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Lipstick Colors for African-American Women

Rimlee Bhuyan
Women with dark or dusky skin often complain that there are very few lipstick shades that suit them. But this is not true. There are many shades of lipsticks that looks flattering on African-American women.
A woman might forget to apply mascara or eye liner, but you will rarely see a woman stepping out of the house without a swipe of her favorite lipstick. There is something about a lipstick that makes it so appealing to women, both old and young. A good lipstick is all that is needed to transform your face and make you look instantly seductive and sexy.
There are so many different brands of lipstick available with myriad shades and formulations. It is important to find a lipstick color or shade that suits your skin tone and which looks perfect on you. Many dark-skinned women wrongly think that their options for lipstick shades are limited.
There are so many lipstick shades which are suitable for dark-skinned women, that can make them look more attractive.

Choosing Lipstick Shades for African-American Women

Skin Tone and Lipstick Shades

While choosing a lipstick, you have to select shades that would look good against a dark skin tone. There are two type of skin tones - warm skin tone and cool skin tone. Most African-American women have a warm skin tone. I said most, not all. Some African-American woman do have a cool skin tone.
If you are a woman with warm skin tone, then you need to choose lipstick colors that echo your skin tone and blend beautifully with your cocoa complexion. You should purchase lipstick colors with a warm undertone like coral, berry, fuchsia and salmon pinks.
These colors look excellent with your skin tone and help to bring out the color of your eyes. If you have a cool skin tone then you need to choose a lipstick that has a blue undertone like cherry red, brick red and deep berry shades.

Lipstick Shades that Flatter African-American Women

Basically, the darker your skin, the more pigment you can wear. You might think that bright colors like red and fuchsia might not look good with your complexion, but it is not so. You need to find the right shade of red or fuchsia to look great in it. No women should go without having a perfect shade of red lipstick that makes her feel like a million bucks.
Dark-skinned women or women with an olive skin tone should opt for reds in rust or bright plum instead of ruby or poppy red. Avoid wearing lipstick colors in pastel tones as these look good only on fair complexioned women. Also, steer clear of frosted lipstick in colors like baby pink and bubblegum pink as they look very unappealing on dark-skinned women.
Some of the best red lipstick shades for dark skin tone are:
  • Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Pure Colour Satiny Radiance Lipstick SPF 15 in 01
  • Dolce & Gabbana The Lipstick in Devil
  • Smashbox Photo Finish Lipstick With Sila-Silk Technology in Legendary
  • Lancôme Color Design Sensational Effects Lipcolor in Retro Rouge
  • Nars Lipstick in Jungle Red
  • Chanel Rouge Coco Hydrating Crème Lip Colour in Gabrielle
A good pink lipstick is something that no women can do without. Skip the light pinks in favor of deep berry, fuchsia, orangish-pink and pinks with a hint of purple in them. Pink lipsticks that have a tinge of lavender are ideal for dark-skinned women with a cool skin tone. Some of the best pink lipstick shades that are suitable for dark skin tone are:
  • Giorgio Armani Rouge d'Armani in 518
  • Dior DiorAddict Lipcolor in Hollywood Rose
  • Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense #36
  • Clinique Different Lipstick in Raspberry Glace
  • M.A.C. Lipstick in Rebel
  • Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in Fuchsia
For daily wear or office wear, where you dress more conservatively, you definitely need a good shade of nude lipstick. Nude lipstick colors are very suitable for African-American women and are perfect for those times when you are aiming for a subtle but high-fashion look Some good nude lipstick shades for dark skin tone are:
  • Estée Lauder Pure Color Lipstick in Café Chic
  • Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Peach Parfait
  • Estée Lauder Pure Color Lipstick in Beige
  • Le Métier de Beauté Colour Core Moisture Stain Lipstick in Miami
  • Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer Lipshine in Biarritz
  • Maybelline New York Color Sensational lipstick in So Pearly
Rich dark toffee colors as well as brown lipsticks work incredibly well for dark skinned women. This color looks stunning on olive complexioned women and you need to use a good bronzer and a swipe of volumizing mascara to rock the party.
If you happen to wear a light colored lipstick shade or a nude shade, then you need to apply a bit of concealer on your lips before applying the lipstick.
It is always best to apply lipstick with a lipstick brush instead of applying it directly from the tube. This gives you ease in applying the lipstick and you can also use it to give your lips more definition.