Every woman must own at least one amazing lipstick. Lipstick is a total style accessory, like a stunning pair of heels or a beautiful handbag and like heels or a handbag, there is no such thing as ‘the’ perfect lipstick. This is a great thing for there are many perfect lipsticks for every woman.
For that reason, it’s quite a bothersome when makeup artists quote blanket rules: Choose a lipstick that is two shades darker than your natural lip color, or you wear this color if you have this skin tone. You wouldn’t limit yourself in such a way when picking a clutch or pump, right? For instance, lipsticks for fair skin. Lipstick is no different–it is an accessory like any other. Treat it like one.
This is not to say there are not some guidelines. Let the following be your framework the next time you find yourself faced with a sea of lipsticks, each one screaming “pick me, pick me!”
Question 1: Do you want a bold or neutral lip?
This is the fundamental question. When picking a lipstick, deciding on the color family feels like the natural starting point. Don’t start there. Instead, start by deciding on either a neutral or bold lip. Lipsticks fall into two general categories: bold or neutral. Neutral lipsticks blend with the rest of your makeup. Bold lipsticks contrast the rest of your face. Boldness results from a lipstick’s “value,” which is ‘the lightness or darkness of a color.’
Keep in mind that not every shade within a color family is bold or neutral. A particular red lipstick can be bold, while another red lipstick can be neutral. Similarly, a color that is neutral on fair skin women may be bold on a woman with a darker complexion. For this reason, bold or neutral should be your first question.
To determine if you want a bold or neutral lip, ask whether you want your makeup to stand out? If no, then go with a neutral lipstick. If yes, then go with a bold lipstick. [Note, you should typically refrain from pairing a bright lipstick with smokey eyes. This is because you don’t want both your lipstick and your eyeshadow to be bold–otherwise, your face may look too cluttered.]
Question 2: Are you gravitating towards a particular color?
If so, go with it. Let your intuition be your guide. There are a lot of makeup artists rely too heavily on rules based on skin tone. If you have skin tone X, they say with colors A and B and avoid colors C and D. This approach is far too rigid. Certainly, skin tone can be a significant factor when considering a lipstick but do not get too wrapped up in it. Rather, view it from the perspective that some colors “compliment” certain skin tones. Of course, if you eventually decide a lipstick is too light or too dark for you, you can always darken or lighten.
Reds: Typically assigned as the boldest choice. Realize, though, that reds vary excessively. They vary from bright to dark to very sheer which means that they just add a transparent wash of color. Reds can “compliment” all skin tones. Dark pigmented reds flatter medium and darker skin tones.
Pinks: Especially versatile and always so feminine. Pink lipsticks can be a great choice for any occasion.
