You’ll only regret the lipstick you didn’t wear
BY PATRICIA ONG
Finding the right lipstick shade is a personal yet exciting journey. The combinations of waxes, pigments, emollients, and oils can make or break a look. Lipstick is more than just a shade — it expresses a mood or even picks you up when you’re feeling a shade of blue. For many, choosing the right lipstick may seem pretty overwhelming because of the endless options.
All lipsticks are different — shapes and sizes, undertones, and shade of skin can influence your choice of color. Since you needs a wide range of colors to pull off different looks, we created a guide to complete your stellar lipstick collection.
Texture
With so many different lipstick textures, the thought of having to choose just one can be mind-boggling. A small tip is that instead of spending your money on every type of texture, just keep a few matte options instead. You can easily change the texture by adding some shimmer or shine on top.
We do realize however that not everyone likes the feel of matte lipstick, so here’s a short guide to the most basic lipstick textures to add to your kit:
1. Mattes
These deliver full coverage with no shine, and is seriously on trend right now! Pigment with mattes are usually on a higher spectrum compared to other textures, which means it has longer wear without smudging or smearing. If you’re looking for lipsticks that have dense color, then matte will surely make your lips pop. Bold is beautiful!
2. Frosts
These lipsticks are more subtle in color due to the density of minerals in the formula, which reduces the overall pigment payoff. Frosts usually come in very light shades, so most of the time, the only thing you see is the texture of the product. It’s important to also take into consideration that although this can be fun to use, frost lipsticks tend to make your overall makeup look outdated if not used correctly. Packed with pearlescent shimmer, these colors aren’t for the faint of heart but they do add a touch of glitz and glamour on a special occasion.
3. Sheers
The lipstick that adds a kissable tint to any pout, sheer lipsticks lasts longer than lip gloss and are perfect if you want your lips to nudge for attention rather than beg for it. The finish is perfect for a natural look but can easily be built up for a stronger and bolder shade.
4. Satins and Creams
These two are perfect for everyday wear due to their medium coverage. It’s also the most widely available lipstick today. The high moisture level it has also makes it easy to apply on your lips. Creamy and satin lipsticks have a finish that comes between matte and glossy.
Color
When it comes to lipstick color, most fall into one or two categories — either brights or neutrals.
1. Brights
- Reds: Truly a classic shade that never goes out of style. This is definitely a must-have and it’s best if you collect both blue and orange based reds. When you need a product with a certain undertone, you can always use reds since they are easy to fit and manipulate to suit your needs.
- Pinks: Pinks range from baby pink and dusty rose to carnation and fuchsia. There are so many broad shades of pink, that they can be pulled off as soft and subtle to deep and rich. Bright pinks can be as glamorous as reds so it’s nice to keep a shade or two in your kit.
- Oranges and Corals: Many usually disregard orange shades, but this color helps get rid of blue tones in your complexion, giving you brighter looking skin. You can spice up your collection with some bright corals, deep oranges, and pale peaches.
2. Neutrals
- Taupe and Browns: One of the most versatile colors there is. You can achieve both dramatic or natural looks with these shades due to their rich and deep finish. This is also perfect if you want lipsticks to match your natural lip color.
- Nudes: These work well on all types of skin tones and ages. Nudes come in the form of pink and peach based shades, which easily compliments any natural makeup looks.