To know your lipstick you have to know your skin tone. Then the undertone of your skin.

You know by now if you have fair, or olive, or dark skin. But take yourself outside, in the clear light of day, or as much light as a polluted sky in the city will allow, and look at yourself again. If the veins in your arms are green, you have a warm undertone. If they are blue you have a cool undertone.

Most Indian women have green undertones; only the Kareena Kapoors have blue.

Fair skin: Though you may be recommended the brightest shades by some, fair skin actually lights up with lighter shades. Go for pink, peach, apricot and corals. Not brown, no.

With warm undertone: Pink, peach, coral.

With cool undertone: Light pink, mauve.

Wheatish skin: Lucky, as you can wear many colours. Even nudes, but then use colour to highlight another feature of your face. Browns and pinks are best for you.

With warm undertone: Copper, bronze and rich brown.

With cool undertone: Red, plum, dark pink.

Dark skin: Rich brown-gold, cranberry, mocha will look good on you. No to bright orange and pink.

With warm undertone: Shades of brown, berry or honey.

With cool undertone: Plum, mocha, brick red.

Once you have chosen your lipstick, choose a lip liner of the same shade.

If you have chosen a wrong lipstick shade, don’t worry. You can mix it with another shade to get a desirable colour.

Also remember, apply lipstick first, then the lip liner. It will not only complete the look but also look natural.

But most of all, apply your instinct.