Beauty Tips for Applying Lip Color and Lip Gloss

Looking for a way to give that instant facelift without a lot of time? Knowing how to pick the right lip color or lip-gloss and how to apply it makes your time in front of the mirror a lot faster. By having the right products on hand, you can quickly get ready for a day on the beach to a night out without a lot of fuss. We’ve all tried buying a lip color only to discover it’s all wrong for us, or had the dud brand that left melted streaks on our lips. So how do you find the right product and apply it?

Choosing your lip color is the first thing you need to do. Once you find the right color for your skin tone, you can pick the shades in that range for the time of day or event. Here’s a few hints for lip colors:

Fair complexions look best when paired with warm colors. Think of peachy or warm pinks and browns. If you go for red, find one with a slight blue tint. If your skin is more olive toned, avoid pinks, orange and red. Wear light brown, or a chocolate red. Those with dark skin look best wearing deep reds and even purple tones, but should avoid pink and orange/red as well.

Once you have a color that works well with your skin tone, it’s time to apply. You don’t want to waste time applying lipstick that will be gone in a couple of hours - get the best look out of your lips for the day.

The first thing you need to do is to outline your lips with a pencil. This will help your color from doing the dreaded “bleeding” or feathering. You can use the same color as your lipstick if you don’t want your color to be noticeable, or elect to go for a slightly darker color for dramatic effects. Your pencil liner will also help you give your lips that pouting look if you line just outside of your lips, or you can minimize by staying inside.

Once you have your colors picked and know how to apply your lipstick, you can expand your knowledge base with the different types and textures of lipstick. Depending on several factors, you can expand your lipstick library with a variety of “styles”.

Cream lipsticks are the faithful standby. This is neither highly shiny, nor flat. Creams give your lips an invitation to kiss (but be cautious - these will transfer). The best part about cream lipsticks is the color variety. If you find a cream lipstick with a little shimmer, you can add some lift to your face. Best for reflecting light, it is good if you have pale skin. Word of advice, though: don’t combine shimmer lipstick with eyes.

For a sophisticated look, pick matte lipstick. This provides a shine free coverage, but doesn’t dry out your lips. Simply outline your lips then fill them in. Blot with powder to hold the color longer.

Gloss is the perfect thing for a wet look on your lips, with a hint of color. It works well, even with no other makeup. Great for that shiny look out on the lake, or as a casual look on a busy day, your lips won’t look neglected. Gloss is great for using as a topcoat with other lipsticks, or as an undercoat with creamy lipsticks. You can also use a gloss with shimmer to give that extra pop.

When applying your lipstick or lip-gloss, it’s important to consider the balance of your makeup. If you choose to create seductive eyes, then opt for downplayed lips. If your lips are the focus, leave your eyes minimized. If you try to apply too much makeup to your whole face, you will lose the power of the pop and just look made up. Understated is always better than overstated.

As you age, avoid the glossy and matte looks. Your lips should look “creamy”. This will help downplay thin or - yes, we hate to admit it, but wrinkling lips.

If your intent with your lipstick is to camouflage yellowed teeth, then you can try to find lipsticks that have a bluish undertone. This would include colors such as wines, plums, and violets. The blue will conceal some of the yellow in your teeth, but always consider your skin tone as well.

If you decide you don’t like the color that you picked out, don’t toss your lipstick. You can try blending it with other colors to achieve a new look. With a little trial and error, you can design your own color that will match your skin tone and provide the camouflage you are seeking.

So, you have the perfect tube of lipstick. Then one day it breaks. Don’t despair! Take the broken piece off (with a tissue, or it will be all over the place) and use a match to melt it back into a useable shape. Once it’s slightly melted, put it back in its base and leave it uncovered in the fridge for awhile. Good as new!

Finding the perfect lipstick can be fun. Don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone. Experiment. Once you find the right shade, you can keep it as your standby. I have my favorite that I use nearly every day (I LOVE Revlon Color Stay Perfectly Tan), but to keep things exciting, it’s always fun to go out with a new look every once in awhile. Go browse the aisles and find some new looks for your lips.