Are you wondering how to choose the perfect lipstick for your skin tone? I’ll be the first to admit that I’m somewhat of an impulsive shopper, especially when it comes to makeup. If I see one of my favorite celebs or bloggers wearing a particularly flattering shade of nude lip gloss, I’m clicking on that affiliate link faster than Kyshadows selling out. As a result, I’ve bought many items that don’t match my skin tone more times that I’d like to admit! You can never be 100% sure something is going to look good on you until you try it out, unfortunately. If you can relate to this all too familiar makeup beauty predicament, we’ve consulted some trusted beauty sources on how to choose the perfect lipstick for your skin tone. Keep reading to see what we discovered!
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1. Figure out Your Undertone
How well do you know your skin? Are you aware of your undertone? Some recommend looking at the veins on your wrist to see whether they’re more blue or green. Bluish veins typically translate to pink undertones, greenish veins mean a warmer, yellowish undertone. If you’re like me and they appear equally green and blue, it means you have a neutral undertone and you can wear just about any color. Another way to tell is by the shade of your skin. Fair skin tends to have cool undertones while olive or golden toned skin have warm undertones. If you’re still unsure, try Googling cool undertone and see if you match any of the images in the results.
2. Find What Works with Your Undertone
Once you identify what your undertone is, the fun begins! Now you can start looking into what shades work best with your particular undertone. In most cases, yellow or warm tones look beautiful in red or orange-ish shades, warm pinks, and even deep browns. Cool undertones look amazing in muted mauves, neutrals, or bold berry reds with a bluish/purplish undertone.
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3. One Undertone Does Not Fit All
No matter your skin tone, you can be either cool or warm. What I mean by this is that just because you are fair doesn’t mean all fair-toned women automatically have cool undertones. There are warm and cool in all skin tones. You can have a fair complexion with warm undertones and your BFF with darker skin can also have warm undertones. Don’t make the mistake of associating certain skin tones with certain undertones.
4. Try It on
I never had a problem with makeup testers but over the years I’ve become a little weary of using them thanks to some particularly germophobic friends. However, I’m not opposed to using a makeup tester as long as it gets disinfected it and it’ll result in getting a better makeup match. If you’re in the market for a new shade or formula of lipstick, trying it on is crucial. How else will you know if it’s close to matching your skin tone or if it offers the benefits you’re looking for? Grab a tester and swipe the lipstick on the back of your hand. Your facial skin tone is said to match closest to the skin on your hand.
5. Think about the Look You Want to Achieve
Another factor to keep in mind while you’re testing out lip colors is to think about the look you want to achieve. Do you desire a “no-makeup” makeup look or something super bold? If you want a natural look, look for something that’s close to our natural lip shade that’s like your lip color but better. On the other hand, colors that boldly contrast your natural skin color can be stunning and work well if you want to elevate your look. Just remember to keep those undertones in mind so you don’t look washed out!
6. Matte Formulas Are Your Best Bet
Do you have a preference when it comes to lipstick finishes? I think there is a time and place for all of them but when you’re trying to find the perfect match to your skin color, matte is best. The reason matte lipsticks are recommended is because the color you see in the tube is often the same as it’ll appear on your lips so there are no surprises. Another benefit of matte lips is that you have more control of the product when applying compared to other finishes and it lasts a long time!
7. Follow These Rules…or Not
Remember ladies, these are just some guidelines to help you find the best match for your unique skin tone. At the end of the day, if you love a certain shade of lipstick and it’s not a “recommended” color, but you look and feel great in it-go for it! I’m sure you’ve heard before that there are no rules to makeup and there really aren’t. Do you and what makes you feel your best. Life is way too short to only wear “safe” shades!
How did you find your favorite lip color? We’d love to know how you found your perfect match. Let us know in the comments below!
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