How to Pull Off Dark Lipstick

Push your reds, pinks, and other brightly colored lipsticks to the side. For the upcoming fall season, it's all about a dark lip. Ranging from deep wines to juicy berries to almost-blacks, this look dominated fall runways and can look sensational if you have the guts to try it. Dark lips may conjure up a goth look or punk rock vibe, but they can be quite glamorous as well. For those who dare to go dark, here are the top tips on how to successfully rock the latest bold beauty trend.

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1. Find the best shade for your skin tone. The great thing about dark wine, plum, and berry lipsticks is that they now come in so many different shades. The tricky part is finding the one that best suits your skin tone. Here's a great guide to follow when shopping for the best shade for you, according to makeup artist and creator of NP Set, Napoleon Perdis:

More on YAHOO: Simple Steps To A Dark, Dramatic Lip Fair Skin Tones: Go for shades of brick red or berry. Maybelline Moisture Color Sensational Lipcolor in Dazzling Plum, $7.49, maybelline.com
Medium Skin Tones: Try a slightly darker tint in burgundy or maroon. Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, $15, sephora.com

Dark Skin Tones: Any dark lipstick will work with this skin tone, so pick anything from a wine hue or a brown. Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Shame, $22, sephora.com
Whichever shade you choose, Perdis suggests avoiding lipsticks with a shiny finish as they tend to migrate more on your lips as the day goes on. Instead, stick with matte or cream textures.

2. Prep your lips. Chapped, dry looking lips paired with dark lipstick can look cakey and downright scary. For perfect looking puckers, use a gentle lip exfoliator first (bliss fabulips Sugar Lip Scrub, $18, blissworld.com). Next, apply a bit of lip conditioner or a balm and let it settle in before applying the lipstick.

3. Make sure your lip color stays put. When wearing a color as dark as this one, it can fade out in an unattractive way. For longer wear, try dusting over the lips with a translucent setting powder (Sephora Smoothing Translucent Setting Powder, $16, sephora.com) or lightly dotting a bit of foundation on your lips before applying your lip color. If you're in a rush or don't want to reapply, lip stains have great staying power, (Tarte LipSurgence Matte Lip Tint, Mauve Berry, $24, sephora.com) The other big concern: dark lipstick getting onto your teeth. One of the oldest tricks in the book to avoid this is applying a little bit of Vaseline onto your teeth after applying the lipstick-the pigment won't be able to stick to tooth enamel. Another tip is to put your finger into your mouth, form an "O" around your finger and gently slide your finger out. This removes any excess product from your inner lip that may try to migrate.

4. Remember, less is more. The deep shade of lipstick is more than enough eye candy for anyone, so don't detract from the look with tons of eyeshadow or blush.
"Keep your look simple - play up only one feature at a time," makeup artist Melanie Inglessis told Glamour magazine.
You can also try pulling your hair back into a chic chignon or ponytail to really draw attention to your lips.

5. Wear lots of mascara and groom your brows. Since there's not much else going on with this look (remember, less is more), you want your eyes to have impact without the use of color. There are tons of great brow grooming kits out there (we love the Benefit Cosmetics Brow Zings, $30, sephora.com), but if the idea of doing it yourself scares you, book an appointment to see a pro. A well groomed brow can take years off your look! When it comes to your mascara, make sure there are no clumps by using the "wiggle, wiggle, wiggle" mantra while applying. Start at the base of the eyelash and wiggle the wand from left to right all the way up to the tips. This will separate hairs and give the illusion of longer lashes.

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