.

Now that you know how to find your perfect lipstick color, it’s time to learn about some other essentials you should have in your beginner’s makeup kit.