Lipstick
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Picking the Lipstick Color
Choose a color that complements the natural shade of your lips and skin.[1] Though 80% of women fall into the cool skin undertone category, don't assume you do. Try this little test to help you find out which color options are right for you: Look at the veins on your inner wrists in natural light (go outside or stand near a window). If they appear bluish, you have cool undertones. More green? You're warm.[2]
The Natural Look
Think about the color of your mouth after a good kiss: It is usually a rosy shade that is not too brown. Test different colors by covering half your mouth with lipstick and leaving the other half bare.[3]
References in the following subsections are from Womanjunction.com.[4], except where noted.
Light Skin Tones
Consider these colors:
- Light-brown beiges with pink or orange undertones.[1]
- Medium brown with pink undertones or beige lipsticks with a pink undertone.
- Browns like Mocha browns, and darker brown/pink lipsticks for an evening lip look.
- Deep plum reds like soft berry and wine reds with a blue undertone.
- Pinks such as light shiny pink lipsticks with blue undertones work well.
- Pink with a slight gold shimmer also enhances this skin tone very nicely.
Be careful of these colors:
- Extra pale browns with yellow undertones make fair skin look washed out.
- Reds with an orange undertone.
- Hot pink lipstick as it overpowers fair skins
Medium Skin Tones
Consider these colors:
- Deep reds and the Blue-reds brighten medium skin with a yellow undertone.
- Brown and warm reds will soften and look warm on medium skin.
- Rich caramel shades, medium brown with yellow or pink undertones, and creamy coffee color browns
- Pinks like rich and deep pinks. Also pinks with brown undertones enhance and flatter medium skins very well.
- Sheers, creams, and mattes can also be tried using these shades of pink.
- Olive skin looks good with brownish reds, light browns and raisin shades of lipstick.[1]
Be careful of these colors:
- Browns that are very pale can make medium skins look ashy and washed out.
Yellowish Skin Tones
Consider these colors:
- Rich, deep brown reds and deep, dark berry shades.
- Browns with a red or auburn or mahogany undertone and rich browns that resemble coffee, toffee, and chocolate colors work well with this skin tone.
- Pinks like deep berries, rich rose, and soft to medium plums with strong yellow undertones are flattering to this skin tone.
Be careful of these colors:
- Stay away from orange or reds and pink or red shades.
- Avoid pinks that are to cool and too light as these pinks can make complexion look draining.
Dark Skin Tones
- Plums, wines and deep reds [5] and reds with a blue undertone.
- Mahogany
- Almost any shade of brown color such as light browns to a rich, dark, coffee brown suits black skin tone.
- Pinks like medium and soft sheer pinks, pink in glosses and sheers with a touch of beige.
- Berries and deep roses
Be careful of these colors:
- Avoid orange and pink reds on this skin tone.
Application
- Prevent lipstick from seeping into cracks by coating the mouth with lip balm, letting it sit for five full minutes, then blotting the excess with a tissue before applying color. (For really chapped lips, gently slough off dead skin with a soft toothbrush or a damp washcloth before wiping off the balm).[3]
- To keep lipstick from bleeding, dip a cotton swab in translucent powder and roll it just outside the lip line before putting on any color.[3]
- Consider using a lip brush when filling in the mouth (it can give more control than using the tube itself).[6]
- Line the lips using lip liner, keeping to the natural lip line. Consider lining lips with a neutral pencil, even if the lip color over that is a bright shade. This way the finished mouth looks more natural and if the color fades or is “chewed” off, the layer underneath is not a bright orange or red.[6]
- Proceed to fill in the entire mouth with the lip liner pencil.[6] This will also help the lipstick color last longer. Use the side of the pencil, not the point, for filling in the rest of the mouth.[3]
- Use a lip brush and fill in the entire mouth up to the same edge as the lip pencil.[6]
- Blot with a tissue.
- You can optionally put powder over the top of the first coat of lipstick to help it last longer.[6]
- Reapply lip stick with the lip brush and blot again.[6]
- You can alternatively try staining the lipstick onto your lips: apply three coats of a deep shade, leaving it on for a few minutes, and blotting it with a tissue so only the pigment remains.[3]
- Blotting with a tissue will also help lip gloss last longer. The wetter the mouth, the less likely the gloss will stick.[3]
- To take off long-lasting lipstick, cover the mouth with Vaseline and wait a minute before wiping it off. Waterproof eye-makeup remover works quickly, too.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://www.ehow.com/how_3216_choose-lipstick-color.html
- ↑ http://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty-and-style/beauty-product-tips
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Allure. “Best Makeup Tips. Ever.” Pg 107. August 2008.
- ↑ http://www.womanjunction.com/topic/makeover/lipstick/how-to-choose-lip-color/
- ↑ http://www.ehow.com/how_3216_choose-lipstick-color.html
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Aucoin, Kevyn. “Making Faces.” Page 44.
