If you're like most women, you have a love-hate relationship with lipstick: You love it in the store, then hate it when you get home. Or you leave your house to find out your made a makeup mistake. What gives? It's a struggle to find the perfect lipstick because there are many colors that seem right for you. And unless you know how to test a lipstick, you can end up with a color that's all wrong. To put an end to the madness, we asked Kimara Ahnert, celebrity makeup artist and owner of the Kimara Ahnert Makeup Studio in New York City, the best way to find a consistently appealing lip color.

Figure Out Your Skin's Undertone
Though 80 percent of women fall into the cool category, don't assume you do. Try this little test to help you find out which color options are right for you: Look at the veins on your inner wrists in natural light (go outside or stand near a window). If they appear bluish, you have cool undertones. More green? You're warm. Now go treat yourself to a new shade using this guide.

Fair Skin

>Universally flattering colors
Light brown and pinkish beige brighten a pale complexion.
Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color in Soft Blush, $22, bobbibrown.com
Motives by Loren Ridinger Rich Formula Lipstick in Pink Sand, $14, motivescosmetics.com

>If you have cool undertones
Choose nude, light mocha, light mauve
MAC Lipstick in Lovin' It, $14, maccosmetics.com
Benefit Full-Finish Lipstick in Fame Game, $18, benefitcosmetics.com
Kimara Ahnert Lip Rouge in Dolce, $26, kimara.com

>If you have warm undertones
Opt for shell, sand, or nude peach.
Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited in PK 321, $23, shuuemurausa.com
The Body Shop Lip Cake in 56, $12.50, thebodyshopusa.com
Jouer Hydrating Lipstick in Gigi, $22, jouercosmetics.com

All fair skin tones should avoid bright pink, dark bronze, and dark mocha. These rich hues will look too severe against porcelain skin.


Medium Skin

>Universally flattering colors
Plum and raspberry will play up pink undertones and create an overall glow.
Clinique Butter Shine Lipstick in Perfect Plum, $14, clinique.com
The Body Shop Lip Cake in 69, $12.50, thebodyshopusa.com

>If you have cool undertones
Try rosy pink, pomegranate, and cranberry.
Calvin Klein Delicious Fusion Moisturizing Lip Color in Stolen Kiss, $18, sephora.com
Max Factor Vivid Impact Lipcolor in Bitten, $8, drugstore.com
Rouge G de Guerlain in Giovanna, $45, saks.com

>If You Have Warm Undertones
Select bronze, copper, and cinnamon.
Neutrogena Moistureshine Lipstick SPF 20 in Caramel Kiss, $9, drugstore.com
Maybelline New York Color Sensational Lipcolor in Cinnamon Stick, $7.50, at drugstores
Estee Lauder Hydra Lustre Signature Lipstick in Cinnamon, $19.50, esteelauder.com

All medium skin tones should avoid nudes—they're too close to your natural skin color and have a tendency to leave you looking washed out.


Olive Skin

>Universally flattering colors
Light brown and dark berry will give you a sun-kissed look.
T. LeClerc Satin Lipstick in Beige Ingenu, $24, at Barneys
Lorac Breakthrough Performance Lipstick SPF 15 in Ingenue, $22, sephora.com

>If you have cool undertones
Select brick red, brown red, or caramel.
Laura Mercier Stain Lip Colour in Cherrywood, $22, lauramercier.com
Revlon Matte Lipstick in Fabulous Fig, $8, at drugstores
Buxom Big & Healthy Lipsticks in Milan, $18, sephora.com

>If you have warm undertones
See above.
Because many olive complexions are a combination of both warm and cool undertones, they can pull off the same shades.

All olive skin tones should avoid orange-reds and pinkish reds—they give your skin a sallow, I-just-stepped-off-the-spinning-teacups-ride tint.


Dark Skin

>Universally flattering colors
Dark red with a hint of blue and deep plum illuminate darker skin tones.
Avon Ultra Color Rich Lipstick in Red 2000, $6.50, avon.com
Nars Lipstick in Fast Ride, $24, narscosmetics.com

>If you have cool undertones
Go for raisin, wine, and ruby red.
Victoria's Secret Sparkling Lipstick in Spark, $14, victoriassecret.com
Maybelline New York Color Sensational Lipcolor in Plum Paradise, $7.50, at drugstores
Vincent Longo Thinstick Lipstick in London, $27, vincentlongo.com

>If you have warm undertones
Try honey, ginger, or coppery bronze.
Sonia Kashuk Luxury Lip Color in Truffle, $9, target.com
Laura Mercier Satin Lip Colour in Pink Cocoa, $22, lauramercier.com
Ramy Beauty Therapy Lipstick in Ramy Red!, $17, ramy.com

All dark skin tones should avoid anything remotely orange. It makes dark skin look drab by bringing out yellow undertones.