7 Absolutely Essential Tips for Pulling Off Dark Lipstick
Dark lipstick can make it seem like you're trying to be Rihanna or just got confused about when Halloween is. Don't be That Girl! Here's a dark lip guide to keep you from falling into those traps.
By Carly Cardellino
1. Save your burgundy-colored lipstick for the fall months or evening events.
"A substantial color like this calls for substantial clothing," says makeup artist Sandy Linter. Textured, heavier fabrics in navy, deep greens, and even some reds are a perfect fit with burgundy, plum, or bordeaux shades. Summer colors tend to clash with these colors though, so avoid wearing it in the winter.
2. Know what shade will suit you best.
"There are four undertones when talking about burgundy: pink, brown, blue, and red," she explains. Here's how to figure out which one will look best on you:
"If you're light-eyed, pink-based burgundy colors will look amazing on you this hue makes your eyes pop," Linter says. For a lip color like Jessica Chastain's swipe on YSL Rouge Pur Couture in Rouge Feu, $34, yslbeautyus.com.
"If you have dark eyes" - like this model from the Zac Posen Fall 2013 show - "a brown burgundy will bring them out more," she adds. For a lip look like this, apply Laura Mercier Satin Lip Color in Cherrywood, $24, us.spacenk.com.
"A blue-based burgundy on the other hand, isn't too light or too dark, so it can be worn by women with light or dark eye colors," she notes. To copy Emma Stone's look, try Revlon Super Lustrous Creme Lipstick in Raisin Rage, $8, drugstore.com.
"For a deep red burgundy" - like Rihanna is wearing here - "I usually choose based off of the hair color," Linter says. "This one is more suited for brunettes because their hair balances out and can support the intense color." Try Lancôme Rouge in Love in Fiery Attitude, $26, lancome-usa.com.
Linter's trick to figuring out what lipstick shade has what base: "Take a tissue with you to the store and swipe the tester over it," she explains. "You'll be able to tell the undertone of the lipstick against the white background and choose the correct shade from there."
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3. Always take the color for a test drive.
"After you've swiped the color across the tissue in the department or drug store - and determined which shade is right for you - try it on," says Linter. "Bring a cotton swab with you and run it along the side of the lipstick where people usually don't touch it. Then, apply the Q-tip to your lips to see if it brightens your face or makes you look tired. If it lights up your complexion, that's the shade for you."
4. Apply your lipstick with a lip brush.
"The best way to put on burgundy lipstick is with a lip brush," she says. "This dark of a shade can get messy quickly -even more so than red lip color - so you want to be sure you're precisely putting it on. I swipe it on from the outer corner of the mouth to center on both the upper and lower lips, then I fill in the rest of the pout."
5. Apply liner later.
"Once you've applied your lipstick with a lip brush, run your liner in a matching shade along the perimeter of your lips to give them a borderline," she says. "Burgundy lip pencils can be overwhelming and take the focus away from the actual lip color, so to avoid that, I always put the lipstick on first."
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6. Skip the glossy finish.
"There's nothing wrong with adding lip gloss over your usual lip color to make it standout more, but this shade doesn't need any help in the attention-getting department," Linter says. "Plus, swiping on gloss can make your otherwise matte lipstick look messy, and make the color bleed onto your skin, which isn't a good look. If you're set on adding gloss into the mix though, apply it only to the center of your lips."
7. Wear it with confidence.
"A burgundy lip, no matter the undertone, is a statement and a strong one at that, so my advice is to wear it like you're going to own the room because everyone will be looking at you," she notes.
Are you into the burgundy lip color craze? Tell me in the comments below!
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