HOW TO PICK THE PERFECT SHADE OF LIPSTICK

Lipstick is so much more than just a make-up product... It’s an accessory that can take your entire look to a whole new level.

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The right shade enhances your features, complements your complexion and puts a little pep in your step. The trouble comes with finding your perfect shade, and the key to doing this lies in understanding your skin tone and undertone. Once you get that right, it’s smooth sailing.

LIPSTICK FINISHES
Something as simple as a lipstick can add a specific ‘mood’ to your outfit. From fun and flirty to bold or sultry, lipstick has the ability to highlight whatever look you’re going for. This much-loved product comes in various finishes that all offer their own style.

Matte
These lipsticks have highly pigmented formulas that nourish the lips while leaving a matte finish. This means your lips can look fuller and be the focal point of your look.

Cream
Using a combination of wax and oils, these lipsticks tend to leave a much softer appearance. Think of them as being the less shiny version of a lipgloss.

Sheer
If you like to keep things au naturel then sheer lipsticks are perfect for you. These products add shine and a touch of colour, while letting the natural hue of your lips shine through.

SKIN TONE VS UNDERTONE
We’ve established that identifying what your skin tone and undertone are is vital for finding that ever-elusive perfect match. But where do you even start?

Simply put, your skin tone comes down to the amount of melanin in your skin. Generally, skin tones fall into four categories: fair, light, medium and dark. The tricky part comes when trying to identify your undertone, which is the muted colour beneath the surface of your skin that isn’t affected by external factors like tanning, your hair colour or the lighting you’re surrounded by.

Believe it or not, the colour of your skin is made up of blues, yellows, reds and greens. It sounds crazy but it’s true. Finding a shade that complements your undertone has nothing to do with how light or dark your skin is; it’s matching the colour to your undertone that matters. The same rules apply across all skin tones and ethnicities.

You can assess your undertone by looking at the veins on your wrist.

THREE CATEGORIES OF UNDERTONES
Warm: People who fall in this category tend to have veins that appear green under the skin. Their skin has a yellow hue when standing in direct natural light, and they lean more towards gold jewellery because it is more flattering and appears more radiant against their skin.

Cool: If you have blue, purple or reddish veins, and your skin looks pink or red when you do the light test, you fall into this category. You are also more inclined to wear silver jewellery, which looks better on you.

Neutral: If you can’t really determine the colour of your veins, do not discern a drastic shift in your skin tone when standing in natural light, and wear both gold and silver equally well, you are neutral-toned.


Words: Rughsaar Bibi Ismail
Photos: Gallo/Getty Images, Shutterstock, supplied.