Ever walked into a drugstore or a department store and felt completely overwhelmed by the amount of different – or similar – lipstick shades and colors and brands that line the shelf? Not only that, but it seems almost every brand has a different “feature” – anti aging, moisturizing, long lasting, never drying – picking the right shade of lipstick can definitely seem to be the most difficult choice that a woman must make in her life!

What many women do not know is that there are some basic rules to go by when selecting a lipstick shade. Of course, there are some exceptions to the rule, but if you are one with a darker skin tone there are some guidance tips that you can go by. Such as:

• If you have a darker, more olive skin tone you will want to choose deep, rich brown shades with red or mahogany undertones, darker berry shades, and rich, dark pinky shades with yellow undertones.
• If you have a dark skin tone, choose darker reds that have blue undertones, deep plum tones, any shade of brown, sheer soft pinks, beige shades, and deep beery shades (yes, dark skin tones definitely have the most options for lipstick shades out there!).

It seems almost as if the darker your skin tone, the less wrong you can go with the lipstick shade that you choose. Just remember to always have a wealth of lipstick colors on hand to compliment your skin tone, your dress, and your eyeshadow.

Regardless to what lipstick you choose, even if it is the best shade for your skin tone, if it is not applied correctly it will not do the job that it is meant to do. Here are some tips to help you maximize your lipstick:

1. If you have thin lips, try to wear lighter and glossier shades of lipstick as these shades will make your lips look more plump and appear to be fuller. Darker shades will only accentuate how thin your lips are and give you the “pencil thin” lip appearance.

2. On the contrary, if you have very full lips, try wearing darker matte lipsticks to draw less attention to their fullness.

3. If you are wearing a lighter eyeshadow color, choose a darker, more bold lipsticks to really show off your lips.

4. If you choose to wear darker eyeshadow, then choose a lighter, more neutral and sheer lipstick or lip color. It is important to always either focus on drawing attention to either your lips or your eyes; never try to draw attention to both.

5. Glossier, more dramatic lipsticks should be worn at night whereas lighter, more natural colors with a cream or matte finish are more appropriate for daytime wear

6. Never shy away from lip liner! The key here is to choose a lip liner that is appropriate for the shade of lipstick you are wearing. Always choose a liner that is very similar to the shade you are wearing. Using a lip liner that is either darker, or lighter, than the shade of lipstick you are wearing is tacky and unappealing.