Wearing dark lipstick has become so omnipresent that it’s hard to call it a trend. In fact, in the Philippines, it has become some sort of a staple, next to nudes and pink lippies. We’ve always just been too scared to embrace the look in all its gothic glory.
But don’t worry– celebrities like Anne Curtis, Georgina Wilson, Angel Locsin, and Nadine Lustre pulling it off, we’re sure you’re finally ready to make an attempt.
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So, whether you’re considering trading in your peaches for plums or are already rocking a bold vampy palette, here are some tips to do dark right:
1. Know Your Undertones
To pick a lippie that will look best on you, make sure its shade matches your skin tone –or more specifically, your undertones.
For starters, try the vein test. Look at the veins on your wrist; if they’re blue, shades with blue or purple tones will look best on you. If your veins appear greener, you have a warm, yellow undertone, which means you need to stick to warmer colors.
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2. Line Your Lips
Apply your dark lipstick with a lip brush, starting from the outer corner of your mouth to the center. After you fill in your pout, apply lip liner to perfect the look.
Lip liners are absolute musts with dark lips, because saturated colors look blah if they’re not even around the edges. Remember that the darker the lipstick, the more obvious the lines you create with it.
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3. Skip the Gloss
Swiping on some lip-gloss can make your lipstick look messy, or make the color bleed onto the skin. Dark lipsticks don’t need help in the attention-getting department anyway, so don’t worry.
If you’re still set to put on some gloss, though, apply it only to the center of the lips.
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4. Keep Things Simple
When you’re going for a dark, bold lip, you want to make sure the lips are the main focus of your look. So, keep your eye makeup to a minimum. Avoid smoky eyes and any other over-the-top eye makeup.
When in doubt, pair your dark lips with simple winged eyeliner to complete the look.
5. Don’t Forget Your Cheeks
Dark lipsticks tend to wash out the face, so don’t forget to put on some blush. Try neutral shades or berry tones, as these generally look great on dark lips.
If you’re not sure about your blush shade, just dab some of your lipstick on your cheeks and blend in for a monochromatic flush.
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6. Fill in Your Eyebrows
If you’re in a hurry, and you’re set to doing only one other thing in your makeup routine other than putting on your dark pout, make sure it’s filling in your eyebrows. Bold lipsticks draw attention to the lower part of the face, so balance the focus by defining your brows. This way, you’re letting the brows frame the face, giving you a balanced look.
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7. Wear It with Confidence!
Ultimately, the most important rule to live by when wearing a bold, dark lip is to wear it with confidence. Dark lipsticks are a statement and a strong one at that, so wear it like you own it. Don’t shy away from the attention and work it.
Got any other tips on pulling off dark lipstick? Leave them in the comments below!
What's Your Reaction?
This is wonderful! I’m half Filipina, so I’m always struggling to figure out what works for me. Thank you!