Let’s Be Honest
How many times in your life has someone said to you, “you have lipstick on your teeth”? How many times have you found a gorgeous, dark, matte, color only to find your lips looking dry, cracked, and wrinkled after the application? Or how about this one, you work so hard to achieve a perfect matte lip look, only to have it come off within the hour. I’ve been there! That’s why I’m more than happy to share with you some tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way so that together we can achieve a perfectly smooth, long wearing, matte lip every time!
Personal Story
I had a red lipstick that at first looked completely fabulous until I went outside. It was windy and my hair, blew across my lips and cheeks like a paint brush leaving me with a few streaks of red on my cheek. The worst part was, that someone had to tell me, because I didn’t catch it. It went something like this, “Whaaaat is that on your face”? Needless to say, EMBARRASSING!
Most of us can also relate to having lipstick on our teeth along with some of the other “dreads” associated with dark lipstick. So does that mean we need to simply avoid it all together? Perish the thought. I’m going to share with you tips that truly work, so that you can easily achieve a perfectly beautiful, dark, matte, and flawless lip look.
Choosing a flattering color!
One of the most intimidating things about purchasing a red lipstick or any other dark color for that matter is that you don’t always know how it’s going to look on you without trying it first.
Here are a few tips:
I like to try the color on the back of my hand first to see how it looks on my skin. I will then hold my hand up to my face especially if I’m wearing the outfit I am looking to match.
Red Lipstick Shopping:
Typically if you are more warm toned (yellow undertones or olive toned) orangey reds are going to look good on you. Always test it out first though. Orange reds also tend to look good on neutral skin tones.
If you have more of a pink or reddish undertone, your probably going to want to stay clear of the orangey reds as they will just make you look more red and enhance your pink undertones. An exception to this would be neutralizing your skin so that there are no more pink or red undertones showing through.
If you are cool toned you may want to try more of a bluish red. Red’s with a little more of a pink tone can work here too. Some bluish red’s can also look good on warm tones so don’t be afraid to try them when looking for a color to suit you.
For deeper/dark tones, many deep, rich shades are going to look fantastic. Be careful not to go to bright here, as it can look way too over the top and not in a good way. Sometimes if you go to bright it can look artificial.
How to avoid the dreaded: LIPSTICK ON YOUR TEETH!
Be sure to do an inward blot. My favorite way to do this is with a paper towel. To see a full demonstration of this, see the resources at the bottom of this blog. This tip truly works when done correctly. It’s a step you are never going to want to skip, it makes all the difference. For those of you who would prefer to use an oil absorbing blotting paper for blotting you can try this one I found on Amazon using this affiliate link: http://amzn.to/2AWETdg.
Smooth Lips
When we wear darker lipsticks, it is very important to start with a smooth and moisturized surface. The darker colors and most matte lipsticks in general can emphasize lines and rough textured chapped lips. Matte lipsticks are also, generally made of a more drying formula. This is why, it’s important to plan ahead and prepare your lips ahead of time.
Tutorial
See the full tutorial on youtube to see all preparation steps, long wear techniques and other helpful tips including: How to add dimension to your lip look.
