There’s not much more satisfying than finding the perfect lipstick, but choosing the right shade isn’t always the easiest of tasks. It could be a red that washes you out, a so-called nude that’s a bit too reminiscent of the 90s, or a pink that’s more bubble gum than boardroom.

However, Clinique is coming to the rescue with the launch of its Even Better Pop Lip Colour Foundation. Since nude lips are (still) having a moment, the aim is to match your pre-determined foundation shade with the most flattering lipsticks for your individual skin tone.

The idea is based on the brand’s proven shade match science which can – impressively – match 99.5% of skin tones and 100% of undertones. Clinique has taken that and joined forces with a software company that usually works with interior design and pantone businesses, meaning they too are experts in finding colours that are pleasing to the eye.

Armed with that added colour knowledge, the brand then went on to scientifically match every shade from its Even Better foundation franchise with three completely new nude lipsticks for each: one naked (your lips but better), one casual (more noticeable but not too much) and one glam (the most high-impact shade).

The secret behind the shades is known as ‘the golden ratio’. It’s a maths formula that’s also often referred to as ‘divine proportions’ and is used in art and design (not to deviate but the Mona Lisa, Pepsi’s logo and the Pyramids of Giza are all designed using it) to help achieve organic and natural-looking compositions that are aesthetically pleasing. Which, really, is something that’s extremely useful when it comes to choosing lipstick.

Clinique then created an algorithm that’s able to translate those shades into the world of make-up. In turn, that helped the brand to find the foundation and lip colours that flatter each other and individual skin tones.

It sounds confusing, but to make things easier Clinique have also created an Even Better Pop Wheel (above) that features every foundation shade alongside three perfect lipsticks. For example, if you were foundation shade WN125 Mahogany, your ideal lipsticks would be 16, 25, and 29.

In total there are 144 combinations spanning 48 foundation shades and 28 brand new lipsticks, all of which are in Clinique’s comfortable, satin-finish formula that stay colour-true for up to eight hours.

Finding a perfect match has never been easier – or more appealing. 

Even Better Pop Lip Colour Foundation, from £17.50, is available online and at Clinique counters from 13 September.

Images: courtesy of Clinique