https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:16:50 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1366005 Tue, 30 Sep 2014 04:55:50 +0000 DonnaF 1366005@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another lippie going back to CVS.&nbsp; I think I'll keep the Lipstick Queen lippie I ordered since I feel so embarrassed about returning so many and the texture and lack of smell is so nice.&nbsp; I really hate bright lipstick but want something on the dark side that's not rusty or orange, and I'm finding it a hard combo to find.&nbsp; My current favorite is Vincent Longo's Vanguard -- which says nothing to describe the color.&nbsp; I think my lipstick success rate is under 10%.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1365296 Mon, 29 Sep 2014 13:33:16 +0000 Karoline 1365296@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Black mascara, pink blush&nbsp;and nude lipgloss/lipstick always works for me. I never use eyeliner or eye shadow - like to keep is simple </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1364366 Sat, 27 Sep 2014 21:18:45 +0000 Aziraphale 1364366@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for the tip, Elly, although I have actually tried those little Vaseline lip balm tubs and they ultimately make my lips more dry, not less! (Plus I'm very picky about fragrance -- I tossed out the cocoa butter one two seconds after opening it because I found the smell repellent!)&nbsp;Any lip balm, even those with "natural oils", seems to reduce my skin's ability to produce its own oil. The only thing that doesn't seem to do this is straight-up, old-fashioned petroleum jelly. Go figure.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1364272 Sat, 27 Sep 2014 16:44:48 +0000 Elly 1364272@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If you like Vaseline, try their lip balm that comes in a mini Vaseline tub--- it is like the best of both worlds, good 'ol petroleum based V. to seal in moisture and seal out wind to repair chapping and keep it from happening and natural butters/oils that soak in (my fav. is the cocoa butter formula, but I think they have a Vitamin E, and one other). I'm a frequent if not daily user and the little tub lasts me a year.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1364224 Sat, 27 Sep 2014 15:57:31 +0000 Aziraphale 1364224@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh my. I am so sorry. I started a thread and then had a frenetic&nbsp;week and didn't check back! And there are a ton of thoughtful replies. I'm now resurrecting this thread off of page 5, ack. So I will reply in general rather than individually, if that's ok, since I have to dash off to a soccer game soon. :-)</p> <p>Glad to hear I'm not the only one who had mixed success with new colours! One thing I didn't know: that you can return a used colour the next day to the makeup counter. I think I'd feel bad doing this, though. They would have to throw it away. It's not like returning a sweater. ;-)</p> <p>Many of you suggested improving lip colours by mixing them. Yes, I do this -- sometimes deliberately, and&nbsp;sometimes even by accident, because I put on lipstick in the morning and don't necessarily have the same colour in my pocket or handbag later that day!&nbsp;</p> <p>Some people mentioned putting lip balm on to soften colour. I agree, it does.&nbsp;I always, always put on Vaseline before applying lipstick, or my lips dry out. I am a Vaseline junkie. It's more intractable addiction than heroin. However, I have discovered a number of formulations that stay on for longer and are much less drying than others. It can vary by colour, even within the same brand.&nbsp;Chanel makes some nice bright reds that go on smoothly; Estee Lauder has an excellent dark purple that doesn't clump (a common problem with dark shades); and Clinique Chubby Sticks Intense give almost as much colour as real lipstick, but seem to last longer.&nbsp;</p> <p>Anyway, thanks so much for your helpful&nbsp;replies! Off to put on my lipstick now.<br />:-)</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1362753 Thu, 25 Sep 2014 17:34:08 +0000 EveningMood 1362753@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I meddled a lot with drugstore products when I was younger so I know what works quite well now; also, I read plenty of reliable on line reviews before buying anything (almost only high end stuff now, but hey, makeup is my only splurging area!). I think this makes me very accurate, I must be at 90 percent at least because I wear everything I have except for a few items that were gifts: a copper-y eyeshadow trio that a friend gave me because she wanted me to wear copper, and the goth lipsticks my hubby got me </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1362521 Thu, 25 Sep 2014 06:56:14 +0000 Elly 1362521@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My mother never got into lipstick because of the tetracycline staining problem. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1362510 Thu, 25 Sep 2014 06:20:00 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 1362510@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I maybe wear 25% or 30% of what I buy in lip color. Eye color, no problem. I buy it and wear it just fine. Lip color is fraught for me. Like Anna, I have trouble with formulations as much as color. I got what I thought was the ideal color several months ago, and the formula is very drying. I love a nice red color, but they are really hard to get right. A red may look good with my coloring and yet make my teeth look green! (My teeth have been discolored all my life, and nothing short of veneer can fix it.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1362439 Thu, 25 Sep 2014 03:03:06 +0000 Elly 1362439@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't have great luck with with lipcolor--- I'm neutral leaning to warm and I need something in that spectrum, esp. with "natural shades". Basically, I need a rose color that won't go grey or too pink on me. Most shades like that end up looking a little frosted or fake on my lips, but corals are too orange. I look good lots of other lip colors but they are too much for my life. I have big lips, the SO would die if I got lipstick on him (and he is one that doesn't like to leave the house without a smooch on the temple), and I can't wear it to work. Maybe a stain? Sometimes I would like to emphasize my pout. </p> <p>As far as other makeup goes, I used to do really well with it. Recently every shade I try really closes in my eyes and they don't make my favorites anymore. I really hate paying Sephora prices for blush and eyeshadow type stuff though. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1362250 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 22:10:55 +0000 Meredith 1362250@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lipsticks are hit or miss for me as well. &nbsp;In the past I've melted down lipsticks that aren't quite right&nbsp;and mixed them into new colors. &nbsp;I've had great success with that method.</p> <p>I have actually been doing a bit of a lipstick experiment this week. &nbsp;I've been trying to determine whether I am warm or cool complected (why is it so hard to tell?). &nbsp;Someone posted to this link in a previous YLF thread and I thought it was really interesting. &nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.truth-is-beauty.com/what-season-are-you.html">http://www.truth-is-beauty.com.....e-you.html</a>&nbsp; It's&nbsp;sort of method for determining your season by trying out lipsticks. &nbsp;I bought a few drugstore lippies and was shocked at the results. &nbsp;I've always assumed warm colors work for me, but the difference between the warm and cool colors on my skin spoke volumes.</p> <p>This is a similar idea that I think&nbsp;would be fun to buy one of these and try out with a few friends and a bottle of wine. &nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.eleablake.com/store/lip-drape-kit/dp/2451">http://www.eleablake.com/store.....it/dp/2451</a></p> <p>I also found this interesting product for toning down colors: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.eleablake.com/store/get-toned-medium-chroma-cool-toner-palette-summeresk/dp/3017">http://www.eleablake.com/store.....sk/dp/3017</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; I haven't tried it, but it seems interesting. &nbsp;</p> <p>Obviously I've spent more than my fair share of time thinking about this topic this week. :)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1362051 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 15:25:53 +0000 shiny 1362051@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Just adding another thought on this: another reason I stick with drugstore brands is that I seem to have a MUCH higher rate of allergic reaction to department store brands. They may look perfectly lovely but then my lips get a nasty reaction -- to what I can only imagine is the pigment? I dunno --&nbsp;and I have to toss it out.&nbsp;</p> <p>Anyone else have that problem? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1361874 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 07:46:15 +0000 Alexandra 1361874@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You said "I can't make nudes work either! They just make my lips blend in with my face. Maybe I've got the wrong shape lips for nude." It's most likely not the shape of your lips but your coloring. You may need much more contrast than the nude lip provides. I'm in the same boat; as a Bright Winter I need a lot of contrast. </p> <p>I tend to wear the same colors all the time but on the rare occasion when I want to experiment, I try lip colors recommended from Bright Winters to ensure a reasonable rate of success. My daily lipstick is Covergirl Soulmate, which would look garishly bright on many women but with my coloring, it just looks normal. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1361862 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 06:49:34 +0000 Gigi 1361862@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another thing I tried the other day with some success was to scrape off a little bit of a pressed blush that I like into my palm, and then I mixed it with some clear lip gloss. I then applied that to my lips. The color was exactly what I wanted, although it wore off pretty quickly.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1361854 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 06:15:30 +0000 Adelfa 1361854@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>With department store lipsticks I'd say it's at least 80%. However I persist in this fantasy that I can do just as well in the drugstore. So I'll find a new formulation and one by one buy maybe 4 of them, none of which end of working. Since they cost $7 to $10 at the drugstore of course I would have done better at the department store!</p> <p>I'm having good luck at the department store by telling the SA "I'm looking for a brownish burgundy" or whatever. This helps them a lot and then they find things I wouldn't have. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1361844 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 05:56:33 +0000 sparlingo 1361844@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'd be curious to find out what are the successes you ladies have found after the multitude of not-quites. </p> <p>My my-lips-but-better colour is MAC Brave (Twig works for me, too)<br /> My favourite berry lipstick is L'Oreal Colour Riche in 590 (Blushing Berry)<br /> Still working on a favourite red, but the next one I want to try is MAC - Ruby Woo (I hear the blue undertones work well for a lot of people that struggle to find a flattering red).</p> <p>Blush is interesting, too. I thought I had a handle on it until a lady at my local MAC store talked me into trying what looked like a strange neon peach in the compact; it looked very natural and pretty on my face. Much better than what I had been wearing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1361839 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 05:27:02 +0000 Desmo April 1361839@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm at about 60% for lip color and I also layer them a lot. I've even smushed up different tubes into a pot with a little chapstick for my own personal blend. You can also tone down colors by putting on chapstick first and then putting on lipstick, it makes the color more sheer. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1361816 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 03:42:29 +0000 Deb 1361816@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I play it safe with shades of nude, rose and red for my lips and toe nails, black mascara and a smokey grey eye if wearing shadow. Predictable I know, but these colours suit me. Makeup in orange, browns and purples have always looked wrong on me and I pass those by. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1361814 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 03:38:25 +0000 bj1111 1361814@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>anna, have you tried rimmel from cvs? &nbsp;great reds 01 and 11, moisturizing, lasts 4 hours min. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1361811 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 03:36:49 +0000 annagybe 1361811@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have trouble with very dark burgundies. But the reds, oranges, and bright pinks I seem to do ok with. I'm more disappointed in formulations over the colors. Eg, Armani, is not worth the price, nor Tom Ford. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1361807 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 03:30:52 +0000 shiny 1361807@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting, Rabbit. I've done similar in my younger days. Now in my older (fading lips) days, I'm doing the reverse: I put on a saturated dark shade first, one of those 8-12 hour long lasting shades,&nbsp;blot liberally and immediately, so that all that is left is pretty much a stain. Then&nbsp;coat with chapstick, not powder (because aging dry lips).&nbsp;Wear that to commute to work or wherever I may be going. Then right before I arrive, touch up with a lighter shade over it, but not a gloss. Reapply as needed throughout the day. Apply chapstick again if lips feel dry. May tweak with alternate shade I have brought along with me. Carrying 2-3 multiple shades helps, since I never know quite what kind of lighting I will be in - office fluorescents, outdoors, indoors, etc. The initial base is always there, since it's &nbsp;a&nbsp;long lasting formulation, just not as dark and dramatic as when I first slick it on. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1361776 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 03:00:34 +0000 rabbit 1361776@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Gigi</b> - by muted tone in lipstick I mean more of an opaque&nbsp;light or dark mauve -- something that gives a level of darkness or lightness, but doesn't have a lot of color saturation. &nbsp;I set that with a very light&nbsp;powder, then I use surface lip&nbsp;glosses that are brighter&nbsp;reds or pinks or whatever which tint the lips, but don't make them darker or lighter, just add&nbsp;transparent&nbsp;color.</p> <p>(For example in one Renaissance&nbsp;oil painting technique, you can first paint in sepia tones or grays, like you were creating&nbsp;a black and white photograph of a scene, and then add transparent glosses of color on top when the under-painting is dry). &nbsp; </p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours/page/2#post-1361768 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 02:52:55 +0000 Jaime 1361768@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This thread has been so validating. I recently ventured into the world of lip color and I would say my success rate is 30% at best. Meaning I actually have worn 30% out of the house - I am far away from ever using up a lip color. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours#post-1361759 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 02:47:13 +0000 DonnaF 1361759@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My lipstick success rate is even worse than my clothing online orders, especially in brands I can only buy online!&nbsp; Part of the problem is that a lot of lipstick turns a ghastly orange on my lips.&nbsp; That didn't happen to me when I was younger; maybe it has something to do with my loss of lip pigment?&nbsp; In addition to the cool/warm thing, I want my lipstick to be dark rather than bright, and that seems to be a hard thing to come by for some odd reason. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours#post-1361753 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 02:38:57 +0000 Gigi 1361753@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Rabbit,&nbsp;</b>I'm glad to know that you do this too! I didn't know whether it was a strange technique, since I'd never heard of it before.</p> <p>Your oil painting technique idea is interesting. When you say "muted tone," do you mean a lip color that matches your own natural lip color, and then you just apply it as heavy or as light as you want the overall look to be? Then you cover with more heavily pigmented lipstick?&nbsp;(Sorry, I don't have much training in color terminology.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours#post-1361749 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 02:31:38 +0000 rabbit 1361749@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yeah, that's what I do <b>Gigi</b>, use the opposing&nbsp;pencil to alter the lip color. &nbsp;I almost always mix my own on my mouth&nbsp;using various lipsticks and occasionally eye pencils and little artist paint brushes. &nbsp; I really like lips that work with, but aren't 'matchy' with&nbsp;rest of my outfit (in darkness, brightness, etc.), so doing a custom blend each time works. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </p> <p>That said, it's hard to touch up the exact shade&nbsp;out and about. </p> <p>ETA: heh, thinking about it further, I actually sometimes use a traditional oil painting technique I learned. &nbsp;I use a&nbsp;base muted tone to build up the level of deepness/darkness (grayscale in painting) I want, and then use glosses of color over it to tint it.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours#post-1361721 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 02:05:13 +0000 Gigi 1361721@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Don't even get me started on lip colors. I can't seem to find anything that is exactly the right shade—it's either too cool or too warm. Like you, AZ, I am neutral with perhaps a bit of a tilt toward warm. </p> <p>I have two lip colors, one that leans warm and one that leans cool, as well as two lip pencils, again one warmer and one cooler. None of these is perfect.&nbsp;I was playing around with them last night in the mirror, and what seemed to work the best was using the warm lip pencil with the cool lipstick and vice versa, which I had never done before. I also experimented with mixing in just a touch of yellow powder (from a quad compact) with the cooler shade, and that seemed to help. Maybe we have to mix our own? I should have tried mixing the two lipsticks together.&nbsp;</p> <p>Lipstick is the bane of my makeup existence. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours#post-1361719 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 02:02:36 +0000 Kristin L 1361719@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for the recommendation on the chubby stick!</p> <p>For lip colors, I'm about 1 in 3. Some of the pinky browns work for me as well as berry shades. I wish I could find a red, but every one that I've tried looks &nbsp;awful.</p> <p>I haven't tried it yet, but I heard that if your trying to find one that works, put a dab on the underside of your pinkie finger and see how it looks. Or, just hold your pinkie up to your mouth. I'm not sure about drug stores, but I think you can return tried products that don't work to stores like Sephora.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours#post-1361710 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 01:53:46 +0000 catgirl 1361710@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I only wear a few shades of lip color, all in the browns and purples.&nbsp; Surprisingly, I've found a great new shade of ultraviolet that I love - it's a MAC color.&nbsp; I have tried so many lipstick shades over the years that I can spot what will and won't work on me instantly.&nbsp; There is a new Rihanna MAC shade I just got that is a cool silver-brown that's perfect.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours#post-1361708 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 01:52:12 +0000 thimblelina 1361708@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The way I hedge this is I only buy one line of lip color: Nars. And within their line only sheers and glosses. I have four sheers and 8 or 9 glosses and can make lots of very subtly different mixes with these. I simply can't stand it when lip products smell/taste/feel different than I am expecting, so I play it safe! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/whats-your-success-rate-with-new-makeup-colours#post-1361706 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 01:50:35 +0000 Isabel 1361706@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Like you, my the color I wear limited to my lips but I also use blush. &nbsp;I generally did not do well. But 2 years ago I met a wonderful young man at a JC Penney Sephora outpost and he taught me about color. &nbsp;The blush he recommended has just been wonderful. &nbsp;Then he recommended a lipstick. &nbsp;Then a second one. I love everything that he has recommended. &nbsp;But mostly, he gave me some idea of what to look for. &nbsp;And I am learning more about color. &nbsp;I used to think that red was red....but nothing is as simple as it seems. &nbsp; &nbsp;: &nbsp;)&nbsp;</p>