6 Tips to Pull Off Black Lipstick

I am not afraid to admit that I’m crazy about black lipstick. I think it looks so high fashion and chic, making a huge statement in one step. As bold beauty trends start to become more mainstream, black lipstick isn’t just reserved for Halloween anymore. You can definitely work it into your everyday looks, but it does take a little bit of thought to pull off. It’s really easy to go overboard with dark shades in general, and have it overwhelm your look.

With a lot of trial and error, I’ve discovered the best tricks that work for me to pull off black lipstick year round. Keep reading so you can work it into your makeup look starting now!

1. Keep Your Face Fresh…

As much as I love a strong contour, I keep my face very fresh and natural when I’m going to be wearing black lipstick. Heavy face makeup is intense enough on its own, and will be amplified when you throw a deep lip into the mix. Since black is already dramatic, go for a “no-makeup” makeup look with your foundation, blush and bronzer.

2. … But Play Up Your Highlight

I like to put more focus on my highlight when I’m wearing a black lipstick, so I can balance out the darkness with some radiance. I make sure I’m wearing a luminous foundation, and typically add a champagne highlight to my cheek bones, bridge of my nose, and cupid’s bow.

3. Show Off Bright Eyes

More often than not, I’ll keep my eyes bare when I’m making a statement with my lips. But when I do feel like adding a little glitz to the look, I’ll keep things very light and bright with a shimmer shadow. I also skip eyeliner, and just add a generous coat of mascara. For the brows, I opt for a brow gel instead of completely filling them in.

4. Use a Lip Liner

With such an eye-catching shade, you want your lips to look shaped and the borders of the lipstick clean. Using a lip liner will make all the difference— but, it can be hard finding one in black. I use a black crayon eyeliner to do the job, which is considered safe as long as you don’t use it near your eyes again. You don’t want bacteria near your mouth anywhere near your eyes.

5. Check Your Teeth

It’s bad enough when you get red lipstick all over your teeth… don’t get me started with how embarrassing it is with black! Be sure to do the finger trick: place your index finger in your mouth, wrapping your lips around it, and pull it out. What would have ended up on your teeth is now on your finger. You’re welcome.

6. Wipe Off & Re-apply

Unless you find a black lipstick that you 100% trust to cling on for dear life, I’ve found it best to just wipe off your lipstick before eating, and reapply afterwords. Ain’t nothing cute about a ring of black lining your lips with faded nothingness in the middle.