Helping you find the perfect lip palette for your skin

Lipstick Palette

A Lipstick palette is possibly your favorite make up item.  If you played with your mums makeup when you were young, chances are that it was the lipstick that drew you in first. Most women could probably survive for a day or so without their full make up so long as they were allowed to have that little tube of color.  In fact, most women will own a number of different lipsticks in various shades, textures and types.  Some prefer lip gloss to the point that they actually wear lip lacquer.  Others prefer the old fashioned cream formula (great for conditioning your lips), some will stick to the same brand – once a Dior Lipstick user always dior etc. Lipsticks are made of wax, fragrance, pigment and oil. They are cheap to produce and make their manufacturers tidy profits.
Choosing lipstick is a very personal choice but one that most women get wrong at some point in their lives. You shouldn’t even start putting lipstick onto lips that haven’t been properly cared for.  Regardless of the type of lipstick you choose, you will only highlight problem areas if they exist.  Just  like the rest of your body, your lips need regular care and attention in order to keep in tip top condition.
Make a lip conditioner part of your daily routine particularly if your mouth is chapped or you bite your lips.  It is best applied at night and in the morning before you put on your lipstick.
You can use lip color to change the appearance of your lips. For example if one of them is smaller than the other, you can line the smallest lip along the margin of your lip border taking care not to exceed this area.  Alternatively try using a slightly lighter color on the smaller lip to make it look larger.  Highlighter applied to the middle of the smaller one will also help it to appear larger.

If your lips are your best feature, accentuate them in red as it will draw the eye of your beholder directly to your mouth. There is no mistake in Disney films when they refer to Snowwhite and other heroines as having ruby red lips.  Be careful though as the right “red lipstick” depends on your underlying skin tone.  If you look great in bright white shirts, then a red lipstick with a hint of blue in it will suit you best.  If you prefer creams, you probably have some yellow undertones  in your skin and should stay clear of  all reds apart from those that have gold or brown in them.

Red lips have always been sexy. It is usually the first thing a man notices and the last thing a woman leaves behind i.e. on her glass or even the collar of a shirt!  If you buy a lipstick palette you can experiment on finding out the best color to get your man where you want him!

If you cannot find the right colors in a lipstick palette, why not make your own using a  JAPONESQUE LIPSTICK PALETTE KIT.  Empty lipstick palettes like this one gives you the opportunity to use any colors you wish.

Lip Gloss Palette

A lip gloss palette is often one piece of make up kit that most women won’t do without.  Most women are addicted to their lipsticks yet often they are wearing the wrong color, type or just applying it incorrectly.

Did you know that on average 60% of women will apply an extra coat of lipstick before answering the front door?  It is hardly surprising that we spend so much money on this one product and most women will have more than a half dozen different lipsticks in their make up collection.

It is surprising therefore how many women are wearing either the wrong color lipstick, the wrong type or have applied it incorrectly. How often have you seen girls with lipstick on their teeth? Perhaps you have been out and been embarrassed at leaving lipstick all over the glass or cup you were drinking from?

Using a lipgloss palette allows you to experiment with different looks. You might want to choose pale and interesting for the daytime with a little more color and glamour for the night. Dark colors need practice – if you are new to the lipstick game you need to start with the lighter more forgiving shades.

If you want longer lasting color use a matt lipstick as opposed to a gloss one.  Lip gloss should be applied with caution. Less is definitely more when it comes to this product.  First outline your lips with lip pencil and then use the gloss or alternatively just use a little gloss in the center of your lips.  This will create an illusion of fullness and will add a subtle shine. You will need to carry your lip gloss palette with you as you will need to reapply the product more often than normal lipstick.

Lip color is subjective. Never buy a lipstick shade just because it looks great on someone else. They may not have the same skin tone and coloring as you and it could look dreadful. The assistant at the makeup counter will help you determine which shades best suit you if you are unsure.  When you buy a lip palette, the benefit is that you get a variety of different colors but ones that are all based on the same underlying color that suits your skin tone.  This makes mistakes less likely.

You will find plenty of choice.  Some people swear by well known brand names such as the Dior lip palette, others like more budget brands including 66 Color Lip Palette.

Always use a lip brush when applying lip gloss or any other product to your mouth. You will get a more professional finish.  You are more likely to keep the color inside your lips rather than outside and will be able to reach into the corners as well. You are less likely to get it on your teeth so don’t need to worry about that embarrassing situation.  If you are worried about the pigments bleeding into your skin, you can use a cotton bud soaked in foundation to run around the outside of your painted lips.  Blot your lipstick to ensure it stays in place but do so before you apply the gloss.

People often outline their lips with lip pencil first.  This can cause a few problems. Never use a lip liner that is darker than your lipstick color – the clown effect is not an attractive look.  If you do use a liner, use it to color your lips as well prior to applying your lipstick as this will help keep the color regular as it begins to wear off. Don’t use a lip liner that is too sharp or it will create too harsh an outline. We are aiming for the natural look even if it takes hours to achieve!

And remember that if you are using a lip gloss palette, use one with added sun protection. Your lips do not contain any melanin which makes them more susceptible to burning.  Also moisturize using Neutrogena Lip Moisturizer
and pamper them to prevent chapped skin.