How to Pick out the "Perfect" Lipstick

For years, I have heard customers say they are looking for the "perfect" lipstick.  After years of helping women pick out lipstick I have learned that when looking for a new lipstick, it can be a very daunting task for the Customer and the Artist. Choosing a lipstick should be fun!  But sometimes it is the "how" of choosing a new color that is frustrating.  Thousands of times I have seen customers belly up to the lipstick display and exhibit some very odd methods of color selection. It is very common to either rub the lipstick on the top of a hand and then hold their hand up to their face. Or customers will apply the color on their lips, fluff their hair, and try to make a judgement while looking into a tiny hand mirror.  9 times out of 10 the decision is "don't like.' Ladies, I have to bring humor to this and say that this is the equivalent of trying on a new gown while having your pants around your ankles and your socks still on!  It is no way to showcase a gown or a new lipstick!  

If you really want to find your perfect lipstick, you need to approach the task in a different way.  Lipstick should never be the main focus from the get-go.  Lipstick is the "finishing touch" of a "look." The best way to find your most flattering shade of lipstick is to sit down (when you have at least 45 mins) and have your makeup done from start to finish.  You will notice that every Makeup Artist will chose your lip color as the last step in the makeup application.  This is because once you have all of your makeup on and your lips are bare, the true color of your natural lips will stand out.  Your "perfect" lip shade is absolutely obvious if chosen in this way.


The only time lipstick should be the focus, is if it IS the focus of the "look."  For example, if you know you want to wear red lipstick and you want to build a "look" around red lips.  But please, do not go into a makeup counter and expect to try on every red lipstick until you find the "perfect" one.  Schedule a time to have your makeup done with the understanding that you will be wearing red, and then at the end of the application see what tone and richness of red would be compliment you and the special "look" you are trying to achieve.  It will be a much more enjoyable and productive experience, I promise!