Last Updated: December 29, 2022

The 25 best lip colors and shades for every skin tone.

WRITTEN BY Grove Collaborative • 24 min read

Knowing how to choose the best lip color and lip gloss colors can become quite the undertaking. Why not make things easier with our help? From lighter shades to darker shades and all shades in between, check out which lip colors we think work best for every skin tone, and get your go-to lip gloss colors and popular lipstick colors sent to your home from Grove. Not only will your makeup get delivered right to your doorstep, but we’ve found the best products for you — all you have to do is browse, buy, and celebrate clean and natural beauty.


Plus, get your questions answered below as we’ve covered must-know topics like how to find the perfect lip shade and how to choose a lip liner shade, so you won’t get left behind when it comes to proper lip-coloring tips.


This list of products was determined by ratings and reviews from Grove members.

1. Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer

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Pucker up and let your natural beauty shine with Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer with Peppermint Oil. This colored lip balm gives your lips a subtle hint of color, while moisturizing, too. Plus, it’s made with naturally derived ingredients like shea butter, beeswax, and antioxidant-rich fruit oils. It’s paraben-free, naturally fragranced, never tested on …

(104)
1 tube
$5.39
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2. Henné Organics Luxury Lip Tint

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A more natural, beautiful you starts with Henné Organics. This Henné Organics Luxury Lip Tint gives your lips a touch of color, while hydrating your lips, too. It's made with high-quality, organic ingredients like castor oil, coconut oil, and avocado oil. It’s non-GMO, gluten-free, BPA-free, and made in the USA by a women-owned business. This Henné …

(49)
0.17 oz
$21
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3. Olio E Osso Tinted Balm

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Handmade in the City of Roses, this elegant, yet every day–use Olio E Osso Tinted Balm is made in small batches to get just the right color shade every time. This lip balm is triclosan-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, and never tested on animals. It’s also made in the U.S. with responsible packaging by a women-owned business. It’s available in ten …

(76)
0.35 oz
$28
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4. Burt's Bees 100% Natural Tinted Lip Balm

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Buzz off chapped lips! This Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm helps moisturize and soothe dry lips, while giving you a pop of color. Choose from pretty hues such as hibiscus, pink blossom, red dahlia, rose, and sweet violet. This lip balm is sulfate-free, paraben-free, and Leaping Bunny–certified, plus, it comes in responsible packaging, too. A mix of …

(263)
0.15 Oz
$5.99
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5. Kari Gran Lip Whip Color Balm

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This Kari Gran Lip Whip Color Balm combines the things you love about a balm and a lipstick together for one mega-awesome beauty product. Featuring natural ingredients like organic calendula oil, camellia seed oil, and beeswax this colored lip balm nourishes and moisturizes your lips instead of masking dryness and dehydration like some other lesser …

(49)
0.25 oz
$25
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6. PYT Beauty Friends With Benefits Lip Duo

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PYT Beauty Lip Duo

This lipstick and gloss - is a perfect hydrating combo for an everyday natural look.

*Packaging may vary during vendor packaging switchout. Same great product.


CLEAN BEAUTY

Harsh chemical free
Silicone Free
Paraben, Sulfate and Phalate free
Made with nourishing She Butter, Mango Seed Butter, Grape Seed Oil, …
(24)
0.2 oz
$20
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7. Kari Gran Georgia Lip Whip

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A Grove Beauty Exclusive

Inspired by the beautiful pinks and violets of the cliffs overlooking Georgia O'Keeffe's Ghost Ranch in New Mexico, this lip whip is a cool pink with a touch of sparkle.
(18)
0.25 oz
$28.99
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8. Lily Lolo Lip Gloss

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We dare you to say, "Lily Lolo from London" three time fast. This revolutionary makeup brand based out of England creates natural beauty products like this Lily Lolo Lip Gloss to give you the coverage and look you’re searching for without all the harsh chemicals that can sometimes come with your favorite products. This natural lip gloss is …

(12)
1.5 oz
$16
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9. Axiology Lip-to-Lid Balmies Set - Of the Earth

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Get balmy radiance with the Axiology Lip-to-Lid Balmies Set in Of the Earth. These vegan, multi-use balmies are jam-packed with oils, butters, and antioxidants that nourish and hydrate your skin. Desert spice and earthy blush tones compliment your natural beauty, and zero packaging means zero waste. Flushed cheeks, popsicle-stained lips, and glowy …

(15)
1 x set of 3 Balmies
$38
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10. Ere Perez Beetroot Cheek & Lip Tint

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Long-lasting tint for cheeks and lips. This water-based formula featuring beetroot extracts to nourish and hydrate skin. Rich in antioxidants, this healthy tint acts as a natural blush/stain and lasts all day. A popular 2-in-1 product, beetroot adds vibrancy to a fresh face or over makeup. Designed in an easy applicator for fuss-free natural color.
(38)
0.15 oz
$29
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11. CLOVE + HALLOW Lip Creme

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Give your lips a buttery glow with CLOVE + HALLOW Lip Creme. Soft, velvety, and lush with color, this creme feels as sumptuous to wear as it is splendid to behold. This velvety lip creme is made with natural ingredients like jojoba, castor, and sunflower oils. Plus it’s cruelty-free! You won't just be improving the look and feel of your lips—you'll …

(22)
1.5 oz
$23
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12. Axiology Lip-to-Lid Balmies Set - Cotton Candy Skies

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Axiology Lip-to-Lid Balmies are a multi-use, wear-anywhere crayon and can be used anywhere you want to add a little color.

These crayons nourish and hydrate skin like a balm thanks to oils and antioxidants such as elderberry, hemp and plum oil. Balmies are zero waste, which means they don’t add trash to the planet - they're tube and cap free, …

(15)
1 x set of 3 Balmies
$38
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13. Alima Pure Velvet Lipstick

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Made with a luxe blend of natural oils and waxes, this lipstick moisturizes and saturates your lips in rich, hydrating color, leaving a comfortable, semi-matte finish. Velvet Lipstick performs like a lipstick, but feels like a balm.
(30)
0.1 oz
$28
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14. Ere Perez Mango Lip Honey

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Lips go wild for mango! Get glossed with crystal clear vegan lip honey. Wearable sheens add intense syrupy gloss and subtle color. Ultra-nourishing hydration that stays on. Wild mango boosts lips with vitamins & minerals. Jojoba seed oil softens delicate skin. Won’t dry out lips, just adds a juicy moisture layer. Never goopy, the honey texture is …
(5)
0.1 oz
$26
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15. RMS Lip Shine

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Purity made simple. A touch of lightweight, emollient shine on your lips is both sensuous and nourishing.
(1)
0.2 oz
$25
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16. CLOVE + HALLOW Lip Velvet

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Longwear color with moisture (really)

Not only is Lip Velvet vegan and cruelty free, it’s also long-lasting and hydrating. Find your shade and rest assured, it’ll last through the day (even the really long ones).
(18)
1.5 oz
$19
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17. Ere Perez Sesame Lip Liner

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A hero lip pencil to expertly outline and define your lips naturally. Can also fill in lips for a matte lipstick look. Featuring sesame oil to help protect and soften the skin around the lips, while delivering smooth contours and lines. A nourishing natural formula that compliments all skin tones. Easy application in a slimline pencil that blends …
(3)
0.03 oz
$21
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18. RMS Lip Liner

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Specially curated collection of classic lip liners that easily pair with your entire lipstick collection.

Precisely define lips with this richly pigmented, creamy lip liner. Built-in sharpener provides flawless application for pure lip perfection.
(3)
0.01 oz
$20
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19. RMS Wild with Desire Lipstick

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Capture the perfect color for your lips with this curated collection by RMS. Each Wild with Desire Lipstick delivers rich pigments designed to stay on your lips. Infused with moisturizing RMS beauty oil, these lipsticks provide hydration and antioxidant protection. Enjoy soft, tantalizing lips in a range of brightly bold or softly subtle colors — …

(11)
0.15 oz
$28
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20. RMS Lip2cheek

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This lip2cheek is a unique formula that combines hydration and protection with abundant mineral color for a beautiful, natural finish on both lips and cheeks. Created with nourishing organic ingredients, each unique shade can vary from a youthful sheer to a more densely colored stain.

(7)
0.17 oz
$36
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21. Vapour Beauty Elixir Lip Gloss

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Shine on with versatile color, dimension and luminosity. A fluid gloss that gives lips a boost of moisture and creates the illusion of a plumper pout.

(1)
0.17 oz
$26
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22. Vapour Beauty High Voltage Lipstick

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High-pigment lipstick with a modern point of view. Irresistible colors from sultry red to moody nude. Incredible color payoff with kissable comfort. Hydrating and long-lasting, in matte or satin finishes. Minimalist case with magnetic closure.
(4)
0.14 oz
$39.99
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23. Lily Lolo Lip Gloss Set

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Get glossy with this lip gloss set by Lily Lolo, includes colors Clear and Damson Dusk.
(11)
2 lip glosses
$28.99
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24. Kari Gran Lip Whip & Brush Set

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The Kari Gran lip brush and lip whip set is a perfect addition to your makeup bag. Great for traveling or as an everyday touch-up. The lip brush makes it easy to apply the lip colors - for a less messy, more precise application.
(13)
1 lip whip + 1 lip brush
$29.99
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25. Axiology Lip-to-Lid Balmies

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Add a pop of color to your lips, eyelids, and cheekbones with Axiology Lip-to-Lid Balmies. Each tube-free, cap-free lip crayon can be used anywhere you wish. This multi-use balm nourishes and hydrates your skin with antioxidant-rich elderberry, hemp, and plum oils that lock in moisture and leave a smooth, matte finish. Choose from a variety of …

(21)
0.12 oz
$15
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FAQs

How do I find my perfect lip shade?

It really depends on what you’re looking for from a lip color. Some people like to experiment with their lip shades and wear popular lipstick colors of the time — think back to when brown lipstick was a thing in the 90s. If that’s the case, then it’s pretty easy for you to find the best lip color as you can just pick what’s popular and what your comfortable wearing out and about.


However, for the rest of us who aren’t looking to set a new trend with our lip gloss colors, we may need a little more advice on how to find the best lip color for our skin tone. Here’s what to do — look for lip shades that are one to two shades different from your natural lip color. To test colors out, just apply the color to your bottom (or top) lip and see if the shade is within that 1-to-2 shade difference range. If it is, then, bravo, that color can be one of your everyday go-tos.


How do you apply lip color?

To get the perfect lip from your natural lip color, you’ll want to first make sure your lips are properly moisturized. Using a regular lip balm or chapstick is best to help with this. Next, follow the steps below to get your lips ready to go:


  1. Start by lining your lips with your prechosen lip liner
  2. If you’d like to use a lip primer, add the primer to your lips now before the next step (if you don’t, then skip down to step three)
  3. Take out your lipstick or lip gloss and apply it evenly over your lips
  4. Use a lip brush and your lipstick or lip gloss to fill in areas on the outer edges of your lips where the color didn’t completely cover

  5. If you’ve finished all the steps but accidently got a little bit of gloss or lipstick out of your lip lines, you can use foundation and a thin brush to cover the spot and clean up the area to make it go away.


    How do you choose a lip liner shade?

    If you’re new to using lip liner, matching one with your best lip color can be a little tricky at first, but once you figure it out, it’s easy street every time you’re looking for new lip shades. To start off, always remember that you’re going to want to go one to two shades lighter than your lipstick when it comes to lip liner. You’ll also want to make sure the shade you’re choosing for your lip liner comes from the same color scheme as your lipstick or lip gloss.


    Another big point to keep in the back of your head when working with lip gloss colors and lip shades is that you’re going to have different liners if you’re using a lot of different lipsticks or lip glosses regularly. For example, this RMS Lip Liner comes in the shade "dressed up red," so it wouldn’t be appropriate to use with nude or natural lip colors.


    What is Grove Collaborative?

    At Grove, we take the guesswork out of which products are good for you and your home. Every product meets strict standards for being nontoxic, effective, sustainable, and cruelty-free. Once you find products you love, we ship to your home on a flexible, monthly schedule.


    If you're ready to make the transition to natural cleaning, beauty, and household products, shop Grove Collaborative's natural products for the eco-friendly tools to tackle the job.

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