Love a vampy, dark lipstick look but not sure how to pull it off? Dark lips are a classic look for fall and no matter your skin tone or style, it’s a look anyone can rock from the office to a romantic dinner to a rockin’ girls night out in just a few simple steps.
It starts with prep.
The key to keeping your lipstick looking great—especially with dark colours—is to prepare your lips ahead of time. Use a sugar lip scrub (pick one up from Winners) and buff your lips to remove flakes and create a smooth surface or pick up a soft, small, children’s toothbrush (Dollarama’s got you covered) and gently brush and buff your lips. Be sure to always apply a small amount of lip balm afterwards to moisturize your lips and keep them hydrated and soft all season long.
Find your undertone.
Cool? Neutral? Warm? Finding your undertone might sound complicated but it’s a quick and easy way to pick lipstick colours that tend to be more flattering for your skin tone. Take a quick look at your wrist—are your veins more green or olive? Does gold jewelry tend to be more flattering against your skin? If you said yes, you’re likely a warm undertone and lipsticks and glosses with hints of orangey-red in them or deep wine shades are likely to work best for you and maximize the natural warmth in your skin. Veins looking a little more blue? Love silver jewelry? You probably have a cool undertone and should try berry shades or a deep blood red for a bold striking look.
Don’t skip the liner.
While lipstick is a great way to add a pop of colour and change up your makeup look quickly, it’s important when wearing dark or bold colours to take the time to use a lipliner. Not only does a lip liner help create a polished look, but it also acts as a guide to help prevent your lipstick from bleeding or smudging beyond the edges of your lips. Pop into the beauty bar at Shoppers Drug Mart and choose a liner that’s one to two shades darker than the lipstick you’ll be using and stick with the same undertones for the perfect pout every time.
Whatever looks you decide to try, have fun and remember, the great thing about makeup is that it wipes off later. Experiment, try something new, and as Marilyn Monroe once said, “Put on some red lipstick and live a little.”