Photo by AFP RelaxSummer is the perfect time to sport bright colored lipstick, but a lot of women are a bit hesitant to do so. Erase your notions of bright lips being “cheap” because there are some pretty electric pinks and neon oranges out there that will look fun and playful on sun-kissed skin. The trick is to find the right one for you. Here are some things to consider when shopping for bright lip colors:
Warm or Cool?
First thing you need to figure out is your skin tone-are you warm or cool? Warm skin tones have more yellow-orange hues, while cool skin tones lean more towards the blue side, with little or no yellow. You can check by holding up swatches of gold and silver fabrics or foil next to your face and checking which one brightens your skin, and which makes you look sallow. Warm skin tones will look better in gold, while cool-toned women look best in silver. When picking out a bright colored lipstick, warm skin tones should lean towards oranges, while cool skin tones can get away with fuchsia.
Age Issues
Find a finish that is age appropriate. Generally, glosses have the highest shine but lowest pigment, creams are somewhere in the middle with medium pigment, but high in moisture, while matte lipsticks are opaque with pigment but have no hydration or shine whatsoever. Our lips age with the rest of our body, and if you are on the older side, it might be better to play it a little safe and pick a cream finish. This will ensure you get the hydration your lips need, which will in turn diminish fine lines and cracks on the lips. It makes a subtle statement, without going overboard. For entry-level gals, opt for a bright colored gloss.
One at a time
When doing a bright lip, remember to keep the rest of your face relatively color-free. A bright lip, blush and colorful shadow may be too reminiscent of the eighties, in not a very good way. Instead, keep the colors on the rest of your face nude, apply black liquid or gel liner as close to the lash line as possible and wing the tips a bit. Put on two coats of mascara, swipe on your bright lipstick and you are good to go.
