Lipstick - How Does One Choose a Color?

[rhonda13000]

My apologies if this query is incorrectly categorized [in 'Fashion']; is there some kind of 'general guideline' for such, or is this purely a function preference and 'trial and error'?

It seems to me that it is 'somewhat' imprudent to be careless in making a color selection. 

[Jillieann Rose]

Hi Ronda,
I'm sure there is some formula or such, and of course there are the trends.
For me I like to use Camel Rose by Wet & Wild because my lips are small and this makes them stand out a little. If are use lighter color my lips just seem to disappear. I sometimes will use a darker color it depends on what I'm wearing and if it is evening or day time.

Jillieann

[Keira]

Ideal Lipstick color depends on skin tone, warm-cool, intensity, fair, medium, dark, undertone (yellow, orange, olive, etc).

Medium skins usually mostly tan when they go in the sun (because they've got melanin) while fair skin will mostly burn and not tan. With darker skin you can use darker lipstick: a wine lipstick if you have a fair skin will look way too strong.

A good way to know if your warm or cold is to use gold or silver jewelry next to your face. If you look better with gold earings, you've got a warm skin tone. Usually, its obvious which one looks better.

If you look almost as good in one or the other, you have a neutral skin color with a bit of pink and yellow (that's my skin color). Though neutral colors usually are not exactly neutral, they have a tendency to be a bit more on one side, cool or warm, or the other.

Mine is a medium skin tone, apricot, a warm to neutral skin color with an orange undertone. This means I shouldn't use any lipstick with cool undertones, but warm colors like copper, mocha, coral, berry looks real good on me.

A good way to find out more is just to go to a department store cosmetic department; they'll be happy to tell you exactly what you need. You don't even need to buy anything, though if you spend 30 minutes of their time, it would be a nice gesture :-).

[togetherwecan]

lipstick, as all makeup, should be the color of the place you plan to apply it, just take a different level of saturation...if your lips are plumbish in color stick to plumbs of any intensity etc. If you have a lot of pink tone to your lips avaid red lipstick as they will always turn hot pink in the end.

Makeup is meant to create or emphasize shadows...stick to what looks natural and the outcome will always be awesome.

[seldom]

lipstick, as all makeup, should be the color of the place you plan to apply it, just take a different level of saturation...if your lips are plumbish in color stick to plumbs of any intensity etc. If you have a lot of pink tone to your lips avaid red lipstick as they will always turn hot pink in the end.

Makeup is meant to create or emphasize shadows...stick to what looks natural and the outcome will always be awesome.

I pretty much learned something similar.  I was fortunate enough to be in theater in high school so I did learn how to apply makeup in my teens.  I never used it as a way to emphasize shadows (I use it to soften shadows), but rather emphisize natural features of the face I liked.

I usually use something that matches my lips natural colors, or is at least close. 

I pretty much use the same rule for blush.  I have rosey cheeks, so I use rosey blush.
I stay away from eye makeup because I do hide behind glasses.  My eyes are not a feature I like to call attention to.  I want to have the person see the glasses before the eyes. 

Makeup is rather easy for me, but I learned how to use it in my teens. 
I will say, foundation frustrates me because I have fair skin, and my skin tone changes almost daily, so getting something exactly right seems nearly impossible. 

[Jeannette]

You have to experiment. I used to think that I couldn't wear really light lipsticks/glosses but I bought a light-coloured lipstick and it looked really nice on my lips. Now, I just experiment with colours. Even if I get a colour that doesn't look that great on me, I tend to mix it with other colours and make my own.

[Suzy]

I agree.  You have to experiment.  Here is what I did to start:  I went to a dollar store and bought a bunch of different colors.  I tried them all, and found the ones that seemed to look best.  Then I bought some good stuff.  For the price of one good lipstick I got to try out lots of colors.  Plus, it was kinda fun!

Kristi

[katia]

the key is to choose a color that enhances the natural shade of your lips and your skin. things vary from person to person, of course, but as a rule, these guidelines should set you in good stead:
plum and deep red colors suit a dark skin tone best
light-brown and orangey and pink colors suit a lighter tone
brownish reds and light browns work best on those with olive skin tone. have fun

[ShyGothGirl]

I have always viewed lipstick, and makeup in general, as another part of my wardrobe. I already know what colors look best on me based on what clothing looks best on me, so that alone is a good starting point. It also depends on how much I want to accent my lips... If I am wearing a burgundy (yes burgundy looks quite nice on me as it pertains to dress clothes anyway) dress with some white accents, I could wear a soft brownish/red that wouldn't clash and wouldn't be so bold as wearing a dark burgundy (unless I am giving a presentation, then maybe to draw more attention to my face). Whereas, I could wear the same burgundy dress out to a club with fishnets and some high boots and my platinum/white lipgloss, which is like kinda over the top but looks really neat. lol

Just experiment, and build on the things you already know about the colors that work well with you and what you are gonna wear. I mean, picture wearing a red dress with a plum lipstick... meh, not so flattering... it would probably look rather gaudy actually hehehe

[Keira]

In general, its not recommended to match makeup to clothes, better to match clothes, makeup, hair-color to : skin-tone and eye color, things that you cannot change much.

Burgundy works well if you've got a cool medium to dark skin tone. White is a color that works well on cool skin tone. Some if you're using both, your obviously a cool tones. Those that can pull off a goth look without looking like zombies usually are cool toned.

[tinkerbell]

You can always use this tool.  The key is to find the right colors/shades that best suit your skin tone, so choose wisely.

tink

[ShyGothGirl]

In general, its not recommended to match makeup to clothes, better to match clothes, makeup, hair-color to : skin-tone and eye color, things that you cannot change much.

Burgundy works well if you've got a cool medium to dark skin tone. White is a color that works well on cool skin tone. Some if you're using both, your obviously a cool tones. Those that can pull off a goth look without looking like zombies usually are cool toned.

Yeah I know for sure that I am a cooler tone, being as I absolutely CANNOT wear yellow gold of any sort... I dunno, sorta makes me look ill or something when I wear it.... But Silver, White Gold, Platinum all really look good on me...

My one big NO NO color seems to be any Bright Reds.... Though Darker reds don't look too bad, weird...

Also Tink, Thanks for the cool Link (I rhymed-ed-ed)

^_^

[rhonda13000]

THANK ALL of YOU! 

I was totally 'in the dark' about this.

[Yvonne]

I have green eyes/pale skin, and I really don't like red lip stick on me. It looks too bright, and stands out alot. I like soft pinks, and apricot colours. But if you're trying to make the main attention your lips, then try something darker but make sure you wear what you think look goods on you!
Experiment, and have fun!

[saraswatidevi]

If you want to find the color red that actually matches you use the color on the inside of your mouth or squeeze the tip of a finger and hold it up to the samples. If the sample looks more orange or more purple than it is not right. You can go a little lighter or a little darker but get the same actual color.

When I tried it the first time (I learned this technique at a professional makeup class) the color didn't look like anything I would choose (kind of a brick red) but it looked so good I was convinced.

[stephanology]

I must be crazy.

I think the experimentation is part of the fun .  There are lots of rules, and some of the girls have really great concepts about how to determine what will "work" with your skin and features, but makeup is also playful and experimental, every little girl plays dressup and experiments with cheap candy lipsticks and glosses. 
I was CONVINCED that dark plums and burgundies were the thing for me until I decided to try a Neutrogena gloss, and they don't MAKE a dark berry-style gloss!  So I picked something I wouldn't normally wear, and HEY, it's my favorite lip-color now!
(OK, b4 you ask, I decided to try a Neutrogena gloss because all of their skin-care products work well for me, and I developed a ridiculous brand-loyalty.  I'm a corporate stooge, I guess!)

So anyway, the thing is to try a lot of things and see what you like, and even more, see what others like!  We are NOT the best at deciding what looks best on us, you have to poll or gauge opinions to figure out what looks best.  It's a journey as much as it's a destination!

Best luck, all!

[Nero]

The biggest guideline if a lipstick color will suit you is - your underlying skin tones.
What lies beneath your skin. (Ma used to do makeovers on the side)
Is your underlying tone pink, apricot, olive, etc?

If it's pink - you need cool tones - pinks, bluish-reds (not orangey-reds), mauves, purplish tones, etc
STAY AWAY FROM COLORS WITH AN ORANGISH OR BROWNISH TINT (except for wine or burgundy.)

Olive skin - same as pink but can go with brighter, darker colors.

Apricot, orangish skin tones - you need warm tones - peachy colors, orangey colors, orangey reds (not bluish reds), beiges, browns, etc
THINK AUTUMN COLORS. STAY AWAY FROM COOL BLUISH TONES> THEY"LL WASH YOU OUT.

So pink and olive - bluish tones COOL

Apricot, orangish beige - orangish tones WARM

[Dennis]

The biggest guideline if a lipstick color will suit you is - your underlying skin tones.
What lies beneath your skin. (Ma used to do makeovers on the side)
Is your underlying tone pink, apricot, olive, etc?

If it's pink - you need cool tones - pinks, bluish-reds (not orangey-reds), mauves, purplish tones, etc
STAY AWAY FROM COLORS WITH AN ORANGISH OR BROWNISH TINT (except for wine or burgundy.)

Olive skin - same as pink but can go with brighter, darker colors.

Apricot, orangish skin tones - you need warm tones - peachy colors, orangey colors, orangey reds (not bluish reds), beiges, browns, etc
THINK AUTUMN COLORS. STAY AWAY FROM COOL BLUISH TONES> THEY"LL WASH YOU OUT.

So pink and olive - bluish tones COOL

Apricot, orangish beige - orangish tones WARM

See this is why I would've made a lousy girl. Is this in English?

Dennis

[Nero]

ha ha I'll give it a go. Just in case more people are having trouble translating.

Cool tones - think blue, pink, white, icicles, winter

Warm tones - think peach, orange, brown, earth, chocolate, autumn

Pale or light skin always has an underlying glow. Could be pink (mine), olive, or peach.
Medium or dark skin does too. Just see if the word blue or orange applies to your skin.

Winters should never use orangey, peachy, or brownish tones. They'll white-wash you.

Autumns should never use bluish, pinky, or purply tones. They'll white-wash you.

[rondagaus]

I had a hard time with this until I had a Mary Kay makeover.  After that I paid the $100 to become a beauty consultant and now I get all the products for 50% off.  It is fun having a makeup salon right at home and I even have sold some even though I am not trying.

Ronda