Lip Colors for Brown Skin

I have heard from many people, that the only lip colors they buy are in the red-maroon range. For the longest time, I did the same thing, once I started experimenting and seeing more celebrities experiment, I realized that there were other shades that I liked as well. While red and maroon shades are classics, there are plenty of shades that go well with brown skin, without washing it out.

You just have to be careful with purchasing, based on your own complexion. When beauty brands advertise that something looks good on everyone and on “all skin types”, that may not be the case. It is important to pay heed to what your undertone is so that you can buy shades that don’t wash you out, or that just look odd. For warmer tones, wear warmer colours like maroons, oranges, and browns. For cooler undertones, wearing more shades with blue or purple hues would look best. Then again, you do you!

If you just love a color and want to wear it, go for it! My undertone is neutral, leaning more towards the warm side, so I just pick up any shade I like, but sometimes some shades wash me out.

Something to look out for: Most brands, when advertising thing’s like “nude lipstick”, usually cater to the lighter skinned population. So when we are looking for a “nude” shade, I have to look somewhere around mauve, or between pink and brown. Definitely use your undertone to decide, but in general, if you have darker skin, you're gonna have to look in another section, that is considered “brown” or “mauve” rather than “nude”.

Now, when it comes down to price, you don’t always have to spend over $30 for just one lip product. Some of my favorites come from NYX cosmetics, Colourpop Cosmetics, and Maybelline, which go for around $6 per lip product. On the more expensive side, I highly recommend liquid lipsticks from Huda Beauty, Anastasia Beverly Hills, and Kat von D. These are at a standard of $20 per product. If you really want to, you can go to an even higher level with Chanel, Dior and Yves Saint Laurent, but those lip products are always going to be way more expensive going from at least $35 a piece. Once I start making my own money, I wouldn’t mind paying for that, but since I am only 19 and dependent on my parents, I try to keep it as budgeted as possible.