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Confident young woman with short blonde hair and red lipstick posing in studio
Source: KoldoyChris / Getty

Finding the perfect lipstick for dark skin tones can be a far less daunting task when you know the strength that lies underneath. When you’re looking for that perfect combination to blend your lipstick and your dark skin tones, there are a few things for you to consider. Your DNA is what you’re born with that helps create who you are. The personal style and attitude you acquire set the table for how you feel on the inside. How the world sees you comes from how you want to be seen and an intention to create a lifestyle that separates you from everyone else.

Black Woman, You Are Beautiful

Black is beautiful, Black is gold, and for Black women, the struggle to reveal that beauty may show up in many different areas of life. 

Being a mom, showing up in the boardroom, and being a great friend while still finding the time to take care of yourself is not an easy job. Black women are able to juggle these responsibilities and look fierce while doing it. 

How To Pick The Perfect Lipstick For Dark Skin Tones

When you’re in search of the perfect, powerful red lipstick for your dark skin tone, you should consider some key components. 

  • You must identify your skin undertone
  • Consider your natural lip color
  • Experiment with different finishes
  • Express your personal style
  • Last but not least, don’t be afraid to experiment

Undertone

Understanding your undertone is the first step to finding the perfect lipstick for your darker skin tone. Undertone is defined as the hue or tone that lies beneath the surface of your skin. 

No matter your skin tone, your undertone can be considered warm, cool, or neutral. To compare them, think of warm as the yellow, orange, peach colors, while cool refers to those blue or purple hues. Your neutral tones lie in a mixture of both warm and cool. 

For those warm undertones, experiment with the orange or brown-based reds to maximize the best combinations. When you have a cool undertone, try for the deep blue or burgundy reds. With neutral undertones, you have a wider range to explore when attempting to find the perfect balance. 

Lip Color

The same concept would apply here as it did with your undertone. Consider your natural lip color when choosing, and the best way to go about this is swatching your lips to compare how each color sets in. 

Finishes

The finish of the lipstick is also important when choosing your lipstick because it alters how the red appears and how the lipstick settles. There are a few options when considering finishes: 

  • Matte: Has a non-shiny finish that appears flat with no definition. Dry but bold
  • Gloss: A high-shine finish. A popular finish that can be considered for everyday use
  • Satin: A moderate finish. Has some hints of matte while still showing a little shine
  • Creamy: A soft finish that consists of a mid-shine. Doesn’t give off too much or too little

There are many types of finishes to explore, but the key here is to think about the situation or occasion. One finish may fare better than another in certain settings, but they all complement the dark skin well. 

Expressing Your Style And Wardrobe

Your style is your uniqueness and individualism when it comes to how you show up for yourself as well as how you portray yourself to the world. There’s no right or wrong here, so the only thing that matters is how comfortable you are and the confidence you exude. 

Finding the perfect lipstick for your dark skin may mean different colors and finishes, whether you’re taking business calls in your remote office or having lunch with a client. It may also be different when you’re running Saturday errands compared to date night or an anniversary dinner. 

Complementing that perfect lipstick with your outfit for the day and those statement accessories is a recipe for a perfect work of art from morning to night. 

Where To Shop

As vast as the beauty and cosmetic industry is, you may be asking where to go to shop for the best options, and that, too, can be overwhelming. You can also try your favorite local beauty shops, but for a bit more focused products, go over to your favorite department stores. 

Stores like Nordstrom, Macy’s, or Sephora will have a wide range of options. You can also start your search on Google with boutique shops. Fenty Beauty by Rihanna is a household name and go-to brand when it comes to beauty products for Black women. 

Is The World Ready For You?

The key to finding the perfect lipstick for dark skin tones essentially comes down to your personal preference. 

Yes, identifying your particular undertone to match your lip pigmentation, to choose the best finish, is important. 

But your confidence and style are the underlying and most important factors because you want to feel your best self and look amazing at all times when you’re rocking that perfect red lipstick. 

Melanin Beauty Awards | iOne National Sales, Urban One | 2024-11-30

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