Find the Perfect Lipstick for Your Skin Tone

Lipstick colors are some of the hardest to choose.

 

Over my 20 years of experience, talking to clients and helping them find the right products for them, I found out that Choosing Lipstick color is some of the hardest to choose.

 

I know that there is a huge need for helping and educating the consumer (at any age), by simply giving them a quick/small tip on how to choose lipstick color online and in person. That quick tip is going to make a huge difference in their application and buying lipstick that they will love and use.  

 

When I asked my clients to show me how they test the colors to help them choose the right lipstick, I noticed that they all have two things in common.

1. Most people will go to the store/ makeup counter and try colorful lip makeup on a small area on the back of their hand, then go home, apply it on their lips and get disappointed that it doesn't look the same. Why did that happen? This is because the color of your lips is very different from the color of your hand, which changes the pigment of the lipstick. To find the right color for you, you have to try them on your lips. Choosing lipstick color for your skin tone is meant for the skin tone of your face.

1. When they apply the lipstick on their lips they go 3-4 times back and forth on their lips, immediately.  In doing this, you create a shade 3 to 4 times darker than the original color and that can be overwhelming because it’s too dark, and then you don’t really know what the actual color of the lipstick is. Maybe it will fit you really well, maybe it won’t.

 

*Quick tip*

Apply the lipstick on your lips by dividing your lips to 4 sections. Start by applying only once on each side from the top side on the right, starting from the center going to the corner,  then on the left and then repeat this on the bottom lip.

To make your shopping experience fun and useful, resulting in finding the right color lipstick for you, try these two tips and see if it helps, also don't be afraid to ask for assistance from the makeup artist.

How Can You Choose the Right Lipsticks for Your Skin Tone When You Buy Online? 

First, you need to determine what is your skin’s tone and undertone. Lip color can look different on different skin tones. Avoid colors that have a lot of the same pigments as your skin undertones.

Understanding Your Skin Tone and Undertone

Skin tones are categorized and described as follows:

Light/Fair: even fair all over, pink or peach 

Medium/Tan: yellow, sometimes greenish (olive/grayish) or even rosy red 

Dark/Brown: yellow or reddish

Deep/Black: yellow, reddish or cool blue/purple

Rosacea: When it comes to rosacea, you need to stay away from lipstick colors that have red or peachy undertones in them. They will make the red areas on your face much more noticeable. Find a lipstick that has a beige/white undertone, that will make your skin color pop more and help blend/lighten the rosacea.

Undertones are the neutral, warm, or cool color tones under your skin. 

 Neutral: a mix of warm and cool

 Warm: yellow, golden, peachy, sometimes ashy

 Cool: pink, red,, sometime blueish 

 

*Quick Tip*

Look at the veins under your wrist. You will be cool toned if your veins are bluish or purple. Or warm toned if your veins are greenish.

 

What lipstick color is right for me? 

Once you’ve determined your skin tone, use our handy lipstick skin tone chart to find a shade that matches you best:    

After you determine your skin tone and undertone, what's next? Look at your skin, your eye color and hair color. All of these together will give you a better understanding of how to find the perfect lipstick shade for your skin tone.

What type and texture of lipstick do you prefer, matte or shine? This will help narrow down your search. Also, make sure that you have fully read the product information to determine if it's the right formula for you.

How to Choose Lipstick Color Online

Choose the lipstick color on the website that you like and then look at your personal stuff. It can be clothing, jewelry, fruit, anything. Choose something that is the same color or closest to the lipstick color that you chose and then put the object close to your lips/face. It may sound weird, but trust me, it works! This can show you how the color affects your looks. Does your face just light up? Does the color make you look washed out or tired? Is it giving you a soft/natural look or makes you look too harsh?  

 

Make sure that the brand that you buy from does free returns or refunds, so you feel more comfortable to take the risk of ordering online.

 

Quick Tips for Finding the Perfect Lipstick Color for your Skin Tone

A. Try the lipstick on your lips, not your hand. 

B. Apply the lipstick on your lips by dividing your lips to 4 sections. Start by applying only once on each side from the top side on the right, starting from the center going to the corner,  then on the left and then repeat this on the bottom lip.

C. Choose the lipstick color from the online store, then find an object closest to the lipstick color that you chose. Put it next to your lips and see what it does to your face and how it affects your looks.

D. When it comes to rosacea you need to stay away from lipstick colors that have red or peachy undertones in them. They will make the red area on your face pop much more noticeable.  Find a lipstick that has beige undertone, that will make your skin color pop more and help blend/lighten the rosacea.

E. If you already purchased a lipstick that is too dark for you and you want to change its tone, try adding foundation and mixing them together. It will make the color much softer.  

F. Lipstick expiration date is no longer than 1 year.

Other Helpful Lipstick Tips

These tips are also a good guidance for other lip products:

Lipstick = Smooths and moisturizes.

Matte Lipstick = Shine free, most likely to stay longer than regular lipstick.

Lip Stain = Long lasting, matte finish.

Gloss Wand = A thinner formula that gives your lips a subtle sparkle and can be used with or without lipstick, matte lipstick or lip stain.

Gloss Tube = A thicker formula with a more opaque look than the wand gloss. Running from medium to high pigmentation so you can use it without other lip products (lipstick, matte lipstick or lip stain) and still get coverage. 

 

If you love your lip gloss color and want it to stay longer, first use a lip stain and immediately apply your gloss. The lip stain will dry with the gloss and help it last longer.

 

When you need to go from daytime to nighttime and you don't have time to do your makeup all over again, just change your lipstick. The lipstick will take you from a natural daytime look to a more smoky, nighttime look. 

 

I hope these tips for finding the perfect lipstick for your skin tone, and even how to buy makeup online, have helped you, and if you need more help, I created custom looks on the Puzzle Makeup website to help you find the right products/colors for you.

 

Puzzle lipsticks go on smooth and add moisture to your lips. We recommend starting with one layer first, then apply more as you see fit. Soft or dramatic.

 

Thank you.