Lipstick Tips for Beginners #lipstick

Look to celebrities for inspiration:

• Not every complexion can pull off every lip color, but think of celebrities who have similar coloring to you and looks they’ve worn that you’ve liked. It may sound silly, but liking a color on someone else who has, say, dark hair and light eyes like you is a good indicator of something that will not only look good on you but something you’ll enjoy seeing on yourself.

Start sheer:

• Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the prospect of diving straight into the deep end of the pool lipstick-wise can be terrifying. A sheer, glossy formula that imparts color but doesn’t feel or look “lipstick-y” is the perfect way to get comfortable with wearing something on your lips. Even just a tinted lip balm can be a great starting point, so try a bunch of them on to find one you love and wear it all the time. 
• Whether you’re running errands, going to work, or lounging around the house, wearing color on your lips frequently is the only way to actually get used to wearing it without feeling hyper-aware.

Application is key:

• Not every lipstick can just be swiped on straight out of the tube. If you’re going for a matte or opaque color, arm yourself with a good-quality lip brush for precise application, as well as a lip liner in a universal or corresponding shade. 
• Clean up any mistakes with a q-tip, or use a concealer brush and a small amount of concealer as an “eraser” if you’ve strayed outside the lines. This creates a sharp, defined look that seems well-done and professional, not amateur (so no one will be the wiser that you’re just starting out).

Think about the rest of your makeup:

• If you want a lipstick that you’re going to wear daily, think of the other makeup you wear daily. If you enjoy a dramatic eye or winged liner on a day-to-day basis, opt for a lip color that’s more understated so that it doesn’t compete with what’s going on on your eyes. 
• If you keep things low-key without a bold eye look, you have a little more flexibility, and can choose something bolder and brighter for emphasis or complement your natural look with a similarly natural lip color. We love the no-makeup look worn with a super-bold lip color—and once you get comfortable with lipstick, so will you.