I’m a makeup artist – how to choose the perfect shade of lippie in seconds, just by looking at your wrist

Lippy sales are on the rise – thanks to the cost of living crisis.

When times are tough, women still like to treat themselves. And while designer handbags may be out of reach, smaller luxuries get a boost.

A third (32 per cent) of UK makeup shoppers purchased a product as a “treat” last year, according to global market intelligence agency Mintel.

Spending on lipsticks is predicted to have increased by 12.3% last year.

Purchases of color cosmetics – make-up designed for the skin, cheeks, eyes and lips – also increased in 2023, with market spending recording an estimated growth of almost 8% to £1.84 billion.

But if you want to buy a new lipstick, you’ll want a color that looks good on you — and that can be a lottery.

While a nude or beige shade may look good on some, it turns others into corpses.

Makeup artist Bethan Owens says: “Just like certain clothes look better on you than others, there are lipsticks you can wear – while others won’t.

“It all depends on your skin tones. A good rule of thumb is to look at the veins on the inside of your wrist. If they appear blue, you probably have cool undertones.

Dramatically different

“If your veins look green, you likely have warm undertones.

“If they’re a mix of blue and green, you’re neutral and can wear a wider range of tones.”

Once you figure out what your skin tone is, you’ll be in a better position to choose a flattering lippie.

Bethan (@makeupbeth) continues: “If you have cool skin, look for a lipstick with cool bluish tones.

“Purplish pinks, cool reds, and dusty rose tones work well, as do shades like violet and even blue. The olive skins, which have a yellow tinge, pair well with vibrant reds, oranges, and plums.

It’s not just skin tone that determines whether lip color suits you.

“Features like hair color and eye color also play an important role,” says Bethan.

“And for aging lips, I recommend lighter shades unless you have darker skin, as some darker browns and purples can make you look older.”

To show how the same lipstick can look dramatically different on different people, we asked five women to try the same five lipsticks.

They are: Chloe Haywood, 49, sustainable fashion designer from Cheddar, Somerset; Paulomi Debnath, 44, jewelery designer from Romford, Essex; Joyce Connor, 60, makeup artist from Reading; Niki Woods, 47, wellbeing coach and menopause educator from Leeds; and Jo Francis, 50, from Maidstone, Kent, who runs a digital marketing agency.

Here, Bethan shares her verdicts.

Beige

30

30

30

30

30

pink rose

30

30

30

30

30

30

Classic red

30

30

30

30

30

30

Claret

30

30

30

30

30

30

Rust

30

30

30

30

30

30