Find a Lipstick That Won't End Up in the Garbage Can

Find a Lipstick That Won't End Up in the Garbage Can

Whether nude, soft pink or deep red, find the lip color that works best for you. What is it about lipstick that makes it look so fabulous in the store and so horrifying in your bathroom mirror? Finding the perfect shade can be a girl's biggest frustration, but it doesn't have to be that way. To the rescue is celebrity makeup artist and owner of the Kimara Ahnert Makeup Studio in New York City, Kimara Ahnert, who shared these tips with Women's Health Magazine:

Start by figuring out your skin's undertone. Look at the veins on your inner wrists in natural light by going outside or standing near a window. If they are bluish, you have cool undertones. Greenish signals warm undertones.

Fair Skin
Flattering colors include a light brown and pinkish beige, which can help brighten a pale complexion. Avoid bright pink, dark bronze, and dark mocha because these will look too severe. Suggestions include Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color in Soft Blush for $22 or Motives by Loren Ridinger Rich Formula Lipstick in Pink Sand for $14. If you have cool undertones, choose nude, light mocha or light mauve such as MAC Lipstick in Lovin' It for $14 or Benefit Full-Finish Lipstick in Fame Game for $18. If you have warm undertones, opt for shell, sand or nude peach. Good choices include Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited in PK 321 for $23 or the Body Shop Lip Cake in 56 for $12.50.

Medium Skin
Flattering colors include plum and raspberry to play up pink undertones and create an overall glow. Avoid nude shades because they're too close to your natural skin color and will leave you looking washed out. Suggestions include Clinique Butter Shine Lipstick in Perfect Plum for $14 and the Body Shop Lip Cake in 69 for $12.50. If you have cool undertones, try rosy pink, pomegranate and cranberry like Calvin Klein Delicious Fusion Moisturizing Lip Color in Stolen Kiss for $18. If you have warm undertones, select bronze, copper and cinnamon like Neutrogena Moistureshine Lipstick SPF 20 in Caramel Kiss for $9.

Olive Skin
Flattering colors for olive skin include light brown and dark berry which will give you a sun-kissed look. Try T. LeClerc Satin Lipstick in Beige Ingenu for $24 or Lorac Breakthrough Performance Lipstick SPF 15 in Ingenue for $22. If you have cool undertones, select brick red, brown red or caramel shades such as Laura Mercier Stain Lip Colour in Cherrywood for $22. Avoid orange-reds and pinkish reds.

Dark Skin
Flattering colors include dark red with a hint of blue and deep plum to help illuminate darker skin tones. Avoid orange shades as these can make skin look drab. Suggestions include Avon Ultra Color Rich Lipstick in Red 2000 for $6.50 and Nars Lipstick in Fast Ride for $24. If you have cool undertones, choose raisin, wine and ruby red shades like Victoria's Secret Sparkling Lipstick in Spark for $14 or Maybelline New York Color Sensational Lipcolor in Plum Paradise for $7.50. If you have warm undertones, try honey, ginger or coppery bronze shades such as Sonia Kashuk Luxury Lip Color in Truffle for $9 or Laura Mercier Satin Lip Colour in Pink Cocoa for $22.