By Ali Finney; image from Getty
It’s way easier than you think…
Natural-looking beauty is all the rage right now, as people put down their intense contouring kits and start embracing full brows, barely-there foundation and nude lips. But nailing the right shade of neutral lipstick is really damn hard. Aside from spending a full day in Red Square swatching until the stars align, how the hell do you find the best shade for your skin tone that’s flattering—and still shows off your natural pout?
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A mistake a lot of people make is that they think a neutral lipstick should be flesh-toned, but that can wash you out. “A trick I love to use is to pull down your bottom lip and choose a shade that most closely matches the inside,” says make-up artist Mally Roncal. “That colour tends to be a little darker than your natural lip colour and looks super flattering.” Mind. Blown.
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And thankfully, in general most make-up rules apply when picking out a lipstick, says make-up artist Jamie Greenberg. For example, if you tend to wear cooler tones because you have a cooler complexion, keep up that trend when picking out your neutral. If you tend to like lipsticks with more pink in them, find a cool-based neutral; if you veer towards bricks and browns, pick a neutral with a warmer base.
From there, you can play with finishes, says Mally. “Shine gives more of a healthier, plumper lip,” she says, while matte can look a bit more flat. It all depends on your preference.
Get The Look
If you’re stuck wondering which brand best suits your lips this guide below will help you out. Try the following lipsticks if your lips are:
1/SEASHELL PINK like Elizabeth Olsen
Mimic your mouth’s natural flush with a petal-tinted bullet. Try Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge Lipstick Cream in #343 Suspense (R399).
2/ DUSTY ROSE like Jennifer Lawrence
If your skin is just on the cusp of medium and carries yellow undertones, look for a pink that leans toward khaki, like the beige- blush of Clinique Pop Lacquer Lip Colour + Primer in 05 Wink Pop (R295).
3/ TRUE BEIGE like Alicia Vikander
Your lips likely match your face, so you’ll look best in a tint that’s not overly peachy or pinky, like Yardley Supermoist in Soft Nude (R110).
4/ BROWNISH-PINK like Rihanna
Play up your pout’s brown cast with a tawny pick, such as Black Opal in In The Buff (R160).
5/ COCOA like Viola Davis
On darkest skin tones, raisin is most flattering. If you have two-toned lips, choose an opaque formula for an even effect. Try Rimmel The Only 1 Lipstick in 90s Baby (R120).
FYI – these make-up mistakes could be making your acne worse. Plus: 4 things you should know before you get permanent make-up.
This article was originally published on www.womenshealthmag.com