It may seem simple to walk into a store, pick lipstick that looks appealing, and wear it. However, the task of wearing lipstick is a lot more complicated, and being clued-up can help you rock it. 

Speaking to Women Today, Robinah Nalumu, a local makeup artist, shares her dos and don’ts of wearing lipstick.

DOs

Experiment with colour

Nalumu says that even if your favourite is, for example, nude or pink lipstick, you can make a statement with a bold and exceptional colour as well. 

"Don’t get caught up in using the same colour all the time but instead, surprise everyone with a fashion-forward look,” she says.

Find your favourite sheen

Nalumu says that one of the hardest parts of finding lipstick is deciding on a matte or shine finish and learning how dry or wet your lips are after applying different lipstick. 

She adds that if you prefer a more stained look, apply your lipstick and then put a lip balm over it to dull the effect. For a shinier look, she advises that one will need to re-apply throughout the day.

Coordinate it with your outfit

Nalumu emphasises that since lipstick is a big statement when one chooses to wear a really bold colour, matching it with the outfit you’ve picked must be paramount.

"If you want full emphasis on your sparkly floral top, choosing a red lipstick can help with that. If you’re wearing all neutrals and you want focus to go up towards your smiling face, a dark plum lipstick can work wonders,” says Nalumu.

DON’TS

Distinguish the lip liner with overall lip colour

Nalumu says the lip liner should outline your lips, but the actual lip colour should fill in those lines and make the two products appear as one.

"Yes, lip liner is supposed to define the edges of your lips and it’s a great tool to use once you’re comfortable doing makeup. However, lots of people think that lip liner should be distinguished from your overall lip colour, which isn’t true,” says Nalumu.

Don’t go overboard with eye shadow 

With a bold lip colour, everything else on the face from blush to coloured eye makeup needs to be toned down.

"Don’t make the mistake of using blue eye shadow when wearing red lipstick, because you’ll have a really bizarre look,” she advises.

Don’t let it get messy

Sometimes it’s difficult to prevent lipstick from rubbing off on your teeth, but it’s really important that one keeps their lipstick where it belongs; on your lips. 

Nalumu says that even for lipstick that appears actually dry, one has to be sure to let it dry. "If you have a gel type of lip colour that rubs off easily, be conscious of that and be sure to dab it with a napkin before you go out for a drink,” she adds.

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