How to wear bolder, brighter lipsticks

Bid farewell to safe hues like pink and red. This year is all about experimenting with offbeat shades

Ever since I started wearing lipstick - which is not too long ago since I was a late bloomer with makeup - my go-to colours have been bright red for evening looks, and a subtle peach for the day. They work with just about anything I wear and make my lips look very much on point for occasions.
While we all have that favourite lipstick stashed away in our makeup bags, does that mean we wear only those safe colours? I don't think so! A little bit of experimenting with makeup can be a refreshing change for you. After all, what better canvas to play around with than your own face? I'm a big fan of having fun with makeup and that's why I can't seem to have enough of unusual lip colours. Wearing bright and bold shades of lipstick like purple, blue, green and orange are all the more common now and various beauty brands are also bringing out lines in those colours. One that recently caught my eye, and deserves a mention, is the Mattemoiselle lipsticks by Fenty Beauty that features 14 gorgeous universal shade in matte.   
If you aren't keen on lipsticks, you can give the liquid variants a whirl. One of my favourite drug store brand's range is Rimmel's Stay Matte, available in bold liquid colours. It is a waterproof liquid formula that is long-lasting without fading or bleeding, ideal to take you from day to night. While the range has a lot of comfortable everyday colours, they have some bold ones too. My favourites are the electric sapphire Blue Iris (#830) and Goth-inspired Pitch Black (#840). 
Whilst there is no strict formula to picking out a wild shade for you, what you can do is look for one that brings out the colour in your cheeks. I experimented quite a bit before I figured out purple and orange were the shades for me. 
Fair and Light Skin Tones
If you've got a lighter complexion, go for blue-based reds to channel your inner retro Hollywood starlet. You could also pick peachy-pink shades and pink-based corals for sunny, spring-inspired lips that will be sure to light up your mood. 
Medium and Olive Skin Tones
People with olive skin tones have a lot of versatility. Almost any pink, from reddish to fuchsia, will suit medium skin tones well. Stick with orangey reds and cherry reds to complement your golden undertones. Corals can be a little trickier, so experiment to see which orange-based shades suit you. 
Deep Skin Tones
Bright berry shades are the colours of choice if you have darker skin. Most bright shades pop beautifully against darker skin, bringing out the colour in the eyes.
While it can be slightly challenging to get out of your comfort zone, the result can be all the more rewarding. Take a walk on the wild side and explore a funky shade you never would otherwise. Not feeling bold enough to wear one just yet? Well, then pop it in your makeup bag - who knows when that purple lipstick might come in handy. 
wknd@khaleejtimes.com