The key to a dark lip in the daytime is to keep the rest of your face fresh and light. I like to moisturize and prime my skin with a little concealer under the eyes and a light BB cream on my face. For me, contouring and adding a dark lip for the day feels far too dramatic. I like keeping it simple. Add a defined brow, mascara and a light blush and you are set! Since the color of the lip adds so much to the look, why not keep it the focal point? I love a dark lipstick in a berry tone; it is so flattering on almost all skin types.
Start Sheer
If you’re new to wearing dark shades, start with a sheer formula like Laura Geller Beauty’s Love Me Dew crayon in Plum Freeze. A balm-lipstick hybrid with major hydrating powers, it will give you that stained wash of color without the intense pigmentation. To counteract the darkness of your lips, make like actress Dianna Agron and bring your cheeks to life with a subtle cheek stain like Benefit’s Benetint.
Build It Up
Once you’ve acclimated to your sheer color, start experimenting with a buildable shade à la Cynthia Rowley Beauty’s Creamy Lip Stain in sultry Dahlia. It’s made to be layered, so you can use one coat to get a subtle burgundy color, two for a dark berry finish, and three for dramatic effect. Afraid of looking too tough? Take a cue from Emma Watson, who softened the look with a soft grey-purple smoky eye.
Go All Out
Once you’re ready to take the plunge, reach for a deep wine color like MAKE’s Matte Lipstick in Jakarta, a purplish shade that complements both dark and light skin tones. MAKE’s texture is velvety, but it’s always best to make sure your lips are well moisturized with a hydrating lip balm before applying a matte lipstick. Even better, prep them with MAKE’s Lip Primer, which combines nourishing vitamins with silica and nylon 12 to keep the most opaque shade in place and looking smooth.
