You’d think that lipstick would be the last thing on our minds when we wear masks to go outside. That’s not the case. Women are still wearing their lipstick, whether it’s that transfer-proof one under their masks or their favorite one for that video call.
Lipstick can make you look more put-together. It’s also a mood enhancer, especially when the shade complements your skin perfectly.
No matter how many times it’s been written about, a guide on how to find your perfect lipstick shade is always needed. I feel that question coming up again as I swiped on the new Rouge Hermès, which arrived in the Philippines just this year. It offers a wide array of colors, from the loud Orange Boîte to the subdued Beige Kalahari.
Let’s get the first rule out there. The perfect shade of lipstick depends on your skin tone and undertone. It’s not enough to go by whether you’re fair-skinned or morena. Undertones see our skin types in three different categories: warm, cool and neutral. Observe your veins and the coloration on your skin. If there’s a pink, red or bluish hue to your skin, you’re cool-toned. Warm-toned skin is characterized by hints of yellow, golden or olive. Those with neutral-tone skin, with their pink and yellow colorations, can enjoy a wider range of choices.
Now, let’s get to the lipstick. Cool-toned skin works with lipstick that has a blue or purple undertone, like the Pat McGrath LuxeTrance Lipstick in Major Red. This lipstick is smooth and very pigmented; one swipe is more than enough.
Warm tones will look great with some red or orange hues. One of my favorite makeup labels is Charlotte Tilbury. I have a few favorites from the Matte Revolution range; they’re comfortable on the lips and not drying. Try Lost Cherry. It’s a bright fuchsia that may look intimidating, but complements dark skin tones well.
For neutral skin tones, you can go for various colors in the Hourglass Confession Ultra Slim High-Intensity Refillable Lipstick range, such as When I Was, a coral nude. You can also go darker with the mauve tones of If Only.
Rouge Hermès is available at Rustan’s The Beauty Source; sephora.ph for Pat McGrath Labs and Cult Beauty for Hourglass; Charlotte Tilbury at www.charlottetilbury.com
