While you may love the color that graced your favorite celebrity’s lips in the latest edition of a fashion magazine, you may be surprised to learn that that same lipstick color may not look as good on you. Choosing a lipstick has less to do with selecting the right color than it does with selecting the color that’s right for you. When choosing a lipstick, you have to consider much more than the color of the lipstick itself. You have to take into consideration the shape of your lips, your skin coloring and much more.
Step 1
Evaluate your skin tone. If your skin tone is darker, plums, chocolates and deep reds will look best. If your skin tone is lighter, oranges, corals and pinks will look best. If your skin tone has a hint of olive coloring, brownish reds and lighter brown colors will look best. The goal is to choose a color that enhances the colors of your skin and lips and is a few shades darker than your natural coloring.
Step 2
Consider the size of your lips. Women with fuller lips tend to look best in softer, natural colors. Bright colors can be too strong and over enhance fuller lips. Women with thinner lips look best in natural tones. Darker colors may give the appearance of thinner lips. Adding clear lip gloss on top of your lipstick will give the appearance of thicker lips
Step 3
Take your hair color into consideration. Blondes look better in pink and peach colors that don’t stand out against their hair, although bright reds can also work well on blondes who want to achieve a sexy look. Brunettes look best in darker reds, brighter pinks and mauves.
Step 4
Choose a lipstick color that is no more than two shades darker than the natural color of your lips. To select a color that is only a few shades darker, apply the lipstick to one lip. If it looks only slightly darker than your natural lip, you’ve made the right choice.
Step 5
Choose a color for the occasion. As a rule of thumb, lighter colors are for day time, and darker colors are for night. Matte, sheer and cream lipstick finishes are appropriate for a day look, while glossy finishes are more appropriate for evening or formal events.
Warnings
- Pay attention to the ingredients in lip stick if you have allergies or concerns about chemicals in make-up.
