On Trend: Dark Lipstick

Dark lips have been popping up all over our beauty radar this season, with reds taking a backseat to this deeper hue. We tapped into the mind of makeup artist and creator of NP Set Napoleon Perdis to find out exactly how to wear this color and which shades are right for your complexion. Read his tips below and turn some heads this season with your vamped up lips.

Pick the Right Shade

When choosing any lipstick, one shade rarely fits all skin tones. Perdis says it's important to pick the right base so that the color complements your complexion, not competes against it. Use the following guide when choosing your next tube:

Fair skin tones should go for shades of brick red or berry. Try Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstain in Cranberry Crush as an easy starter color that won't budge.

Medium skin tones can sport a slightly darker tint in burgundy or maroon. Perdis suggests NP Set Lipstick in Hong Kong, $15; target.com, for an upgrade on your usual pink lips.

Dark skin tones have the perfect complexion to wear multiple shades of darks, ranging from a wine hue, like MAC Pro Longwear Lipcreme in Faithfully Yours to shades of brown.

Dark Lipstick Dos

"Unless you're going for a dramatic statement, keep your dark lip the distinguishing feature of your look and downplay the rest," Perdis says. To define but not overpower your makeup, Perdis suggests the following:

—Use a generous amount of mascara to frame the eyes. If you're using shadow, go for lighter shades or a light, iridescent shimmer that won’t conflict with your lips.

—To contour cheeks, sweep a subtle pink blush across your apples for just a pop of color.

—Line your lips with a lip liner in a similar shade before and after applying your lipstick, the texture of the pencil will hold your color in place.

Dark Lipstick Don'ts

To avoid Twilight lips (i.e. looking washed out, too dark lips, or just looking plain silly like a dead vampire) Perdis recommends the following:

—Don't apply dark lipstick on chapped or dehydrated lips. The color will catch on the areas that are dry and cracked and set in, looking rather unsightly. If you suffer from dry lips use a lip conditioner like NP Set Lip Primer, $15; target.com, before applying and keep your parched pucker soft around the clock with these superstar lip moisturizers.

—Don't pick a shiny finish. Anything from matte to cream, or even a slight gloss is fine, but stay away from excessively shiny finishes. High shine glosses tend to migrate more on your lips as the day goes on. If you have thin lips however, you should incorporate a subtle gloss finish over top of your color, since matte shades make lips look smaller.