Now that February is almost over and spring is around the corner, it’s time to put away those lip shades of cocoa, cranberry and scarlet and think pink (and red!). Just like putting away your winter clothes and pulling out your sleeveless tanks, you need to revamp your spring makeup, too. And the easiest way to do that is to pick out a new lip colour or two. Lipstick brightens up your whole face and is an easy way to incorporate new colours without dropping hundreds (or thousands) of dollars on new clothes. For tips on how to pick the perfect lip colour for your skin tone, see below.
Choose a lip colour that is a couple of shades lighter or darker than your natural lip colour. This is one of the easiest tricks to use, as your own lips already suit your skin tone! Experiment with reds and pinks that are just a few shades different. This will ensure you don’t purchase a lip colour that looks great in the store but makes you look, well, odd when you get it home.
Pinks are very popular this spring, so see if you can’t find a pink that works for you. If your skin tone is very light, look for pinks such as rose or baby pinks – darker skin tones, think raspberry or even fuchsia. The darker your skin tone, the more you probably want to avoid the baby pinks and roses, since those can make your skin look ashy. If your skin tone is olive, try a darker rose colour or even a touch of grape. Asian women can choose from some amazing mauve and plum colours that will complement your skin tone nicely this spring (avoid some of the brownish-pinks to keep from looking washed out.) Of course, if you’re a cream-skinned red-head and a bright pink lipstick makes you happy, you should toss all of these rules out the window and go for it!
When choosing a red lip colour, the same rules apply. Choose a softer, blue-toned red if you are very fair. If your skin tone is darker, think a cherry or strawberry red. As with the pinks, if your skin is very dark, stay away from the pink and rose reds to avoid ashiness. If you are Hispanic or Asian, try one of the very pretty plum-reds that are making their debut this spring.
Orange. Orange, believe it or not, can be worn by many women and can be a fresh spring alternative to reds or pinks. Again, make sure you try it against your skin tone, experimenting with shades just a little deeper or brighter than your natural lips. Orange lip colour was all over the runways this spring and it looked amazing!
Experiment with sheer, matte, and glossy colours, too. A lip colour can take on a whole new life when it is sheer or adds super shine, and some of the new matte colours are very sophisticated. If your skin tends to be oily or shiny, you may want to avoid anything too glossy.
And don’t forget the tried and true advice regarding warm versus cool undertones. If you have pale, porcelain skin and look best in cool colours, pick a lip colour that has a blue undertone. If your skin is red or has ruddy tones “ choose warmer colours, such as a coral.
Here are just a few of the new lip colours that are new for this spring:
Baby pink. YSL #7 Lingerie Pink.
Light rose. Rouge G lipstick Rose Desir 71 (limited edition)
Plum/Rose. Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Plum Rose
Blue Red. Estee Lauder’s Wild Violet Collection in Scarlet Siren.
Coral. Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color Soft Coral.
Orange. Rouge G Lipstick Orange Euphorique 45. Try topping this with Jill Stuart Tangerine Lip Gloss.
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