We have discovered But First, Coffee a blog by Kallie Branciforte. She’s done a beautiful job of explaining how to choose the right lipstick color for your skin tone.
We love what she’s done and know that you will, too. We’ve added most of the content of her blog here for your convenience only. Please pop over to But First, Coffee to have a look.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT LIPSTICK COLOR
(THERE’S SOME SCIENCE INVOLVED!)
by Kallie Branciforte, But First, Coffee
Before I was a lipstick wearer, I found lipstick to be the most intimidating product there was when it came to makeup. I remembered how long it took me to finally feel comfortable rocking bold lips and how long it took me to really find the right colors.
I think the main reason a lot of ladies steer clear of lipsticks is that they are convinced lipstick doesn’t look good on them. It’s just not true. While there are some women who are blessed to be able to rock any color, others of us need to learn what kinds of colors look best on us.
Using my experience finding my own perfect lipstick colors, mixed with some color science I learned as an Art Major, I came up with some basic guidelines to help you find the perfect lipstick color. These are not meant to be gospel. You may have lipstick colors that don’t follow these rules and look good on you. What they are meant to be are guidelines to help you determine a color that will look good on you more effortlessly. This will help you decide between a few colors when you’re standing in the makeup aisle or help you find your most suitable shades. There’s some color science involved that makes it less of a guessing game!
Firstly, determine your skin’s color. This is a pretty easy task. Are you pale/fair, medium/olive or dark?
FAIR SKIN
Fair skin looks best with true red, red with pink undertones, magenta, and blue-toned pinks. Fair skin often has a hard time wearing a nude lip. Also, note that colors tend to look brighter on paler skin tones.
MEDIUM/OLIVE SKIN
Medium to color skin looks best with true pinks, cranberries, and brick red as well as classic nudes.
DARK SKIN
Dark skin often is best suitable for reds with burgundy or brown, dark beige, and orange-toned reds and pinks
Take this information, and add in the next layer… determining your undertone. I find this step to be the most beneficial to me and it really helps me guide my lipstick purchases. (It’s also really helpful when choosing foundation, hair colors, and clothing, too!) So, how do you determine your undertone?
YOU’RE COOL-TONED IF…
your skin appears to have a blue, red or pink tinge to it. If you hold your wrist out, bottom side up, in the sun, your veins will appear blue or purple. If you’re cool-toned, cool-toned lip colors are more likely to look flattering on you.
YOU’RE WARM-TONED IF…
your skin appears to have a yellow or peach tinge to it. If you hold your wrist out, bottom side up, in the sun, your veins will appear green or olive. If you’re warm-toned, warm-toned lip colors are more likely to look flattering on you.
YOU’RE NEUTRAL-TONED IF…
your skin doesn’t appear to follow either of these rules.Your skin appears neither more blue or more yellow in the sunlight and your veins are blue-green (not one or the other). If you’re neutral, it’s more likely you can wear lots of different colors well.
Take what you just learned and apply it. I have cool-toned fair skin. So, I can usually wear blue-toned pinks and cool reds. I don’t usually look that great in orange-toned reds or peachy tones. I also can’t pull off the nude lip look that well. If you’re warm-toned with olive skin, a warm beige or fiery red is likely to look best on you while it might be harder for you to pull off a blue-toned pink.
Head out and pick up a handful of colors using these guidelines and test them out. I suggest applying them to a make-up free face. As makeup Goddess Bobbi Brown said, “If I had to teach someone just one thing about lip color it would be this: Find a lipstick that looks good on your face when you are wearing absolutely no makeup.
To see more at But First, Coffee click the link.