Nowadays, we don’t get to wear lipsticks that often (no thanks to the pandemic!). But that shouldn’t stop us from getting glammed up for a virtual date or a Zoom call with loved ones! Besides, with Halloween just around the corner, now is as good a time as any to start busting out your dark and decadent lip colours for a virtual party! So today, I’ll be showing you the Insider 101 of wearing dark lipsticks, complete with dark lippie recommendations!

Choose the right shade for your skin tone

As a makeup artist, I think dark lipsticks in general look great on all skin tones. However, I wouldn’t normally recommend a dark lipstick for women over 50 with a lighter skin tone as a darker colour would wash out and draw colour away from the face. So usually for mature skin, I tend to recommend warm and soft rosy tones that add radiance and vitality to the face.

To choose a dark lipstick for your skin tone, you can never go wrong with luxurious purples and regal reds. Generally, deep shades of purple like plum, berry, burgundy and aubergine look amazing on all skin tones. So too do rich shades of red like oxblood, maroon, ruby, garnet and mahogany. Aside from these colours which look amazing on all complexions, here is a guide to choose the right shade for you:

  1. Fair or Ivory Skin Tone: Dark pinks and purples tend to stand out on lighter skin tones. So opt for rich purples, fuchsias and violets. Fairer complexions can also pull off a decadent crimson red beautifully. And if you’re going for full-on goth vibes, go all out with a black or dark blue lippie.
  2. Light-Medium, Medium or Olive Skin Tone: Medium and olive skin tones look amazing in burnt orange, bronze, spice, terracotta and cognac shades. They really bring out the rich earthy undertones in the skin.
  3. Medium-Deep or Rich Skin Tone: Deeper skin tones really stand out wonderfully in luxurious jewel tones and dark lipsticks with red undertones. Examples of great dark lippie shades include reddish brown tones, deep amethyst and ruby reds. Dark lipsticks with a metallic sheen to it also look amazing on deeper skin tones.
  4. Finally, the last tip is to use your own discretion and to know your undertone. Cool undertones look great with blue or grey-tinged dark lipsticks, while those with warm undertones should opt for lippies with hints of red and brown. The right dark lippie should complement your skin tone and bring out the wonderful undertones of your skin. When a chosen colour makes your complexion pop, you’ll know it’s the right shade for you!

How to apply dark lipsticks like a pro

Dark lippies are a bold statement look on their own and can help you feel pretty powerful in your own skin. All you need is confidence and the right techniques to wear it, and wear it well.

Create a flawless base

Before diving right into applying your dark lipstick, it’s important to start with a good base. Since the lips are going to be the main focus of your makeup look, keep your skin looking fresh and glowy with a good foundation and concealer. Additionally, eliminating redness in your skin will help your lipstick shade stand out even more.

Go easy on the eyes

Since you’ll be going for a bold colour on your lips, keep your eye makeup soft and natural. By focusing on one feature at a time, you’ll be keeping the look fresh and modern. Instead of a full on dark smokey eye, you can go in for some subtle definition with a bit of eyeliner and a soft shade on the crease of your eyes. Finally, curl your lashes and apply lashings of mascara for some extra definition.

Keep your brows soft and natural

Next, you’ll want to keep your brows defined but soft and natural. You can either opt for a brow powder or a brow pencil. Generally, taupe shades look great on lighter skin tones while an earthy brown is suitable for deeper skin tones.

Use a lip liner

Now it’s on to the lips! Before applying your dark lipstick, it’s essential to line your lips with a lip liner to help shape and define them beforehand. If you’re unable to find a lip liner that matches your lipstick, go for a timeless nude lip liner instead. To line your lips, rest your elbow on a flat surface to keep it steady. Then, start by drawing a small “x” shape on the tip of your cupid’s bow to outline them. After that, outline the rest of your lips with a lip liner using gentle zigzagging motions. This little trick helps you to minimize mistakes and keep the lip line neat and defined. Finally, go in with your dark lipstick and follow the lip line you have drawn out as a guide. To help your dark lipstick last longer, blot your lips with a tissue and apply a second layer.

Check out this timeless tutorial from celebrity makeup artist Lisa Eldridge for pro tips on how to look good in dark lipsticks!

Choose a blush in the same colour family

Finally, it’s time to apply blush to tie your whole look together. As a rule of thumb, choose a blush that is in the same colour family as your dark lipstick. So if you’re using say a deep plum lipstick, opt for a plum shade of blush. Otherwise, you can even double up your lipstick as a blusher or contour shade.

8 Dark Lipsticks For All Skin Tones

BBIA Last Lipstick Series 3

With a texture as soft as cashmere, this lipstick collection by BBIA comes in deliciously rich shades. From a burnt orange shade and a classic crimson to an opulent plum, there is something for just about everyone.

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BBIA Lip Ink Tattoo Series 1

Yet another collection by BBIA, these opulent shades come in a liquid ink stain form, and is incredibly long lasting. Here, the last 2 shades 04 Cool Blood and 05 Mad Blood in particular look gorgeous on all skin tones.

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Eglips Muse In Velvet Lipstick

If you’re looking for more wearable everyday dark lipsticks, then these ones by Eglips may just be what you’re looking for! Like its namesake, it glides on and feels just like velvet on the lips. Also, the shade V003 Warm Vitamin in particular is perfect for olive and deeper skin tones.

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Huda Beauty Power Bullet Matte Lipsticks

Here, Huda Beauty’s matte lipsticks come in a variety of deep mauves, plums and purples which are suitable for all skin tones. The shades Ladies Night and Masquerade especially would be perfect for a Halloween Zoom party!

Get it for $40 each at Sephora.

Gucci Rouge à Lèvres Matte Lipsticks

Besides their luxurious matte gold packaging, these new matte lipsticks by Gucci come in a gorgeous array of rich pinks, browns and purples for dark lip colour lovers. Plus, it even comes in a brilliant dark teal shade 794 Valetine Verdante for the bold and the brave.

Get it for $53 each at Sephora.

Too Faced Melted Matte Liquified Long Wear Matte Lipstick in Lady Balls

Aside from its ballsy name, this liquid lipstick by Too Faced lasts all day long and looks brilliant on all skin tones. For a liquid lipstick, it feels surprisingly lightweight on the skin and glides on like a gloss without the tackiness. Plus, it sets into a matte opaque finish and doesn’t budge, flake or crack throughout the day.

Get it for $35 at Sephora.

Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte Lipsticks

Want a dark lipstick that’s comfortable and moisturizing on the lips? Then these lipsticks by Shu Uemura will do the trick! They are infused with seed oils to nourish the lips and disperse colour evenly for a creamy matte finish.

Get it for $42 at Sephora.

Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Colour

Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint in Uninvited on Rihanna

Housed in a little glass bottle, this liquid lip colour by Fenty Beauty offers 2 bold dark shades that are not for the faint of heart. One is a royal purple shade called Undefeated while the other is a pitch-black shade called Uninvited.

Get it for $39 at Sephora.