What does your lipstick shade say about you? Straight from the color psychologists!

Gone are the days when we were compelled to play matchy-matchy with our clothes and lipstick. Choosing the latter is now far more intuitive, and we are more likely to pick a lip color based on who we are. Or what we want to be.

Bold red? Demure pink? Femme fatale brown? Or an ironical shade of blue? What secrets are your lips spilling?

Here’s the scoop from the color psychology geniuses over at Pantone, who decode what your choice of lipstick says about you. And conversely, which lipstick should you reach for when you want to make a specific impression?

Baby pink lipstick

You are feminine and girly. You love dressing up, are impeccably groomed, and much prefer the candy-floss world of dreams and cotton clouds to the harsh realities of modern-day living.

Hot pink lipstick

More adventurous than classic red, hot pink lips are the domain of a woman who’s fun, flirt, bold and outgoing. You enjoy spending time with your girl gang and are not easily cowed down. And you keep an eye out for trends, transitioning from vintage chic to bohemian funkiness with equal élan.

Rosy lipstick

In between the baby soft pinks and the hot fuchsia versions lies a rosy pout (my signature shade!), which is primarily owned by women who love nature and the great outdoors. It’s the rosiness of glowing good health and fits the personality of a woman who is cool, calm, down to earth, and confident in her own skin.

Red lipstick

Red is bold, sensual, and look-at-me. It’s for the confident, big-city girl who doesn’t let the grass grow under her feet. But you’re not really quite as badass as you’d like to be… after all, it’s the signature color of all those ultra-chic French women for a reason. 

Classic red would not look out of place in a country club or a silk-and-pearls restaurant. It’s a color you can wear from the ballrooms of the Ritz to the bohemian seediness of Paris’ Montmartre.

In short, it’s the color of a fun-loving, passionate, energetic, independent, and highly adaptable woman with a hefty side of lady-like chic thrown in for good measure.

Berry or wine-stained lipstick

You shy away from being pastel pretty and revel in the power of your sensuality. You also like drama and are an all-or-nothing person—doing things halfway has never appealed to you.

Nude lipstick

Nude is not a look-at-me color, so it’s perfect for women who marry comfort with discreet chic. Yet, they are also very très fashion and keep an eye out for the latest trends while playing it safe with investment pieces rather than one-season wonders. This one is unlikely to rock the boat or loudly demand to be the center of attention!

Burgundy or purple lipstick

It’s edgy with a hefty dose of badass, making purple perfect for women who revel in their unconventionality and appreciate a good challenge. You don’t suffer fools too gladly and like to temper trends with your own individual flourish.

Purple lipstick

More layered than red, more mysterious than a bright pink, a purple lip is usually worn by a woman who revels in her power and femininity. She’s strong, confident, sexy, individualistic, and a bit unapproachable—not someone who suffers fools gladly.

Orange lipstick

Even though orange looks fun and bouncy, it’s not an easy color to pull off! If you gravitate towards this palette, you’re likely to be carefree, wild, vivacious, whimsical, energetic, and adventurous. You don’t mind standing out in a crowd and easily throw caution to the winds.

Brown or plum lipstick

Forget the image of racy reds and striking fuchsias—the true femme fatale wears brown. Or plum. Women who love these deep and moody shades are most likely to have a seriously adventurous streak. They’d rather play risky than safe, love challenges, and are ambitious, driven, and independent.

Blue or black lipstick

While many of us may push the envelope and experiment with black nail polish once in a while, black or blue lipstick is for the seriously daring. You don’t give a hoot about society and will go out of your way to flout traditional norms. 

You are powerful, like to remain mysterious and unapproachable and run as far away from “pretty” as possible. Your fashion statement is more ironic than trendy, and you stay young at heart always!

No lipstick (or maybe just a clear lip gloss)!

You look like you don’t care—because you really don’t. You are fuss-free, low-maintenance, and cool without caring to be cool. You are a leader rather than a follower and just want to get on with life!

Which is your favorite go-to lipstick shade? And do you agree with this analysis?