10 Celebrity-Inspired Dark Lips and Tips for Wearing Dark Lipstick
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from working in the beauty industry, it’s that there isn’t a single person on this planet who doesn’t look amazing with a bright crimson lip. Surprisingly, or perhaps quite shockingly, the same goes for a deeper, darker, more alluring version of the classic red pout, no matter your skintone — and we’re not just talking about your average winter oxblood. Ever since backstage pics of Kendall Jenner’s slick onyx pout at Dior surfaced on Instagram, more and more celebrities (and even me!) have slowly converted to the dark side, rocking every shade from dark berries and plums to straight-up black. Click through the slideshow to see some of our fave looks, plus pro tips to take home and test-drive yourself.
1/12Click through for 10 reasons to come to the dark side!
2/12Zendaya
Leave it to the queen of DIY makeup to visually school us in the art of coloring in the lines with lipstick. You don’t need a crash course at a MAC counter to get as defined a pout as Zendaya’s — it’s as simple as ditching the applicator of your liquid lipstick. “Applicators are usually too big or oddly shaped to trace the shape of your lips as precisely as you’d like, especially the Cupid’s bow, which can be extra tricky,” says Justin Tyme, a pro makeup artist and the brilliant brains (and beauty) behind Tyme Cosmetics. Instead, he suggests using an eyeliner brush like IT Cosmetics Airbrush Ultra-Fine Liner Brush to carefully line your lips, then fill in the rest. (Artist’s note: A standard paintbrush does the job just as well.)
FilmMagic3/12Lucy Hale
In order to keep a vampy lipstick like Lucy’s from straying, you need to think outside the box — the box being the outside of the lips, Tyme says. Use a flesh-toned lip liner to trace the outside of your mouth to “reflect light around a dark lip.” Then, buff in the liner using your fingers. The waxy polymers in the liner will keep lipstick from bleeding. That way, you won’t catch yourself in a mirror hours after your original application and be absolutely frightened by your reflection.
4/12Demi Lovato
Most girls skip a seriously crucial step because they think it’s outdated or unnecessary: lip liner. “For me, lip liner is even more important than lipstick itself. How is it even possible to apply any kind of matte formula without it?” Tyme laughs. “I usually use at least three different lip liners before even uncapping a tube of lipstick.” Start with a shade that’s closest to the color of your natural lips, and full in your entire mouth — think of this as your foundation, Tyme says. You won’t dilute the color of the lipstick you actually want to wear, but enhance the color even more. If you consider yourself a beauty pro, use a lighter shade to highlight, and a darker shade to contour before applying the lipstick color of your choice.
5/12Ashley Benson
Lips that look like pure velvet — on the ‘gram and off — require a well-hydrated base. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck peeling off layers of lip color all day long. “With any makeup, you need a good base to start with. The same applies to a dark lip, which is especially prone to cracking,” Tyme says. “Hydration is an absolute necessity.” He loves treating lips to Chanel Hydra Beauty Nourishing Lip Care, which won’t suck the moisture from your lips ten minutes or ten hours after you apply it. For a more affordable option, he recommends trying Avene Cold Cream Nourishing Lip Balm, which leaves lips equally as silky.
6/12Taylor Swift
Keeping your lips pillow-y soft and poised for lipstick is easier said than done. Rather than scrubbing off an entire layer of your lips before committing to a dark pout moment, stick to the same exfoliation schedule you would your skin and use a lip scrub three or less times a week. “Every time you use a scrub on your face, you should use a scrub on your lips,” Tyme says. He swears by Fresh Sugar Lip Polish, but notes that you also can make your own at home by mixing sugar and honey.
7/12Shay Mitchell
What kind of world would we live in without Kylie Cosmetics’ liquid lipsticks — or any, for that matter? Since their debut, liquid lipsticks have managed even to make lipstick-wearers out of those who’ve given up makeup in favor of the lazy girl’s beauty routine. “If you have fuller lips, you can really play them up with a deep matte liquid lip like Shay’s,” Tyme notes. If you don’t, instead try Kylie’s trick for plumper lips by carefully over-lining yours — but don’t go overboard. Stay as close to the outer rim of your lips as possible for a more natural look.
8/12Ariana Grande
If you’ve skipped out on lip scrubs for awhile, but don’t have any time to properly prep your lips, give lip primer a try. It will fill in any ridges or cracks so darker lipsticks will glide on smoothly. “Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics makes a fantastic primer. You can make any lipstick, whether it’s a cream or matte formula, look perfect after a few swipes of it,” Tyme says.
9/12Gigi Hadid
You don’t need to reach for a box of Crest White Strips for a visibly brighter smile. Believe it or not, practically-black lips shades like Gigi’s make your teeth look infinitely whiter. If you learned anything in art class, it’s that you should trust the color wheel.
10/12Selena Gomez
Ah, lip stains. They can look positively stunning, especially in a wine-colored shade like Selena’s — but the application isn’t as foolproof as you’d hope. First, Tyme suggests mashing together a longwear lip liner like Smashbox Always Sharp Lip Liner in Clear and a hydrating balm to amp up your lip color's staying power. Then, concentrate the stain in the middle of your lips and work your way outwards with a lip brush. The color doesn’t have to be as saturated as it is in the middle than on the outer rims of your lips. And luckily, if you make any mistakes, you can easily fix them with a Q-tip and cleansing oil.
Getty Images11/12FKA Twigs
Sometimes you can’t decide whether you should rock a berry or a bordeaux like FKA Twigs. So why choose just one? Tyme recommends layering lipsticks for an extra textured lip, but with this caveat: It’s OK to layer different shades, but stick with the same brand and lipstick type. “If you know the formulas work well together, go for it! If you’re layering different formulations, they won’t necessarily mix together correctly, and one could even wind up breaking down the other.”
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