Lipstick Anxiety

Lipstick can be intimidating and I’ve heard many girls exclaim that they just can’t wear it, that lipstick is not for them…and I may have been one of those girls. But I’ve also learned that when it comes to wearing lipstick, as with anything else, you just have to know a little bit of background on how to go about the process.

The biggest lipstick obstacle is finding the best color and shade for unique you. The search for your color can be daunting as stores overwhelm us with rainbows of pinks and reds and oranges and neutrals. There are obviously numerous stores and artists that offer a range of colors, but for me, Sephora acts as a one-stop-shop. 

First, think about whether you have a fair, medium or dark skin tone. Then, figure out what type of skin undertone you have, whether it is cool or warm. There’s an easy way to do this: Survey the veins on your inside wrists. If they seem blue, you have a cool undertone. If they look to be greenish, you have warm undertones.

[Bobbi Brown - Coral Pink]

Fair Skin:

DO: light browns, pinkish nudes, apricots and corals

DON’T: dark browns – they will look too severe against your porcelain skin

COOL undertones: nudes, light mocha, light mauve

WARM undertones: shell, sand, nude peach

[Bare Minerals - Plum Brulee]

Medium Skin:

DO: plums and raspberries, like deep burgundy

DON’T: nudes – they will be too close to your natural skin color and will wash you out.

COOL undertones: rosy pinks, pomegranates and cranberries

WARM undertones: bronze, copper, cinnamon

[Nars - Fast Ride]

Dark Skin:

DO: Deep reds and browns with hints of blue or purple

DON’T: anything orange – it will bring out yellow undertones and make you look drab

COOL undertones: raisin, wine and ruby reds

WARM undertones: honey, ginger and bronze

Makeup artist, Bobbi Brown, has said that you should find a lipstick that looks good even when you are wearing zero makeup and that the most flattering color will be one or two shades darker than your natural lip color. If you've bought lipsticks in the past and aren’t perfectly happy with the shade, don’t just throw them out! You can easily blend lipsticks to get a great lip color that works for you!

If you plan on playing up your lips with a bold color, make sure the rest of your makeup, especially your eye makeup, is light. If you want to wear heavy eye makeup, opt for a light gloss or lip color that doesn’t stand out, but rather complements your eyes.

Do you have any tricks that you've found helpful in the wide world of lipstick?