Photo: Ralf Nau/Lifesize/Getty Images
Aside from world peace, is there anything more important than finding the perfect shade of lipstick for your kisser? If you're a true, blue -- or in this case, brown -- fashionista, not likely. You can search and sample and smear at the cosmetic counter, and yet nothing seems to look just right. While there is no such thing as the perfect color -- after all, your choice should change with the seasons, your age and even your mood, there are a few practical tips to follow if you're a brown-skinned lip lover on the prowl for her next best color.
Nudie Patootie
Rock a mother-earthy lip with a neutral pink or nude shade of lipstick or gloss. This barely-there color will provide a hit of natural-looking sheen and pucker-power to your lips without overpowering it with too much color. For an even finish, simply glide it on with a lip brush.
Deeply Beautiful
Makeup mogul Bobbi Brown suggests a deep, dark color on brown skin, and that goes for lips that are black or dark blue in natural tone. Shades like blackberry, chocolate, raisin and dark red add sultry vamp appeal, although there are ways to wear almost any color on your lips. The key is to find the shade that enhances your own lip color.
Raisins and Plums and Toffees, Oh My!
According to television makeup artist Carmindy, the perfect lip shade for daily use is two shades darker than your natural lip color. Mocha-skinned lovelies should make a beeline for colors in raisin, plum, toffee -- hungry yet? -- sheer golds and garnet reds. If you want to rock a nude lip, opt for tawny-pink beiges, unless you're darker brown, then you'll want to wear a mocha or caramel.
A Rose is a Rose
Rosy lips look simply smashing on medium skin tones; not too cool, but a soft dusty rose with just enough warmth to be flattering on your coloring. Avoid mattes if at all possible, as they can dry up and look too flat. Select a rose gloss if you want to pump up the lip factor on thinner lips. It also works well in layering over another shade if you want to customize your lips.
