While spring and summer 2023 were dedicated to the 'clean girl' aesthetic and an emphasis on natural makeup, there is a shift this fall to leave all of that behind. With the colder temperatures come the luscious, darker hues, especially in lip shades, that exude an empowering sense of rebelliousness. Team Mirabella likes to call it the 'anti-clean' girl. Dark lips are trending hard this season, and although they may seem intimidating, anyone can pull off a dark lip shade without looking vampy or goth by following a few key application tips!
Find the Right Shade for YOU
There is no such thing as being too fair for a dark lip color. When shopping for the perfect shade, I like to recommend using your skin's undertone as a guide. (*Pro tip - If you aren't sure of your skin's undertone, check the veins on your wrist. Green veins = warm, Blue veins = cool, and a mix = neutral). If you have a warmer undertone, shades with a blue base are ideal, while those with a cooler undertone should opt for a color with a red hue. And, if you have a neutral undertone, rules don't apply - try them all!
Keep Makeup Simple
Let your lips take center stage! Balance the drama of a rich, bold lip with fresh, flawless skin. Opt for a dewy, demi-matte foundation, soft pink cheeks, and mascara to keep things simple and sleek. The juxtaposition of the simplified face to the dark lips keeps the look fresh without feeling vampy/goth.
Application is EVERYTHING
Darker lip pigments have a tendency to settle into dry patches and highlight chapped lips. It's important to exfoliate and moisturize lips properly to ensure lips are smooth and prepped for application. Applying darker lip shades from their applicator can be intimidating, so we recommend investing in a good lip brush to make the application a much smoother and easier process!
Start by applying the shade to the center of the lips and blend outwards to ensure a lighter finish that follows the lips' natural shape. While this may seem backward, we like applying a lip liner following shade application. Darker lip shades can make the mouth appear smaller, so emphasizing the outline of the lips after the shade application can troubleshoot this issue while also creating a clean finish.