Choosing the right shade of lipstick is just as important as picking a foundation that matches your skin. Lipstick, depending on its finish and shade, can give off a healthy glow and enhance your smile—as well as brightening your teeth by using color theory to give off the illusion of whiter enamel. There’s one rule to keep in mind: Avoid warm shades like oranges, browns, and corals or anything with a yellow undertone that would amplify stains. Also, try to avoid “nude” shades (from beige to brown), which tend to dull teeth. Instead, opt for blue undertones—aka cooler shades— which naturally whiten the teeth, like the lipsticks below.
Red with blue undertones
Signature of the Parisian par excellence, red lipstick can become your best ally to enhance your smile. Choose it with bluish undertones, because on the color wheel blue is opposed to yellow: garnet, carmine or “crushed strawberry” are the ideal shades. On the contrary, avoid reds with warm undertones which amplify the yellow nuances of the enamel.
Pale pink
Just like red with blue undertones, pale pink gives the illusion of whiter teeth thanks to its cold undertones and gives the face a very soft appearance. Sugared pink or “nymph’s thigh”, preferably matte to temper the nuances of the enamel, are required for an immaculate smile.
Plum and deep wine
A muted shade of purple (which opposes yellow on the color wheel), the plum color, mysterious and particularly modern, is the ideal shade to lighten the teeth and give a chic twist to the look. Particularly sublime on matte or tanned skin, it is also the perfect color for sunny days .
