Top 10 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Lipstick

Lipsticks come in a variety of colors and shades because, at different ages, people's preferences for color change. Choosing the right lipstick color for your age will enhance your elegance and beauty. Additionally, your financial capacity at different stages of life allows you to choose from a wider range of lipstick options.

Suggestions: For those under 30, such as students, vibrant shades like coral, berry pink, and orange-red are perfect choices. After 30, as married women, it's time to opt for deeper shades such as caramel, reddish-brown, wine, bright red, dark red, or terracotta, which will make you look more alluring and sophisticated.

Wearing lipstick not only adds color to a woman's beauty but also expresses her personality. Once you understand your true self, whether it’s a soft and delicate style or a youthful and energetic vibe, you can pick a lipstick that truly represents who you are.

For girls who love a feminine and gentle look, go for shades like rose pink, coral, or nude. On the other hand, if you have a bold personality, make a statement with red, burgundy, or even daring shades like purple, brown, or blue. In film makeup artistry, changing the lipstick color can instantly alter the viewer's perception of a character's personality.

For a flawless makeup look, one of the most important aspects is choosing the right lipstick color that complements your skin tone. If you have fair skin, you're in luck – you can easily pull off any lipstick shade. Some colors, such as coral red, peach pink, or bright red, can enhance your cuteness and charm. For darker or deeper skin tones, opt for bold colors like bright red or burnt orange, as these shades will brighten your face. Avoid colors with shimmer, and steer clear of pink if you don't want your complexion to appear dull or washed out.

Here’s how to determine your skin tone:

• Fair: Your skin is pale and sensitive, often turning red or showing freckles under the sun.
• Light: Your skin is light in color, and you may easily burn or tan under the sun.
• Medium: Your skin tone doesn't burn easily, and you generally have a neutral complexion.
• Olive: Your skin has a warm, golden, or yellow undertone, rarely burns, and stays tan even in winter.
• Dark: Your skin is deep-toned and never burns under the sun.

An interesting principle shared by makeup artists is that darker lipstick shades make your lips appear thinner, while lighter shades give the illusion of fuller, plumper lips.

From this theory, we can conclude that those with thin lips should avoid dark shades, while those with fuller lips should steer clear of very bright colors. For thin lips, try applying lipstick slightly outside the natural lip line to create a fuller look. For fuller lips, the inner lip technique is a great option to enhance your look.

Here’s a quick 3-step tip for thin lips:

• Apply a layer of foundation to the lips to help the lipstick adhere longer and soften the lip lines.
• Use lip liner to outline the lips, slightly extending the line by 1-2mm based on your desired effect.
• Fill in the lips with lipstick, and if you’re using matte lipstick, add a touch of gloss for a plumper appearance.

A very important tip that many girls overlook is choosing a lipstick color that complements your outfit. For instance, it would look mismatched if you wear a bright red dress and pair it with orange lipstick, or if you wear a dark outfit with pale pink lipstick. Choose a lipstick that’s either a deeper or lighter shade of your outfit to create a more harmonious and radiant look.

To avoid looking overly coordinated or dull, remember this rule: for bold lipstick, go for subtle or dark-colored clothing, and for soft lipstick, opt for bright, vibrant outfits. The art of combining lipstick and outfit colors is all about showing your sophistication, and you’ll need to explore various color tones to master it.

This is the reason why picky shoppers will never buy lipstick online – you know that the shade will never look exactly like it does in photos. It’s best to visit a store, use a sample, and lightly apply it on your hand to check the color’s brightness, shimmer, and matte finish, ensuring you avoid purchasing a product that doesn't meet your expectations.

If you're hesitant to shop in-store and prefer buying lipstick from e-commerce websites, read reviews from previous customers to get a clearer idea of the product. Also, check out lipstick color reviews on platforms like YouTube or TikTok to find the perfect shade for you.

Nowadays, many girls focus solely on the long-lasting matte finish of their lipstick, forgetting that long-lasting formulas can actually cause dry, chapped, and discolored lips. It’s better to choose lipsticks that also contain moisturizing ingredients to keep your lips soft, smooth, and plump while ensuring the color stays vibrant for longer.

Here’s the proper way to apply a moisturizing lipstick:

• Cleanse your lips with warm water to remove any excess oil and dirt.
• Apply the lipstick gently with your fingertip or a cotton swab in an upward motion.
• Use a brush to even out the color and softly blend from the center of your lips.

Today, lipsticks are mass-produced at various price points. To maximize profits, many organizations manufacture counterfeit lipsticks imitating popular brands at very low prices. As a savvy consumer, it's important to be cautious about the tempting offers of fake products. Always choose authentic items, not only for beautiful lips but also for health safety, ensuring that harmful substances like lead and other toxic compounds are avoided.

Here are 5 common ways to check if your lipstick is authentic:

• Take the lipstick you want to test and rub it with a gold ring. If the color turns black, it likely contains a high level of lead, meaning it's 70% fake.
• Test by touch. Apply a little lipstick to your skin or lips, and if you experience itching or it feels rough instead of smooth, it may be counterfeit.
• Examine the packaging and price. Fake lipsticks often have loose or low-quality packaging, and they are sold at a significantly lower price than real products. If a lipstick seems too cheap, be cautious.
• Scan the barcode. Although this is a useful method, counterfeit producers have started copying barcodes, so it’s still important to verify.
• Buy from authorized retailers and avoid shopping at markets or online stores with low reviews.

Expiration dates aren't just for food products – cosmetics like lipsticks and powders should also be considered. Since lipsticks directly touch the lips and can be ingested, expired lip products pose a significant health risk. Moreover, once past their expiration date, lipsticks lose their quality and color.

For example, lip tints typically last about 12 months, cream lipsticks around 12 to 20 months, and matte lipsticks can last up to 24 months. Each type of lipstick has a specific shelf life. Handmade lipsticks, in particular, require more attention to their expiration date as they often lack preservatives and can degrade faster once expired.

You will often find lipstick testers at the counters, but always refuse when a sales assistant suggests using a lipstick without its original packaging, even if the product inside seems unused. When buying lipstick, make sure the tube has all the brand information, an anti-counterfeit label, and the packaging is sealed to ensure you’re not paying a high price for a fake product.

Typically, tube products have raised printing on the bottom. For packaged products, the anti-counterfeit label is usually on the lid or body of the box. Although counterfeit labels are becoming more common, a genuine label will tear when removed from the packaging. If you notice the label on the lid is hard to peel or doesn’t come off easily, it’s likely a fake.