GirlsGuideTo | Dare to Wear: Dark Lipstick

Dark lipstick is another trend for the brave fashion-forward chick. Just likeprinted pants, there is a lengthy list of why dark lipstick just doesn’t “work.” Examples? Looking too goth, the upkeep, it's not be flattering for all shapes and sizes of lips, etc. No way! Don't let that deter you if you’ve fallen in love with the dramatic look. Sometimes, a sheer pink gloss just gets BORING. If you’re on the fence, just looking at the women pictured below was enough reason to convince me to try it out.

Here’s our advice for pulling off the dark lipstick look, from application to picking the right shade.

Prepyour lips by gently scrubbing off any dead skin with an old toothbrush or a lip scrub, like Mary Kay’s Satin Lips. Moisturize with a nourishing lip balm. Lineyour lips with a pencil that’s a shade close to your natural lip color. This will help define your lip and keep your lipstick in check. Apply the lipstick in layers. Just like when applying foundation, it’s best to start with less. Layer the lipstick for a more evenly applied look and for more lasting power.

Pair with a neutral face. Use foundation to even out uneven skin tone, but keep the rest of your makeup routine simple. Lush lashes with a bit of highlighter cream to brighten up your face will pair perfectly with the dark lips.

Not sure what shade of dark lipstick to try? You’ll want to pick a shade that flatters your skin tone. Use our guidelines before you start shopping. And remember, you can always ask for some assistance at the beauty counter; the professionals really do know what they’re talking about.

For fair skin:Deep plum, berry, and wine reds with a blue undertone will work best. For brown shades, choose one with pink undertones for the most flattering look.

For medium/olive skin:Stick with rich, deep brown reds and dark berry shades. Pink undertones are not flattering for this skin tone.

For dark skin:The dark lipstick trend is super flattering on dark skin. It’s hard to wrong with a shade; mahogany, deep plums, and wine reds all work. Plus, almost any shade of brown, including rich, dark, coffee browns flatter this skin tone.

Here’s our pick of lipsticks:

Starting from the left is a dark brown shade, with two plum and berry shades in the center, and a deep red shade on the right.

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Are you thinking of trying the dark lipstick trend? I was pleasantly surprised by how well Camilla Belle pulled off the trend in the pic above and have been secretly dying to try it for myself. Or have you already tried the dark lipstick look? Let me know how you rocked the trend in the comments below!