lipstick |ˈlɪpstɪk| noun [ mass noun ] coloured cosmetic applied to the lips from a small solid stick.
Summer is coming to a close, and before it goes, I wanted to share a fun, MINT Dentistry summer promo item with all of you. Our company recently shared a summer line of free lipsticks to promote our Be Kissable Campaign. These lipsticks are some of my favorite to wear. Stop into one of our many locations to get some for yourself while supplies last!
I had my favorite makeup artist, Desiree from EyeLoveDallas to come and try the Mint Lipsticks out on me. The three shades include, a classic cherry red, a deep dark berry color, and a subtle and nude pink. I love them all! Des got creative and we discovered that if you blend the red and berry together, it makes a really dramatic and beautiful look. To me, the lipsticks stay on well, and they leave a beautiful stain after wearing them for some time.
You have to try these out! Keep them in your purse and you’re good to go!
When it comes to lipsticks, there are so many different colors and shades of lipstick out there, and finding the perfect shade of lipstick for you can be fun, and also a little overwhelming. But let me help you get started in picking the perfect shade for you!
Determine Your Skin Tone
Did you know skin tone is the biggest determinant when looking for your best shade? Generally, we will all fall into light, medium, tan and dark skin categories. Whether you’re wearing nude, red, pinks or berry shades–it’s important to know a few helpful tips to get the best color for your particular pigmentation.
When trying to figure out your skin tone, it’s important to examine your skin in natural light. If you fall into the fair/light skin spectrum, your skin will appear to be more pale and you are likely to burn easily when going out into the sun. These tones often have freckles and pink/red hues. Medium to tan skin tones tend to be warmer in color and generally do not burn when exposed to the sun. Tan tones are better known as “olive”, and look tan even in the winter months (this would be mine!). Deep/dark skin tones never burn from the sun, and if you have this tone you are likely to have dark eyes and hair.
Another trick to tell your skin tone would be to look at the color of the veins on the inside of your arms to see if you have warm, cool or neutral undertones. If your veins appear to be blue or purple, that would be a good indication that you have cool undertones. If they appear to have a greenish hue, you are more likely to have warm skin tone. If you have difficulty deciding, you might be lucky with a neutral skin tone and you would be able to veer into both sides of the warm and cool spectrum! (People with olive skin tones usually have neutral undertones–hooray!)
How to Find the Best Shade for YOU.
To find a simple, everyday kind of lipstick color, you will want to look for a color that is one to two shades darker than your natural lip color. The best way to determine that would be to apply the shade to your lower lip, while leaving the upper lip bare. If they are totally different, keep looking–it should be very similar to your regular lip color if you’re trying to stay natural and neutral!
If you have fair or light skin, the best shades for you are going to be: light pink, coral, peach, nude colors, or beiges. If you have cool undertones, try a soft mocha and nude. If your skin is on the warmer spectrum, try pale pinks or a nude–and maybe even a little peach! For medium to beige skin tones, your best options will be: rose, mauve or berry shades. Those with cool undertones should stick with shades of pink or cranberry. Warm undertones can experiment with copper or bronze! For my tan, olive-skinned ladies, try to avoid browns and purples, and try colors with an orange undertone. Corals and deep pinks are going to look great on you. If you have a deep, darker complexion, try browns or purples like caramel, plum or wine. If you are on the cool undertone spectrum, look for wine-colored reds. Warm undertones should stick to bronze shades.
I like to wear nudes and pinks for my every day color, and then experiment with reds and berry shades when I’m going out in the evenings. But there is no “rule” to lipstick wear. It’s all about how you feel, what looks best on you and having fun with trying new colors!
NUDES:
Nude lips are my favorite every day color and look great with just about anything. They are casual and fun to use on a night out when you’re wearing a dramatic, smokey eye! The prettiest nude lip color for you will be slightly brighter or deeper than your skin tone. If you happen to be more pale, look for something with a hint of pink. Those with olive undertones or dark skin look best with beige or sandy colors.
PRETTY IN PINK:
Pinks are always fun because there are so many shades. You can play them down with a neutral look, or find a brighter pink for a summer night out. The best pink for you will be a few shades brighter than your natural lip color–but you should experiment with all kinds of shades, there are so many fun colors! These are perfect to brighten up a dark ensemble.
BERRIES PLEASE:
I love to wear a deep berry shade for evenings out and look great when wearing neutrals. These are such rich colors, you have to be careful not to make dark outfits look to somber or light, summer looks too weighed down. Again, there are so many shades–don’t limit yourself to a specific color. Experiment with color!
LADY IN RED:
Red is the most popular lipstick color, and for good reason. A red lip can dress up a plain outfit, making it look like you spent hours getting ready. However, it can be one of the hardest shades to match to your specific skin tone. If you have fair to light skin, look for dusty, pinkish red or coral. Tanned or olive skin tones look best in bright cherry red. Darker skin tones will look best with blue based reds or deep wine colors.
Keep in mind, dark lipstick shades will actually make your lips appear smaller! Lighter shades actually add some plumpness. Gloss and shimmer will also help with increasing lip volume, whereas matte finishes will make lips appear thinner. If you want your lipstick to last a little longer, try two applications–but blotting the first to create a base.
Remember to exfoliate your lips weekly to keep them fresh and smooth! I always use MINT’s chapstick to keep them from getting too dry.
What’s your favorite shade?
XO-
Sabrina
