Plum lipsticks for tan skin

Plum lipsticks are deep purple shades, from reddish aubergine to dark violet. They sit on the cool side of the colour wheel and read as a strong, dark lip. A plum with more red in it moves towards berry; one with more blue reads closer to violet, and a lower chroma makes it look dusty rather than jewel-like. For tan skin this page uses a reference lightness of L* 45. Contrast between lip colour and skin decides how strongly a shade stands out. Medium, medium-deep and deep shades are listed here; the lightest shades make a strong pale contrast against tan skin and appear on the fair, light and medium pages. Nudes are listed only when their lightness is within 18 L* points of the reference.

42 plum shades listed for tan skin, grouped by undertone.

Last verified 24 October 2026. How we measure.