Mauve lipsticks for medium skin

Mauve lipsticks are muted shades between pink and purple, softened with grey or brown. Their low chroma makes them read quieter than a pink or a plum. A mauve with more red reads rosy, one with more violet reads cooler and dustier, and lighter mauves sit close to a natural lip colour. For medium skin this page uses a reference lightness of L* 55. Contrast between lip colour and skin decides how strongly a shade stands out, and medium skin sits in the middle of the range, so shades of every depth are listed here, from very light to deep. Nudes are listed only when their lightness is within 18 L* points of the reference.

122 mauve shades listed for medium skin, grouped by undertone.

Last verified 24 October 2026. How we measure.