A Guide on How to Choose the Perfect Lip Blushing Color
Lip Blushing is a version of semi-permanent makeup designed to enhance the appearance of our lips.
Once done correctly it is quite satisfactory in the end, but before you go ahead and get one done, there are a few things you should know and understand.
And one of the first things questions you will have is: “How do I know which color will look good on me?” Remember lip blushing can last years. So if you are going to have a color on your lips for so long, you need to ensure it is the right one.
So in this article, we will dive into how to choose the perfect lip blushing color. By understanding what lip blushing is, what your skin tone and undertone are, and how that affects the way the color will look on your lips.
What is Lip Blushing
Lip blushing is a type of cosmetic tattooing that increases lip color semi-permanently by depositing colored ink into the lips with a motorized needle. Citation.
The resultant tattoo, which normally lasts two to three years, imparts a beautiful color to the lips, similar to a stain or balm.
You may still use lipsticks and lip colors after receiving lip blush to change up your appearance, but many lip blush clients choose to go without lip makeup. Citation.
Related Article: Lip Lightening Laser: What is it, Cost, Pros & Cons
Video Showing How Lip Blushing is Done
How Do You Choose a Lip Blushing Color?
As a general rule, when choosing a color for your lips, especially if it is semi-permanent or permanent, you should follow these steps:
- Identify your undertone
- Understand which colors and shades go with your undertone
- Use temporary lip colors for your trials and errors before deciding
Related Article: Lip Neutralization 101: What is It, What to Expect & Cost
Why Does Your Undertone & Skin Tone Matter For Lip Blushing
Have you ever gone makeup shopping, bought new lipstick or lip tint, but wound up hating it when you got home? We have all been there. Sometimes we fall in love with the color in the tube but on our lips, it just looks off.
This has to do with our skin tone and undertones. How a color looks on us is influenced by the hues under our skin that define our color palettes.
Understanding what our undertones are and what colors will go with them will help us to choose colors that make us look our best all the time.
Related Article: Lip Blushing What to Expect & Aftercare Tips to Heal Fast
Difference Between Undertone & Skin Color
It’s essential to understand that your undertone is not the same as your natural tone or the color of your skin without foundation or other cosmetics.
Warm undertones can appear in even the fairest complexion, whereas cool undertones can appear in darker skin.
This is why matching your makeup to your skin tone may be difficult – it typically doesn’t blend with the natural colors that exist just beneath the surface of your skin.
Related Article: Lip Blushing Gone Wrong – What to Do & How to Prevent
Step 1 – Identify your Undertone.
How to identify your undertone
Warm, cool, and neutral are the three conventional undertones.
1- Warm Undertones – Peach, yellow, and golden undertones are examples of warm undertones. Sallow skin is common in persons with warm undertones.
2- Cool Undertones – Pink and bluish undertones are examples of cool undertones.
3- Neutral Undertones – Meanwhile, if you have a neutral undertone, your undertones are approximately the same hue as your skin tone.
Here are a few tips & tricks you can try to identify your undertone:
1- Grab something white
Stand in front of a mirror and take a piece of white clothing or perhaps a piece of white paper. Then hold the object up to your face in bright, natural light and observe how your skin looks when compared to the white paper.
If you have a cool tone your skin will seem pink or rosy in contrast.
Your undertone is warm if your face seems yellow. Another indicator that you’re warm-toned is that you prefer an off-white or creamy colors to stark white.
You may have a neutral undertone if you can wear both hues without seeming washed out.
2- Look at your veins
If you can see your veins, you might be able to determine your undertone by their hue.
- Warm undertones if your veins seem greenish
- Cooler undertones are more common in people with blue or purple veins.
- Neutral Undertones your veins may seem colorless or match the color of your skin
3- Model some jewelry
Many people choose silver or gold jewelry because of how it looks on their bodies. You’re more likely to have warm or olive undertones if you enjoy the way classic yellow gold appears on your skin.
On cooler undertones, silver, platinum, and rose gold tends to appear better.
You may have neutral undertones if you look good in both silver and gold and depend on your clothes rather than your skin color to choose one.
4- Look at the color of your eyes and hair
Although any skin undertone may be found in eye and hair color, deeper skin tones and darker eyes tend to have warmer undertones, whereas very pale skin and lighter eyes tend to have neutral or cool undertones.
5- Pay attention to how you sunburn
It is important o always wear your SPF no matter what your skin tone and undertone are. However, knowing your skin reacts to sun exposure can help you identify your undertone.
If you have a cool undertone, you’re more prone to become sunburned and probably use sunscreen more frequently. If you tan but never seem to burn, you could have warm undertones.
What Lip Colors Go With What Undertones
Generally, yellow undertones work well with warm colors, and pink undertones look great with blue or purple hues.
However, we know that lip colors and pigments come in hundreds of shades. Your lip blushing technician may even offer to mix something up specifically for you. So, now you have to try and narrow down your color selections. Citation.
Here is a more in-depth explanation of how skin tone works and how that relates to lip colors:
Step 2- Match With Your Complexion
What Color For Lip Blushing Based on Skin Color
Now that you know your undertone, you can also consider your skin color as well. A lip blush color is expected to look pretty, but natural to some extent. You do not want it to look like lipstick or too obvious.
Very Pale Skin
If you’re pale, a nude-toned color is the greatest option. For a stunning daytime look, think of peachy colors that you can layer with a nude gloss. Dark brown or burgundy should be avoided since they will contrast too much with your pale skin.
Dark Skin
Lip colors for very dark complexions are plenty; fortunate you! For a lively flash of color, choose coral tones or pigments with an orange component. Avoid colors that are chalky or include too much white.
Olive Skin
You’ll look great in warm, natural tones if you have a nice olive complexion. To match your skin, go for sunset reds, lively coral, and warm amber. Purple will highlight the yellow in your complexion and make you appear sallow. Brown will appear too monotonous.
Yellow undertones
You’ll look excellent in blue-based reds if you’re not quite olive but not quite pale. Flesh tones and bronzes are also great, but avoid purple if you don’t want to seem too yellow.
Pink undertones
Stick to peach tones for a natural look if you’re between pale and olive but have pink undertones. Try brick red or orange-based reds for a more eye-catching combo, but avoid blue-based reds since they’ll clash poorly.
Light Asian Skin
You’ll almost certainly have great full lips and a natural coral undertone to your face, so go for stunning coral lips and a lot of enhancing lip gloss. You may also get away with strong reds, but avoid the nudes since they will make your complexion seem pasty.
What Color is Best For Lip Blushing on Very Dark Skin
If you have very dark skin or South Asian skin, chances are your lips will have natural blue undertones that can skew the results of lip blushing. Your color may not come out exactly as expected.
In these cases, your technician may decide to mix and match to come up with a shade that is best suited to your skin and your lips.
Most technicians will also first apply a base layer of color, which is usually an orange shade to add warmth and to balance out the blueness so that your actual lip blushing shade can appear better.
Video to Show How to Pick Lip Colors For Very Dark Skin
Step 3- Experiment with your Lip Colors
Before you decide on a semi-permanent lip blush color, take out the lip colors in your armory and play around.
Try out different colors and see what will look best on you.
Note that your lip blush color will not come out as bright or as intense, but you will at least have an idea of what that shade will generally look like on your skin.
Colour Charts & Palettes
If you are not choosing your color on your own, or if you are waiting for your technician to color match you, they will more than likely use a color chart.
A color chart is usually a collection of color swatches that go with different skin tones and undertones in varying shades.
Every technician might use a different color chart. Some brands of pigments come with their own charts, so different brands of pigments will use different charts.
Technicians are usually trained in color theory and know how to use the different charts and pigments correctly. Therefore, it is never a bad idea to have them explain the chart they are using to you and help you find a match if necessary.
