IMAGE: James Lightbown/Corbis Images
There is no doubt about it - a lipstick can make or break your entire look. Despite the simplicity of this makeup tool, lippies aren’t totally easy to deal with since most makeup brands cater to Western skin tones: It can be so difficult to find lipsticks that complement Asian skin.
But not all is lost. I’m a die-hard lippie fan myself; From coral to royal plum, my makeup bag is filled with colours for almost every look. Here are some tips I use when I’m on a lipstick shopping spree.
GO PREPARED
When I decide to buy a new lippie, I always make sure that I’m dolled up in my usual do - the normal makeup I go to work in everyday. If you don’t usually apply makeup, that’s fine too. You just need to go to the counter in the get-up that you’re usually in.
Doing so is important, as it makes it easier for the makeup artist to assess your natural skin tone (or the foundation that you usually use). And it also makes it easier to judge if a colour would complement your entire look. This applies even if you’re intending to buy a lippie for a specific makeup palette, as the main point is for you to test the colour in your natural skin tone. Going in your natural get-up will make choosing colours a lot easier.
KNOW YOUR SKIN
My favourite lipsticks weren’t exactly love at first sight. For most of us, we often see lipstick colours as what they are, and not what they look like on us. The easiest way to get around this is to test the colour on your lips, but I still get creeped out by sharing lipsticks with random strangers.
Red lipsticks look great, but finding the one that suits you is a challenge in itself. My go-to colour is Chanel's Rouge Allure in Conquise. A cherry red that is easy to wear without being too over the top.
To get around this problem, you simply have to know your skin really well. If you’re fair with yellow undertones, opt for lipsticks with blue undertones as it will help counter the redness on your face. On the other hand, if you have tanned skin with no redness on your face, warm red undertones will work great for you.
You’ll probably not know which lipsticks have blue or red undertones, so after I pick a variety of lipsticks - I get the makeup artist to help shortlist the colours even further. Due to our Asian skin, it is more difficult for us to pull off orange and nude colours, as we often appear very yellow or washed out. But believe it or not, coral and nude shades have blue and red undertones as well, so just follow the same rule of thumb.
BRING A “FRIEND”
Not literally, no. Although it wouldn’t kill to have a second opinion about your lipstick colour. Rather, bring your favourite lippies along. I’ve developed a habit of bringing my favourite lipsticks to the makeup counter when I go shopping. Not only will this prevent me from buying a similar shade, but it also gives the makeup artist an idea of what I like and what works for me.
NARS new Audacious Lipstick collection has some great colour options. If you're looking for a deep plum, Vera is a great hue that is perfect for some serious glam.
Even if you’re shopping for an entirely new colour (say, you’ve decided to buy a royal plum for a wedding), bringing a select few of your current stash will give you a better idea of what colours work for you. After all, you wouldn’t want to end up buying a colour that you’ll only use once.
Lipstick shopping can be pretty darn stressful, but once you’ve found the colour that works for you - it makes it all worth it.
Chanel Rouge Allure, $46, is available at Chanel Fragrance and Beauty Boutiques and Chanel Beauty Counters. For more information, visit www.chanel.com/fragrance-beauty and follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
NARS Audacious Lipstick, $43, is available at all NARS counters from September 19. For more information, visit www.narscosmetics.com and follow the brand on Facebook and Twitter.