How to Buy Lipstick

Last Updated: September 15, 2021 References

There are many makeup looks out there these days, and a beautifully colored lip is always part of them. It is tempting to buy the colors and styles that you see in magazines or YouTube tutorials, but remember to check what is best for you before buying. Your skin tone, skin type, and wardrobe are the most important factors in choosing your lip color. Remember to check how a lipstick works with all these factors before settling on a trendy look.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Deciding on Your Color

1
Figure out your skin tone.^{[1]
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Research source} In natural light, hold a piece of white paper under your chin. Check the shadow on the paper and reflection that it makes on your skin. If it is blue, red or purple, you have a cool skin tone. If it is beige, yellow, or dull, you have a warm skin tone.
- You can also check the veins on your wrist. Blue or purple veins are usually a sign of a cool skin tone, green veins are a sign of a warm tone. Any tones in between may indicate a neutral tone.
- Keywords for people with warm skin tones are: Beige, brown, golden, honey, bronze, mocha, taupe, spice, peach, coral, orange, brownish red, warm red, tawny, copper, and apricot.
- For cool skin tones, keywords are: Pink, rose, fuchsia, violet, lavender, grape, cherry, wine, mauve, berry, plum, burgundy, lilac, and cranberry.
- Neutral skin tones tend to do well with any shade or color.
2
Choose a color that works well with your complexion. The tone of your complexion can also help you make a decision. Determine if your complexion is light, medium, or dark. Pick a color that goes well with it.
- A light or fair complexion does well with pinks, reds, and peachy colors. Bright or bold tones often work well while yellow or very pale shades may wash out your complexion.
- Medium, olive, or tan complexions work well with most colors. You can wear nudes, pinks, reds, and orange shades.
- Darker complexions look great in dark or deep tones with purples, mauves, corals, and orange shades. A bright lipstick can make your makeup pop, but avoid very light shades unless you're going for a specific look.
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3
Hold the lipstick next to your skin, or put it on your wrist if possible. Even if lipstick seems like a good idea, you never really know unless you can see it against your skin. Sometimes lipstick stores have tester tubes that you can use.
- Ask a sales representative. Sometimes stores only have swatches. You can hold these up to your skin as well.
4
Check the lipstick against your clothing. If you trend toward a certain color scheme, make sure you are wearing your favorite color when you test out lipstick colors. Bright colors may clash, and all-neutral colors can make you look washed out.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Finding the Right Texture

1
Determine your lips' dryness. Different lipsticks suit different hydration needs.^{[2]
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Research source} If you have very dry lips, you will need to avoid many shimmery, matte, and long-wear lipsticks, as these will dry out your lips even faster.
- Read the ingredients, looking for moisturizing ingredients like oils.^{[3]
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  Research source
  [v161376_b02]. 26 May 2020.}
2
Choose cream lipsticks for casual looks and maximum hydration. ^{[4]
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Research source} Cream lipsticks are intended for everyday wear. They often come in nude tones, and are used to make neutral looks look finished.
- If you choose a nude shade, make sure it is a little bit darker than your skin tone.^{[5]
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3
Choose satin or gloss lipsticks for long wear and a shimmery finish. ^{[6]
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Research source} Glossy lipsticks add shine to your lips, which gives them volume. Unlike matte or cream lipsticks, glossy lipsticks hide all the lines and wrinkles on your lips with light, giving your lips a full, round feel.
- Glossy lipsticks are not casual. They may also dry out your lips, so do not use them if you have naturally dry lips. ^{[7]
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4
Choose matte lipsticks for a velvet finish. ^{[8]
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Research source} These are very popular right now, and they are often long-lasting. Be careful using matte lipsticks if you have dry lips.
- Matte lipsticks accentuate every line and wrinkle on your lips, because they have no shine to gloss over details. If you use matte lipstick, make sure to hydrate your lips beforehand.
5
Choose frosted lipsticks for a retro look. ^{[9]
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Research source} These are very shimmery lipsticks that were popular in the 1980s and 1990s. They were often chosen a few shades lighter than the wearer's skin tone. Some looks from the '90s like jelly shoes and crop tops have returned, and some celebrities are now wearing frosted lipstick.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Choosing the Right Brand

1
Check the pliability of the lipstick. A high quality lipstick should be somewhere between rigid and oily. ^{[10]
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Research source} It should be stiff but not crumbly, slick but not greasy.
- If the feeling of a lipstick makes you uncomfortable don't buy it. It might be a high quality product, but you will not use something that is not enjoyable to apply.
2
Look at the packaging. Packaging isn't just about creating the world of the makeup brand. It also plays a key role in how long you will be able to keep your lipstick after buying it. ^{[11]
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Research source} If the cap is very easy to move, it is likely that the bullet of your lipstick will get broken, or leak into your bag.
- If the packaging is light and cheap with a metallic finish, it will likely begin to flake after a week of bouncing around in your bag. This can be an indication that the brand is not worth buying.
3
Ask for samples or a return policy. If you're still not sure you like the color and texture, big makeup and department stores will have samples for you to take home. If at a drugstore, ask about their return policy. Most will let you return it if you don't like it.
- Never be afraid to ask. If you don't ask, you may miss an opportunity.
- When you get a sample of lipstick, swatch it on your inner wrist. If the swatch is uneven, it will most likely look like that on your lips, as well. If it doesn't glide easily, it will be harder to apply. If it frays or feathers into the fine lines on your hands, this will also happen on your lip line.^{[12]
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  Research source
  [v161376_b02]. 26 May 2020.}

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I pick the right shade of lipstick?

Alicia D'Angelo
Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist
Alicia D'Angelo is a makeup artist based in New York City. She currently works for teams with Dior Makeup, YSL Beauty and Pat McGrath Labs as well as bridal companies Once Upon A Bride and Miss Harlequinn. Her work has been featured in Today.com, New York Live, Forbes.com, VH1, MTV, Vevo, Entertainment Weekly, Refinery 29, and NYXCosmetics.com. She has a Visual Communications degree from FIDM-Los Angeles.

Alicia D'Angelo

Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Think about the color payoff you're aiming for. Don't purchase a sheer lipstick if you want a bold look, for instance, and don't use a full pigment if you want a natural look.
Question

How do I know if a lipstick is good quality?

Alicia D'Angelo
Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist
Alicia D'Angelo is a makeup artist based in New York City. She currently works for teams with Dior Makeup, YSL Beauty and Pat McGrath Labs as well as bridal companies Once Upon A Bride and Miss Harlequinn. Her work has been featured in Today.com, New York Live, Forbes.com, VH1, MTV, Vevo, Entertainment Weekly, Refinery 29, and NYXCosmetics.com. She has a Visual Communications degree from FIDM-Los Angeles.

Alicia D'Angelo

Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Get a sample of the lipstick and swatch it. If the swatch is uneven, it will most likely look like that on your lips as well. If it doesn't glide easily, it will be harder to apply. Also, if the formula is softer or more liquid, watch for it to feather into the fine lines on your hands. This will also happen on your lip line.
Question

Where can I buy high end lipsticks?

Cecilia Flores

Top Answerer

Sephora, Ulta, CosBar, and online stores.

Warnings

Avoid trying lipstick samples directly to your mouth unless they are individual sachets - otherwise you risk transferring germs that could make you ill.

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Try to avoid lipsticks containing parabens, as these have been linked with breast cancer and reproductive system diseases.

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