Lipstick is a piece of clothing in its own right. Whatever your skin tone, whatever the shape of your lips, whether you're a brunette or a blonde, there's always a shade out there to bring out your best. Choosing the right color for your complexion and hair color, then applying it perfectly in 6 steps: here's how to get the most out of it.
Choosing a lipstick is not something to take lightly: it enhances your features and gives an outfit its finishing touch. You need to take into account your skin tone, your hair color, the shape of your lips, and how you apply it.
How to Choose the Right Shade
Just like with clothes, it's best to try on your lipstick before buying it, to avoid any unpleasant surprises — ideally in a store where you can test the color before purchase.
To choose well, first identify your skin's undertone: is it warm (yellow-based) or cool (blue-based)? To find out, look at the color of the veins on your forearms. If they appear blue, you have a cool undertone; if they appear greenish, you have a warm undertone. A few exceptions to the rule: dark skin with red undertones falls into the cool category, while blondes with blue eyes who tan golden in the sun belong to the warm camp. More generally, cool skin tends to burn in the sun and tan very little, while warm skin turns golden after a summer of sun exposure.
Once you've identified your undertone: if it's cool, favor shades from the same family — vivid pinks, soft pink, strawberry reds. If it's warm, opt instead for peachy tones and, more broadly, oranges in all their shades.
Red Lipstick: Forever in Style
Red lipstick remains the great timeless classic, just as suited to a night out as to a day at the office — as long as you respect your undertone (warm or cool) and match it with your hair color.
| Hair Color | Cool Undertone | Warm Undertone |
|---|---|---|
| Brunette / brown | Cherry, plum, or burgundy reds | Reds with brown undertones |
| Blonde | Reds with a blue undertone | Coral, orange, or copper red |
| Redhead | Reds with a blue undertone, brick tones | Vivid orange-red |
How to Apply Lipstick in 6 Steps
Lips deserve just as much attention as facial skin. A few simple steps are all it takes for a flawless application — a bit lengthy the first time around, but well worth the effort.
- Exfoliate dead skin. A quick scrub, or failing that, a mix of sugar and a few drops of oil.
- Moisturize with a balm. How well your lipstick lasts depends on how hydrated your lips are: apply the balm before the rest of your makeup, then come back to your lips last.
- Use a lip liner. Outline the contour (cheating a little if your lips are thin) and fill in the inside with small strokes: this evens out the application and makes it last longer. Choose a liner in the same shade as your lipstick, or a natural lip-toned one that works with every shade.
- Add a touch of dimension. A dab of highlighter in the cupid's bow, blended with your fingertip, used sparingly.
- Apply the lipstick. Working from the inside of the lip outward, blotting on a tissue to remove the excess, then repeating the process.
- Finish with gloss or loose powder. Loose powder helps the lipstick last longer; a touch of gloss in the center of the lips gives a shinier result.
Matte textures suit fuller lips best. For thinner lips, it's better to add dimension with glossy textures or golden pigments. Finally, if your lips are done up carefully, it's best to keep your eye makeup light and choose a soft blush in tones that match your lipstick.
The secret to long-lasting wear: hydrate, line, apply, blot — then repeat.
