Getting Lippy: The Ultimate Guide To Finding Your Perfect Lipstick

From matte to sheer, shimmery to gloss, lip products come in an array of mind boggling formulas guaranteed to force even the most hardcore beauty junkie into make-up overload. If you love lipstick but find the thought of identifying your perfect shade a daunting prospect, following my simple guide will see you puckering up to perfection in no time.

Back To Basics
When it comes to identifying the perfect shade to compliment your natural lip colour, always remember that the right lipstick will not only enhance skin tone, but brighten eyes and provide an instant lift to the face.
To ensure a make-up disaster is prevented, it is important to remember the following:

• Strong vibrant shades are designed to make a statement. To prevent drawing unwanted attention to the mouth and lower part of the face, these particular colours should be avoided if teeth are discoloured or skin is blemished.
• Foundation and powder should always be applied to the lip area prior to corrective techniques. A deeper shade of lipstick or lip pencil can then be used to outline your new desired shape.
• To give fullness to the lips, simply opt for a pale, pearlised lip product or gloss.
• The application of deep blue-toned reds, dark purplish-pinks and bronze shades are all perfect for reducing fullness and are particularly beneficial when used on black individuals.
• The perfect neutral shade won't look ashy, pink or orange, but create an enhanced version of the natural lip colour.

Selecting Lip Colour
Although identifying your perfect match may seem like a never ending mission, the majority of lipsticks with the same undertone as your natural lip colour will ensure a flattering, foolproof application. For example, if your natural lip colour is...

Pale 
The perfect shades to compliment pale lips are sandy pink, light coral, beige, pale pink and bright red.

Medium
The perfect shades to compliment medium lips are rose, pink, brown, warm red and orange.

Dark
The perfect shades to compliment dark lips are deep red, brown, plum, deep raisin/berries and deep chocolate.

Two-toned
The perfect shades to compliment two-toned lips are blackberry, deep plum, chocolate, deep raisin and deep red.

A great tip to remember when finding the right neutral tone for you is that the shade that looks good on a naked face will be your perfect basic colour. Once this is identified, you have the base required to experiment with more dramatic shades.