Are you more comfortable with a bolder or subtler lip color?

It depends on how bold is bold, but I am as comfortable in a bright red lip as I am in something closer to my natural lip color. I am not QUITE as comfortable in less traditional colors like green or blue, but I am comfortable enough to go out in them!

— Christine

26 Comments

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Francesca Avatar

No problem at all with bold colors like oranges, Corals, magentas, reds and fuxsias. The lattest however should be neutral or warm leaning (aka: okay fucsia as relenlessy res, no super cool candy pink as candy yum yum). Befor the pandemic and mask mandate I wore them in regular basis. I also tried lavender lipsticks, but these require more caution and some tricks on my complexios. Instead, I don’t fell much confortable with any dark lipsticks and – in case of cool tones- even medium dark.

Mariella Avatar

I’m okay with “bold” so long as it’s in a colour that suits me so something like Smashbox Red Rage, a bright, cool-toned red, is fine with me but a bright orange lipstick or those very deep, purple-y shades that almost border on black just aren’t for me. As for “unnatural” lip colours – green, blue, etc. – they’re not for me at all either.

krb Avatar

I never wore crazy colors, but liked bold reds, berries and wines. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown to hate my impossible-to-whiten teeth so before Covid and masks, I started wearing more subtle colors.

If I can get veneers and not wear masks at some point, I would wear bright red lips again.

Andrea Avatar

I’m comfortable in both. But I don’t like what I see in the mirror with colours off the beaten path like black, blue or green. Within “normal” shades I don’t enjoy wearing brown, ghostly shades of beige or true corals. It’s not a “general” dislike though, some people look utterly fabulous with coral (I’m thinking redheads for example) and even brown, which is way I’ve bought so many over the years, only to throw them in the bin not even half used.
I’m NC15, which is basically a fair ivory (think of the colour of wax candles at church). I’ve realised -and this took me a loooong time to understand- true corals make me look more “yellow-ish” but because I’m already so “yellow” it makes me look a bit jaundiced and sickly, which is not flattering on anyone! I want to look less “wax-like” and more “I was born looking fab”! haha
It was only through Temptalia that I understood the difference between cool and warm-toned, and how it affects “me”. Before I mostly bought lipstick because of how it looked on somebody else (ads, celebrities, friends, etc) and was often disappointed when it didn’t look good on me. I didn’t know what to look for but I’m bloody picky now and I’m done buying just because it looks “pretty”. I know what I like and I won’t settle for less, even if it’s on sale or if it looks goods in the ad- it doesn’t mean I’m ugly or have bad skin, it just doesn’t suit me and that’s a wonderful thing to, not just know, but actually understand.

Ana Maria Avatar

I feel you at the “yellow” part. I’m NC20, I have already a strong yellow undertone, to the point I am often asked if I have an health issue (I’m perfectly healthy). Anything with a hint of yellow or orange looks atrocious on me. There’s no option for lipsticks than trying them myself (impossible in the last years). I used to be so frustrated how beautiful some corals, browns and yellow/orange based reds looked on others, while on me they looked awful.

I almost envy Christine, sshe looks great in most lipsticks. I don’t know if IIsee something looking bad on her more than once or twice a month, and she swatches tons of colors.s

Andrea Avatar

When I forget to put on blush, people ask me if I’m sick! :S Hahah! I love coral, it’s such a wonderful colour but it’s very hard for me to pull off and I always went for real corals, which I know now just aren’t for me. But I kept trying it, because I just assumed it was a problem with the “lipstick” and not the actual shade…
The funniest part is that my whole life I’ve always ran away from peach. There was an unconscious bias against it. I “knew” it wouldn’t look good, so I never even tried any. It’s probably been a year-ish since I got my first peach lipstick ever and I will never go back! Even though there’s some orange there, it compliments me, it makes me look fresh and awake!
Colours are a such difficult thing to grasp for people like me (and I’m actually slightly face blind so maybe it plays a part?)! Christine can get away with most shades but, tbh, it’s actually helpful when it doesn’t suit her much because straight away I know it’s not a nice shade, so I won’t waste much time there! hahah

Nancy T Avatar

I’m equally comfortable wearing either type. I love me a bright red, a burgundy, warm fuchsia or purple like MAC Heroine or UD Bittersweet just as much as PML She’s Heaven or MAC Cosmo!
Unfortunately, I am usually now wearing either a “nude” lip or a dry-down liquid lipstick these days due to our current circumstances. I can hardly wait for life to return to some semblance of normalcy, as I’m sure we all do.

Adrienne Avatar

I love bold lips! Pink, berry, and red look best on me. Unless I’m wearing a strong eye look, most nude lipstick makes me look washed out. I wear cool tones like Candy Yum Yum well! I can’t wear lipstick that is too warm, like Mac Chili, though I can wear brown-red and rust colors. I actually love black lipstick and dark, goth colors, but I have no place to wear anything that dramatic!

CeeBee Avatar

I’m very much a MLBB girl, lots of mauve, rose and berries mostly and occasionally I wear a bright red, orange or vivid magenta.

I have no interest in alternative lip colours like blue or green, browns, the greiges, cool toned candy pinks and “concealer” nude lips are all on my avoid list, though I have seen them look great on other people, they are not for me.

ac Avatar

If someone would invent a LEGIT lip *stain* that fully covers everything — including the inner lip area where color wears off so fast, or just doesn’t stick at all — then I’d do alllllll the crazy colors (or at least the ones that suit my skin tone). I just cannot cope with having ultra dark lips but with the interior area showing light pink, ugh. Was hoping the long-wear matte liquids would fix this, but nope, they’re actually worse bc instead of a worn-down gradient you get a hard-edged line between lipstick and bare inner lip. NAH.

Ana Maria Avatar

Practicality wise, I feel more comfortable with just a lip balm or a subtle nude color. I am constantly sipping water, I talk a lot, I tend to touch my face (especially the jaw area), creamier formulas smudge or bleed easy on me. That’s why I also like mate formulas that stain the lips.

But “feeling like myself” comfortable, it’s bold colors. If I was a lipstick shade, it would be MAC Diva. And if it would be sociably acceptable, I would wear it even hiking (although cleaning the tube of my backpack water bag would be difficult 😅).

Mariele Avatar

Eh? Nothing weird about wearing a bold lipstick while hiking. I almost always have red lipstick on when I exercise, or do yardwork, or remodel. I assure you, nobody cares that much.

Sarah Avatar

For me it has to be at least as dark as my natural lip tone, as I look gross when I try to go lighter! My favorite are berry tones, but I also love other shades of pinks, corals, reds, and oranges. I want to love purples but I have a hard time because they’re more “non-traditional.”

Debbie Avatar

Depending on the rest of my look I can go either way. Red or a bold shade of spice is great, as is a soft beige or mauve. I, too have a hard time with black, blue, or green lips, but will wear them if the need arises.

brendacr1 Avatar

I love bold reds, pinks and berries and more subtle ones are all in my collection as well. I reserve different colors like black, green or blue for Halloween as that is the only time that I can pull those colors off, I’m too fair skinned to be able to support those colors any other time.

DVa Avatar

Personally I stick to shades very close to my own lip, or a bold red or Burgundy.
Those seem most natural to me.
If my lips are distracting from my better features, skin or eyes, I find it startling and it’s an imbalanced to my eyes.

Jane Avatar

Prefer colorful eye looks so I tend to tone the lips down. If wear an occasional evening outfit and dark lip suits it better than by all means red, hot or raspberry shimmers are welcome. Rare if ever a blue or green ( just haven’t found a blue that suits me). And orange yes, for fun in the summer!

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