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Bright colored lipstick? Or soft colored lipstick? Unsure.

Keturah

Veteran

I think color typing can be a bit of a box. Generally the colors we love look good on us.

But...having always thought, and always told, I am a Winter, I had a moment of doubt.

I wore a very bright lipstick today and felt good in it. Until I saw it in a photo. So I tried other bright lip colors. I'm still kinda meh. I love bright lip color. But perhaps I don't pull it off?

What do you all think? Keep in mind my hair color towards roots is natural and ends are lighter--dye job growing out. My eyes are green not a typical Winter feature.

Should I, can I wear bright lipcolor?? I am wearing a natural pink gloss in my profile photo and last photo pictures below. I am wondering if intense lipstick overwhelms me compared to other women I see wear it.

I ask because I'm in the midst of a style shift and for me, makeup is a huge part of that! I'm also organizing my lipsticks and thinking it's time to let go of some. (I have 23 and counting...)

I tried labeling all these and my post crashed. Twice. So just the photos for now without brands and colors.

So... Thoughts?

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Dressing

34 replies

Latest reply was from Keturah

Keturah

Veteran

I will add just seeing photos together that dark lipstick such as 10 is not good on me. And I'm uncertain about the mauve in 2, 6, and 11--seems to wash me out.

Gennifyr

I think the softer colours work better because your colouring isn't high contrast, not necessarily because of season.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I don't think it's necessarily just bright versus pale, it's also warm/cool tones (and contrast, too). I am not a big fan of 3 and 5, not just because they're high contrast but because they seem too orange-y for you. 10, on the other hand, is nice on you because it's purple-y, although it's dark enough I'd tend to reserve it for evening rather than daytime (but that's just me, and I don't do statement lip color much).

Of the lighter colors, 4, 7, and 12 are my least favorites and seem neither here nor there. I quite like the rest and think they look lovely on you.

Sal

Veteran

I think you can wear both.....I think all of them are fine, and most of them are great. It can be a shock to see yourself in bright or dark lipstick.....

My least favourite is also 10, I think it is a little harsh on you. I also think 12 is too warm for one of the paler shades.

My favourites are
1 3 4 5 8 9 13 - I think these are all terrific and very flattering indeed.

Anonymous

I think you look great in #10! It's your dark -- it doesn't read as "bright" but deep and dramatic, bringing your face into focus. (Your pic reminds me of Julianna Margulies.) I also think you look pretty in #2 and several of the other soft shades. I think #7 and #12 are the ones that suit you least -- too pinkety-pink, too coral, perhaps?

Staysfit

Veteran

It really depends on the look you're going for. The softer colors are a more natural look, but I prefer the cooler tones as Laura pointed out. The darker/brighter colors make your lips stand out and depending on the color really highlight your beautiful green eyes. I like that look also. I think either soft or bold work but you may prefer one over the other depending on your current style.

I have a large lip color collection also. I have them divided into natural looks and bold looks. I also have several different blushes, and looks for my eyes so I can emphasize whatever feature I think is relevant.

Zibbets

Veteran

I agree with Laura that 4, 7 and 12 are my least favorites and the rest all work really well with varying degrees of drama. Beautiful!

Keturah

Veteran

I'm having a chuckle because 10 is garnering a lot of comment. And it's the color I both love and question at the same time. It is an intensely dramatic color. Also the mid-day lighting and my hasty application probably affected the final photo.

So new photos of 10 attached. My hair pulled up/back so you can see me wearing 10 against my natural hair color and skin.

Ginnefyr, I go back and forth about my level of contrast. I have a lot of Autumns in my family--lower contrast skin and hair. My mom seem to be the only one with high contrast, but also prefers softer lip colors. My hair color is growing out and bronze shade it was dyed definitely lowers my contrast. I can't say I'm a very strong/classic version of winter or high contrast.

Laura, good eye!! Yes, After looking over the photos the cooler tones look best. And I also thought 4,7,12 werent good for me. Even when I wear warmer toned clothes I choose persimmon orange or intense coral red--something that's had a cooler note added to it.

Kiwigal, maybe it's just the shock of seeing it on me! I also just realized I am wearing black and white striped shirt, which is a bit graphic and high contrast. So perhaps with the lipcolor it's a bit much.

Gauche, I really dislike 7 and 12--they're too muted and pinkety-pink-coral. (7 is a yellowed pink. No good for my beige skin.) ah, Julianna Margolies she's my cousin--I'm sure of it because I have been compared to her before. It's helpful, to see what colors flatter her, because I know they will probably flatter me.

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Keturah

Veteran

Staysfit, oh what a brilliant idea! I shall try dividing them by bold/natural and see if that helps. So far dividing them into color family has proved unhelpful. I think I'm unsure about my style because of my recent shift. However I'm feeling better as I continue moving towards a style. I definitely think cooler colors are best on me. I really appreciate your compliment on my green eyes they're very green and it throws me off when it comes to choosing cooler or warmer tones. Also, it seems all of my features are kinda larger and up front. Some makeup artists have told me highlight my eyes always and go light on the lip. Others say balance out your eyes by doing a bold lip. Maybe both are right.

Zibbets, these are obvious NO colors for me! I'm seeing it too. Pale corally-pinky-peach just doesn't work well for me!

Ladies, your comments are sooo helpful!

Meredith

Veteran

I'm really bad with the color thing, do I'll leave that to better eyes. Have you ever mixed your own lip color? It's a fun alternative to tossing old tubes. Also, there is something surprisingly intuitive about the process and it might help you further refine what works.

Keturah

Veteran

Meredith, what a lovely idea!! I have thought of it, but usually it's the morning of as I'm rushing to get ready. Ill try mixing ahead and see if that is a better solution for time. And it might save the lippies I have marked "toss."

Meredith

Veteran

Yeah, before I tossed the old ones I bought two cheap ELF pallets and poured the melted product in. Works great!

crutcher

Veteran

Hey sweet friend...I purposely did not read the other posts because I wanted to have my first impression clear...You, my dear,are a winter...I am,too...and being a winter gives us permission to wear all kind of wonderful colors but it does not give us permission not to wear color...When we do, we create a winter too pale without sun look...
Here is my tabulation of your pictures...
1. washed out
2. meh
3. quite pretty
4. pale
5. I love it
6. washed out
7.better not great
8. great
9. great
10 too dark
11.no
12. mp
13 meh
14 no
15 washed out
I hope this helps...leave the nudes and neutrals and the no colors alone they are just not for you......I also hope I am not being too critical but I wanted to give you an honest opinion...
Aren't you special with your style hunt...I send you my best that you find what is supposed to be yours...
(Tobs is on a barking jag...He was in my bathroom barking his head off this morning...I rushed in thinking he was in dire need...Yup he was...there was an empty plastic bottle in the trash and he LOVES to crunch plastic bottles...So he was calling his Momma Sitter to come meet his needs..Not spoiled but definitely entitled...)
Hugs...

Sal

Veteran

Okay I will eat my words and say I do like 10 now!! In fact I really like it!!!!

I tend to wear bold colours rarely, but I usually like it when I do. I need some more lippies as I am down to four colours, of which I only LOVE two, and the other two get very limited use.

Anonymous

This is interesting. I went through all of the pictures, noting the numbers I liked the best. What I liked best, others decidedly didn't. I'm more intrigued by your nose ring- very pretty and subtle. Anyways, I'm a lipstick nutcase - I have more than you would ever want to know about, and out of the millions I seem to have, about 4 are great Why do I keep the others? What do you do with perfectly good lipstick that you will NEVER wear?

deb

Veteran

#10 is my favorite. I like the berry colors the best. 3,4,7, have too much coral to my eye.

Anonymous

I like 2, 3 and 11. What beautiful eyes you have!

Aida

Veteran

#4, 12, and 13 (and maaaaybe 7) are the only ones that struck me as not super flattering. #8, 9, 10 and 14 are my particularly favorite, but you seem to have a great eye for your lip colors and the others I didn't mention look good too. I think that the color will also appear more or less flattering to a small degree based on what you are wearing with it. I also like changing my lip color up per outfit

(Also to me your coloring looks like a Deep Autumn, which means warm-toned preference but still the ability to wear several cool colors; if you find you wear mostly warm makeup shades that might also corroborate this).

rute

Veteran

Bright all the way, 3 is my favorite! I don't like the darker shades.

K.M.

Veteran

I'll be the outlier and say that I think you look great in all of them. I couldn't see any that I didn't like. But if I had to pick my favorites: 9, 10, 11. I also like 3 a lot.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

It really depends on what you are going for. Day or night? Are you wearing reds and pinks and want to pick up the colour in your lips?

I like #14 for a very natural look. I also like #11 and #12 for day - a little stronger. The darker shades look fab at night - like #8 and #13.

Keturah

Veteran

Crutcher, thank you for the breakdown my dearest C! I go back and forth on 10. It is pretty color and I love plum in General. But it does seem dark... I actually don't like it for evening wear because it looks even darker in the night. I go back and forth on it. Mauve (2)--strangely other people say they like it on me. I don't feel settled on it. I like the bright colors and feel like a winter except my eyes are so warm. It throws me!! And warmer colors feel off to me. Am I having a season identity crisis?? ( Oh Tobs he is so darling and funny Mille is all gorgeous. Found a new groomer and she is in love with this lady!! She loves her new style mille and I send hugs to you and sweet Tobs! Isn't it fun being Mommas to such dear pups? Hugs and love!)

Kiwigal, I just find it fascinating how some we all see color differently on others! And now you love the plum! And that's okay. I hope you find more lipcolors you love! But I also think having a couple lip colors as a signature is good. I just don't use the same color/product for 10-15 years. That's when I think it gets stale.

Lisa, I'm glad to hear everyone's opinions! it's fascinating how everyone differs on the lippies. My nose ring: easy! Its a 24 gauge real yellow gold continuous ring (it has a split that you kinda work open and then press it closed once it's in.) Very comfy. I'm allergic to medical grade metals--they have too much nickel and irritated my piercing. As for orphaned lipsticks... Idk. It's so tough. I know some women trade with girlfriends. You can disinfect it with isopropyl alcohol. But I'm funny about cosmetics and sanitation so... I am chuck mine. I figure why keep them? Some Makeup artists archive makeup for inspiration. But I'm all about tossing it if you don't love it. And I will share cosmetics to a point, say use my
Makeup on a friend. But mostly I toss it if I find it anguishing in my drawer after a year or more.

Keturah

Veteran

Deb, everyone seems split on 10
I myself have a love/hate for it on me. It seems too dark. And yet the color
Is really lovely. So far, the yellow-pink corals dont like me and no one really likes them on me.

Isabel, another vote for team Warm I see thank you for the compliment lately my eyes have been darker. They used to look more yellow-green, like a cat.

AM

Veteran

LOVE 10 for more dramatic (day or night) and 14 for natural. I'm really fussy about my lipstick. I don't like my lips to be the star. I prefer more balance with my eyes. And I wear a dark plum when I want to be dramatic. It's not bright but it's rich and has depth -- so that is why I prefer your 10. I don't like when my eye goes straight to my lip -- and I don't like that look on others either.

Keturah

Veteran

Aida, thank you!! I just go with what I love when I buy. Ovciously the corals backfired on me haha Deep Autumn. I'm back and forth on warm colors. Warm lipcolors make me go "Eeeew." But I do warmer eyes a lot, and my skin is golden beige--so not peach or olive, but not super cool. I had a lot of red in my hair as a little girl. And as long as the color is saturated and deep enough, I wear orange very well! I get a lot of compliments. Warm red, terra cotta, beiges, chartreuse green, lime -- they look terrible on me. But so do icy or pale colors. I think metallic bronze looks nice. Metallics in General seem to look good on me.

Rute and K.M., interesting about 3! It is a warmer red. I am not sure about it yet. I appreciate your comments!

Angie, more day! For years I wore red lipstick and dark lipsticks--I've always done very dramatic looks -- cat eyeliner and full face of makeup. And now I'm feeling the desire to dump lift and soften things a little as I soften and simply my new style-- to be feminine without going too pale or delicate and looking washed out. Thank you for the feedback!! I find it interesting: some love the darker and warmer colors. Others prefer the cooler brighter colors. The coral peaches are definite no. exception is 14 which is a rose beige color. It's all new territory for me!

rachylou

Veteran

I like #2, 4, 11 and 12. #3 is pretty good to me, but it looks very very matte to me.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I am terrible at judging colors and especially lip colors. I think you look great in all of them really. I also think we have similar eye color :-). You do look like Julianna Margulies - both of you are gorgeous!

fuzzylogic

Veteran

Absolutely you can!!!! #3 & #5 (orangey-reds) look amazing with your gorgeous eyes!

psychedelicate

(website)

I like #10. If I were going to put you in a season, I'd say Dark Autumn--clearest and darkest of the Autumns, neutral-to-warm heat. #11 is good for a natural look.

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