3 Tips for Perfectly Matching Your Lipstick to Your Outfit

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Let’s face it, we’ve all found ourselves dreaming in front of the warmth of terracotta or the boldness of fuchsia. Then, hit by a wave of doubt and fear of a fashion faux pas, we ultimately opted for our usual shade, worn faithfully for the past 10 years. Or a red, a guaranteed success every time. At Modalova, we love to step out of our comfort zone and encourage you to do the same. Today, we share our tips to be more adventurous and help you find the right lipstick color for any occasion.

How to find the right lipstick color?

What color should you wear with green eyes? Which shade pairs well with red hair? What lipstick should you wear after 60? Should you choose a gloss, a matte effect, or a shiny finish?

Many questions remain to know which lipstick is right for you. Fortunately, several parameters can guide your choice. A lipstick is not chosen solely based on your color preferences. The same shade can look delicate on one woman and less harmonious on another. It is thus important to know yourself well in order to know how to enhance your features, both in an outfit and in your makeup.

What parameters should be considered?

The choice of lipstick will thus be guided by:

• Your skin tone and undertone
• The color of your iris
• Your hair color
• The natural color of your lips
• The colors and shades of your outfit, makeup, and nail polish, which are determined according to the previous points

How to know the shade and undertone of your skin?

Skin will, on one hand, have a shade that is more or less dark. Then, it will have an undertone that is more or less warm. We can have three women with the same shade, but one with a cool pink undertone, one warm and golden, and the third with a so-called neutral undertone. This information will allow you to determine the range of lipstick shades you can work with to create your looks.

A neutral undertone, which can match almost any lipstick shade, is characterized by visible green veins on the wrist. A cool undertone will show veins that are bluish-purple, while a warm undertone will have bluish-green veins. It is thus recommended to adjust the lipstick shade according to your skin tone. A warm undertone will go well with beautiful terracotta or a frosty brown, which is set to be the new trendy color this autumn. And a cool undertone will lean toward slightly bluish shades.

What tools and tips to use to choose your lipstick?

Perhaps the terms color swatch or color wheel ring a bell? In fashion and beauty, we don’t play with colors blindly. We specifically use colorimetry rules and color complementarity to adapt outfit and makeup choices according to a person’s profile.

Choices should be refined throughout the seasons, which notably alter our complexion.

Create a look through color associations

If you’re not yet a pro at color associations, you can use a color wheel to discover harmonious color combinations by selecting colors that are opposite each other. For example, the trendy pink of this autumn can pair well with green, while blue can go along with orange. In the case of a more complex combination, it is possible to integrate a third color using the principle known as the triad, where three points equidistant from each other are arranged on the wheel. The third color will be the least present in the style and can be used through makeup.

Opt for monochrome

Another color variation is based on the principle of monochrome. For this, simply use a swatch to apply a undertone of the dominant color of your outfit on your lips. This creates a more discreet and soft look.

When creating your makeup, remember to balance the shades to emphasize one of the three components of makeup: the eyes, lips, or nails. Eye makeup also calls upon the notions of color complementarity mentioned earlier to work according to your iris and to enhance your gaze.

Thus, each element of the look should be studied both individually, according to your profile, and as a whole, in conjunction with the entire outfit and makeup.

What type of lipstick to choose?

Depending on the desired result, the texture of the lipstick should be considered, as well as its application. We can work towards different objectives, such as illuminating the face, adding relief, intensity, or even redrawing or plumping your lips if you find your lips too thin for your taste.

For a natural effect, you can choose a lip ink model that is light enough. Or try a “bitten lip” look, which works inside with a lipstick shade slightly more intense than your natural lip color, blending with concealer on the corners and edges of your lips. Another option is colored balms, which provide a subtle touch of shine.

For a more worked and glamorous effect, you can create a velvet red effect by working the lip contour with a pencil, then filling in with a matte lipstick, using a brush or not. Although more delicate to work with, a matte lipstick ensures better wear than a glossy one. You can also work with two shades to add structure through contouring, thereby creating depth or adding highlights.

Should you choose a moisturizing lipstick?

Regarding lip nutrition, a lipstick can serve as a two-in-one, featuring moisturizing active ingredients often at the center of its textured stick. This provides care for your lips, in addition to occasionally exfoliating them, easily done with sugar and honey. Good hydration and exfoliation are important to ensure your lipstick stays on well.

Many French organic cosmetic brands offer natural lipsticks, rich in the properties of their ingredients. Some models even fall within the zero waste approach. Being able to wear makeup while knowing what is in a lipstick, all while caring for the planet, is the new gesture to adopt.

What trendy lipstick to choose throughout the day?

The choice of red adapts according to your outfit and the time of day. If you’re afraid of making a mistake, a red lipstick will always be a safe choice.

Always remember to choose a color, then select the right shade according to your skin undertone. The idea is not to give yourself a pale complexion.

By playing with eye makeup, you can give a whole new dimension to the same lipstick. Worn with a simple lash line and mascara, you’ll achieve a daytime look. After midnight, you can pair it with a dark smoky eye, adding depth to your style.

Depending on your mood, its color can bring glamour with a red or plum shade, sensuality with a pink, character with a fuchsia, or freshness with a nude.

With a simple appearance, you can either prefer to play with basic makeup to remain understated, or conversely, balance it with a bold lip becoming the focal point of the look. For example, with a bright matte pink, drawn with a pencil, in line with the current trend. Because yes, in addition to autumn shades, vibrant colors are making their way alongside beautiful corals or browns, both in the wardrobe and in makeup.

Speaking of what’s trending this autumn – winter 2022, we see matte models again for another season. The retro style is back with the return of the pencil, accompanied by a lighter creamy lipstick for filling and a touch of gloss for a frosted lip effect. The pencil is also used in a shaded version to restructure the lips.

It’s up to you to unleash your creativity and experiment with options beyond the eternal red lipstick!