- Ali
Finding the perfect colour lipstick can be challenging. Read my guide and find out how to you can choose the perfect shade every time.
Have you ever found yourself staring blankly at the lipstick counter, feeling lost and confused? This was always a big one for me as I’ve never really known what I was doing in this department! Now give me a fabric to colour match and I’m all over it but give me a lipstick counter and I used to be a gibbering wreck! Fortunately, Arbonne has taught me a few tips that can help you in your journey to find the perfect shade. Keep reading and I’ll reveal what they are!
Firstly - when choosing a lipstick shade it really helps if you know what your skin’s undertone is. Knowing this can prove hugely beneficial when choosing both makeup shades and colours of clothes to wear. Most of us fall into one of two categories: warm or cool. Those with cool undertones tend to be a little fairer while those with warm undertones can have a golden or olive tone. If you find it really hard to determine your undertone, there’s a chance you’re neutral - which is a mixture of both.
If you have a yellow, golden, or olive hue to your skin, you will likely have a warm undertone.
You can tell your undertone is warm if the veins in your wrist look green, gold jewellery complements your skin and/or you tend to tan fairly easily.
For a warm skin tone, lip colours in warm shades will look best. So go for those really red and orangey colours.
If you have a pink, red, or bluish hue to your skin then you are a cool tone.
You can tell your undertone is cool if the veins in your wrist look blue, silver jewellery complements your tone, or you tend to burn before you tan, if you tan at all. That’s definitely me – I’ve been known to come back from holiday paler than I went!
For a cool skin tone, lip colours with blue or purple undertones will suit you best. When you next buy a red lippie, steer clear of anything orangey and head towards the deep bluish reds. Also be wary of very light colours as these will wash you out.
You won't be surprised to learn that those of you with neutral undertones look good in both silver and gold jewellery, and typically a wide spectrum of colours tend to complement your skin.
For you, it’s pretty much a free-for-all!
If you still struggle to identify your undertone but you have a pretty basic understanding of your skin tone, don’t fret. As a general rule of thumb, people with fair skin look radiant in bold and deep colours, which provide contrast to their tone. If you feel like you’re a bit more olive, then pinks, nudes, and corals will suit you well. If your skin has a darker tone, choose a berry lip or a bold dark shade.
The main thing to remember is that ultimately your lip colour is up to you. If you feel like you look best in a coral, but that doesn’t align with the “guidelines,” don't worry about it and wear that coral. At the end of the day, we all feel best in whichever choice makes us the most confident. For example, most beauty experts would tell you to stay away from shades that seem too ashy for fear of washing you out or making yourself appear dead-ish. But it’s okay to trust your instinct and go with what makes you feel great.
Have these guidelines helped you? Now you know your undertone will you make different lipstick colour decisions? Let me know what your favourite lipstick is.
