Pretty and Practical Lipstick Buying Tips
If you are an amateur at buying lipstick, you will surely be mystified with the umpteen brands and the million shades available in the cosmetics section these days. Don’t be fazed. Here are some basic tips that will help you choose the right lipstick.
1. Check the shelf life
You must first check the shelf life of the lipstick you intend to buy. The date or month of manufacture and expiry, both are usually mentioned in the packaging of the lipstick. Typically, lipsticks have a shelf life of anything between 1 and 3 years, so make sure this is the same for the one you choose. Using lipsticks that are past their expiration date could be harmful to your skin.
2. Try them on
Do not be shy to earnestly try on the lipstick shade you like on the back of your palm. Compare many shades because each one looks unique on different skin tones. While some lip shades suit dusky skin tones better, others look alluring on fair skin. For example, on fair skin, light pink, peach, or coral might look good. Bright red suits tan-colored skin best, and wine, plum, or caramel is ideal for deeper skin tones. Choose a lipstick color that best suits your skin tone.
3. Understand the different types of lipstick finishes
There are sheer, creamy, moisturizing, glossy, matte, and frosted lipsticks, and each one has a unique characteristic and purpose. Learn which one you need to use.
Sheer lipstick is best suited for everyday wear. This classic lipstick is rich in oils and hence simply glides over your lips providing them excellent nourishment. The sheer lipstick provides a little color and shine to your lips, but invariably has to be reapplied quite a few times throughout the day.
Creamy lipsticks are ideal for cold climates and with evening wear. The wax ingredient in these lipsticks makes sure it stays on your lips for a long time and does not need to be re-applied. These lipsticks are the perfect combination of texture and gloss rolled into one, literally. These creamy lipsticks can also be moisturizing that help provide hydration to your lips. Moisturizing lipsticks contain either vitamin E, glycerin, or aloe that helps keep dry lips supple and soft.
Glossy lipstick, as the name suggests, makes your lips appear shiny and glossy and provides a dimension to thin lips. These put the spotlight on your lips in the late evening parties you choose to attend.
Matte lipsticks are the reverse of glossy finishes. They are shine-free and exhibit pure colors and provide a smooth, uniform texture on your lips. They gently help hide pigmented lips and are perfect to be worn for your appointments during the day.
Frosted lipsticks make your lips shine, but invariably have to be used along with a moisturizer, otherwise, they can make your lips feel dry.
4. Size matters
If you naturally have plump lips, try to avoid glossy and light lipstick shades as it may make your lips look much bigger than usual. On the other hand, if you have thin lips, keep away from dark-colored lipsticks.
5. Match lipstick to eye color
Yes, this is a very interesting tip for buying lipsticks. Match the shade of your lipstick to the color of your eyes. Brown eyes can carry nude, brown, or light pink lipsticks; green eyes can carry bright pink shades well, and blue eyes are ideal for scarlet or blue-toned red.
