Everyone can relate to the challenge of finding the perfect lipstick color. It is next to impossible, which is why many women mix 2 or 3 together to get the right shade. Some unknowingly just wear the wrong shade. As an opinionated professional makeup artist, I must say that very few women wear a flattering shade of lipstick. A major part of the problem is there aren’t many truly flattering shades out there, and there are too many available that shouldn’t be worn by anyone.
Finding the Right Shade of Lipstick
I constantly scour stores and beauty counters to find what I think is a great universal color that I would go to first for both myself and my clients. Unfortunately, I usually can’t find one! If I do find one I like, more often than not it ends up being really drying, or looks totally different once I get out of the department store lighting and see it in real light. So what is my idea of a perfect lipstick color? Something like a rosy-bronze-blush color that works with and balances out your other makeup colors.
Don’t get me wrong, there is a case for a bright red or fuchsia lip – and that would be New Year’s Eve or a black tie/red carpet event. I am talking about a color you can wear everyday, that works with almost everything in your wardrobe and makes you look beautiful and natural. We all know that the wrong lipstick can be as bad as the wrong haircut and can certainly age you by 10 years.
A Word About Dark Brown & Deep Burgundy
Unless you’re Lorde (remember, she’s under 18), there’s no reason for any woman to wear dark brown or deep burgundy lipstick – especially as she gets older. It looks too harsh and accentuates any fine lines around the lip area. This is a trend I see often in NYC, and the women wearing it seem stressed and angry! Their dark brown lips just amplify the harsh energy. When I see this, I can’t help but think how much a lighter lipstick would change their life! Or at least change how others perceive them.
Keep It Light and Simple
My best selling lipstick color is a pinky-peachy-bronze that is truly the perfect compliment to all skin tones. I will sometimes add a pink champagne gloss on top for added highlight. Any woman I put it this combo on buys it- or their husband buys it as a gift!
Men especially love how I do make up. They often tell their wives to go back and buy everything I put on them. That is because I do lighter, softer colors that make women look younger.
It is amazing how 5 minutes and a few strokes of the right makeup colors can transform a woman’s face. There is nothing more gratifying to me than seeing how happy I can make someone in such a short amount of time. We all want to look beautiful and makeup is the easiest way to make tiny adjustments that can take off years from your look!
