Thanks to the 90s resurgence, brown lipstick is back with a vengeance. Unlike more forgiving shades like peaches and pinks, brown can sometimes turn against us. If the shade choice isn’t right it can throw off your look and do odd things to your skin tone.
Here are some simple tips for rocking brown lipstick shades!
Pick the right shade
When picking your brown lipstick shade, go a few shades darker than your skin tone to avoid any wash-out. In saying that, if you have dark skin, a few shades lighter can also be stunning for a 60s-style mod nude brown look.
For warm-toned skin, pick shades with a little red or orange in them to bring out that warmth. For example, Wanna Spoon, Honeymoon, and Glam AF each have lovely warm, coppery undertones.
Cool-toned skin would look incredible with a mauve-based brown like Rome. Cool and/or fair skin should avoid yellow-based browns to avoid looking sallow or sickly. Stick with pink or mauve-based brown such as Baile.
Go for an ombre effect
Brown lipsticks look amazing with an ombre-effect application. The transitional shades give extra dimension and avoid flatness.
My favorite way to do this is to take a brown/nude liner a few shades deeper than my lips and fill my lips in. I do cheat a little and make my lip line a little fuller…that’s what it’s for, right? Then, I dab a brown lipstick color 2 or 3 shades lighter than the liner onto the center of my lips. With a brush or my ring finger, I blend the color out so it fuses seamlessly with the liner.
Some perfect deep brown liners are Pecan Pie, Pudding, and Tiramisu (yum!).
Add a little life with a topper
If you find that matte brown is washing you out even if the tone is right, try changing up the finish. Pick a gloss with a brownish tone, or even a glittery gloss and dab over your matte shade to add dimension, softness, and life.
Hot-Tea and Santorini Sun are perfect candidates!
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