Wear the right shade of lipstick this season

Posted October 08, 2009 20:18:00

Kelly Misa

Philippine Daily Inquirer

LIPSTICK may be our best accessory these next few months, as a wide selection of colors tops this season’s makeup trends. From bold hues like scarlet and fuchsia to more subdued shades like coral and nude, we’ve got great options for getting a high-impact look with just a swipe of lip color. Here’s a quick guide to getting perfect lips whether you want to wear red, pink or nude lipstick.

Classic red lips. The key to wearing red is to match its undertone to your complexion. Bianca Valerio, chief makeup artist of Model Co., says: “Reds that are on the yellow or orange side have warm undertones that fit almost all skin tones; reds that are mixed with pink, blue or purple have cool undertones and look amazing on fair complexions like chinitas and light-skinned mestizas; and reds that are more on the brown side have neutral undertones that are your safest bets when you’re not sure which shade of red to use.”

Using a lip brush is the best way to apply red lipstick. Valerio suggests using small strokes following the natural outline of your lips, and filling in the rest afterward.

The trick to making your lip color last longer is by blotting lips lightly with a single sheet of tissue and applying another thin coat of color over it, recommends Shu Uemura makeup artist Angie Cruz. “Several thin layers will last longer than a single thick one.”

A softer, sexier pink. “Pink looks best paired with a neutral palette, like pink lips worn with a smoky gray shadow,” says Barbi Chan, chief makeup artist of Maybelline New York.

Getting the right shade again depends on the lipstick’s undertone. “Asian skin should use pink with a blue undertone as a peachy pink can make their skin look sallow; olive skin should stick to frosted pinks rather than reddish pinks and mestizas can use a pale or sheer shade of pink.”

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