Makeup Tips: Your Lip Color

When it comes to your lips you can make them the centerpiece of your face or you can have them blend with the rest of your face. If you want your lips to stand out, above and beyond the rest of your face, start by putting on a sheer foundation and then set it with powder. Pick shades closest to your skin tone to even out your look. Use a light colored blush, peach in the warm months or a pink in the cold months. Stick with a neutral beige tone for your eyeshadow, single color sweep. Skip the eyeliner. Give your lashes some definition with mascara. Now, for your lips. Line with a liner in a close shade to your lipstick color and then put on your lipstick- for extra drama go for a deep red.

Red is a great and dramatic choice for lips. It is classic. Older ladies should pass on red, while those with fair skin should look for reds that contain a blue hue to them. If you have red hair you should look for reds that have a brown tone to them. If you are not sure what works for you sample some colors at your favorite beauty store. Sometimes one color will look great, until you change your clothes.

Pinks can be a fun color and very girly. Pink is more of a cool color and is best when it is cold out- but if you love your pink then use it all year. People with fair skin fair better with light, barely visible pinks. Deeper pink colors are best for people with medium or olive skin. Red heads should skip on pink when it comes to any of their makeup choices. Try it on and you will see why.

Browns, which are my favorite lipstick colors, are easier for anyone to wear. Depending on your color choice browns can be as dramatic as reds and they can be as mild as a translucent pink. Light skin in this case does not call for light lips. A chocolate colored lipstick can be very eye-catching on the lips of someone with pale skin. For regular day to day try a honey color. The darker your skin, though, the darker your brown should be- to make sure that you don't get a washed out look.

Keep an array of lip colors in your makeup tool kit. Try a different look often for fun or beauty. Makeup isn't a cookie cutter business. Makeup is fun, wild and different- so use it that way!

Resource: Woman's Face: Skin Care and Makeup, Kim Johnson, 1997