When reading Japanese beauty magazines or browsing beauty review websites, you’ll often see makeup recommendations based on personal color analysis, a system used to help people find shades that naturally complement their skin tone, features, and overall vibe.
In particular, terms like Yellow Base (イエベ) and Blue Base (ブルベ) appear frequently alongside seasonal categories such as Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Understanding which category you fall into can make it much easier to find lip colors that enhance your complexion naturally.
The goal of Japanese color theory is not to limit what you can wear, but to help you discover shades that harmonize with your natural coloring. While the best way to identify your personal color is through a professional consultation, not everyone has access to a personal color studio. Fortunately, there are still simple ways to get started at home.
Here’s a beginner-friendly guide to finding your perfect lip color using the Japanese personal color method.
How to Identify Your Personal Color
Japanese color theory divides undertones into two main categories:
Yellow Base (Warm Undertones)
Blue Base (Cool Undertones)
From there, each undertone is divided into seasonal palettes:
Yellow Base → Spring and Autumn
Blue Base → Summer and Winter
This creates four distinct personal color types.
Step 1: Determine if You Are Yellow Base or Blue Base
You may be Yellow Base if:
- Gold jewelry looks better on you
- Your skin has peachy, golden, or warm tones
- Coral, orange, or warm pink makeup flatters you
- You tan easily
You may be Blue Base if:
- Silver jewelry looks better on you
- Your skin has pink, rosy, or cool undertones
- Mauve, berry, and cool pink shades flatter you
- Bright orange lipstick makes you look tired
Keep in mind that many people fall somewhere in between, and lighting can affect how colors appear.
Step 2: Determine Your Season
Once you have identified your undertone, the next step is determining your seasonal palette.
Yellow Base Spring (イエベ春)
Yellow Base Spring types usually look best in bright, youthful shades with warmth. People in this category often have lighter hair and eye colors and give off a fresh, cheerful, “kawaii” impression rather than a cool or sophisticated one.
Best Colors: Coral pink, peach, apricot, warm rose, and bright tomato red.
Colors to Avoid: Grayish mauves, deep wine shades and cool purple pinks
Spring palettes pair especially well with glossy or sheer lip textures often found in Japanese makeup trends.
Lip Color Recommendations from Rei Cosmetics:
CipiCipi Dewy Film Tint R in 02 Nenmaku Peach
Fujiko Nuance Wrap Lip Tint in 01 Coral Pink
Daisy Doll Watery Lip Tint in 01 Peach Coral
Yellow Base Autumn (イエベ秋)
People who fall under Yellow Base Autumn tend to have darker hair and eye colors along with deeper, warmer undertones. Autumn types shine in rich, muted, earthy shades and often suit sophisticated, mature colors.
Best Lip Colors: Terracotta, brick red, cinnamon brown, caramel nude, burnt orange
Colors to Avoid: Icy pinks, bright blue-reds, pastel cool tones
Autumn lip colors often create a sophisticated, effortless look that pairs beautifully with soft matte textures.
Lip Color Recommendations from Rei Cosmetics:
Daisy Doll Matte Lipstick in BR-01 Reddish Brown
Canmake Melty Luminous Rouge in T04 Sweet Ganache
Fujiko Nuance Wrap Lip Tint in Fig Brown
CipiCipi Dewy Film Tint in 12 Azuki Pudding
Blue Base Summer (ブルベ夏)
Blue Base Summer types tend to suit soft, elegant, muted colors with cool undertones. People in this category often have pinkish skin with blue undertones, and veins may appear more blue beneath the skin.
Best Lip Colors: Rose pink, mauve, dusty pink, soft berry, milk tea pink
Colors to Avoid: Neon corals, orange-based reds, extremely warm browns
Many “MLBB” (my lips but better) shades popular in Japanese beauty fall into the Summer category.
Lip Color Recommendations from Rei Cosmetics:
Daisy Doll Matte Lipstick in PK-01 Dusty Pink
CipiCipi Dewy Film Tint in 07 Mode Cherry
CipiCipi Dewy Film Tint R in 05 Cherry Milk Latte
Blue Base Winter (ブルベ冬)
Winter types usually look best in vivid, high-contrast, cool-toned shades. Blue Base Winter types often have pale, porcelain-like skin with darker eye colors that create strong contrast.
Best Lip Colors: Cherry red, Wine, Raspberry, Plum, Fuchsia
Colors to Avoid: Muted beige nudes, warm orange shades, dusty browns
Winter palettes can often handle dramatic lip colors that may overpower other seasonal types.
Lip Color Recommendations from Rei Cosmetics:
CipiCipi Dewy Film Tint in 03 Cool Girl
CipiCipi Dewy Film Tint R in 01 Berry Lollipochu
Daisy Doll Watery Lip Tint in R-01 Pure Red
Borica Lip Plumper Serum in Raspberry Pink
Can You Wear Colors Outside Your Season?
Absolutely. Personal color analysis is a guide, not a rulebook. The key is adjusting the tone and opacity to better suit your natural coloring.
For example, a Blue Base person can still wear coral by choosing a softer, muted coral and a Yellow Base person can wear berry shades if they lean warmer rather than icy.
And sometimes, the perfect lip color is simply the one that makes you feel the most confident.
Ready to Try Japanese Color Theory?
The Japanese personal color method is less about covering flaws and more about enhancing harmony. Once you understand whether you are Yellow Base or Blue Base and identify your seasonal palette, finding flattering lip colors becomes much easier.
Instead of chasing every trend, you can build a lip collection filled with shades that naturally make your complexion look brighter, healthier, and more balanced while still expressing your personal style.