Lip Service: Lipstick Shades That Make Your Teeth Look Whiter
Teeth carry the same weight as shoes on a first date – they can be a deal-maker, or a total deal-breaker.
Unfortunately, all the good things in life (i.e. coffee, red wine and the occasional ‘social’ cigarette) eventually take their toll on your teeth… just like your skin, your waistline and your bank account.
We’re not here to burst your booze-filled bubble – everything in moderation (including moderation) are our favourite words to live by.
But, as always, we want to have our cake and eat it too, so we put a bunch of lipsticks to the test to determine which ones will put the high-beams on your pearly whites.
Sure, laser treatments or an at-home bleaching kit is the obvious solution, but when time is of the essence, a blue-based lipstick works wonders.
We’ve narrowed it down to six of our favourite shades – from the bold and bright to the sheer and shiny.
Click through to see the ones that made the cut.
By Carmen Hamilton.
Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour in ’50 La Romanesque’
The word ‘matte’ is getting a bit of a make-over at the moment. It’s less about heavy, flat and powdery, and more about a matte finish with a lighter, velvet-like texture – which pretty much sums-up Chanel’s Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour.
’50 La Romanesque’ is a beautiful muted fuchsia, making it the ideal shade to give your face a lift without looking like you’ve gone overboard.
Oh, and it also completely counteracts any hint of yellow in your teeth. We’re hooked.
Givenchy Le Rouge Givenchy in ‘305 Rouge Égérie’
A vibrant, semi-matte coral red without too much warmth – Givenchy’s Le Rouge in ‘305 Rouge Égérie’ really makes your teeth pop.
It’s highly-pigmented, but the lighter shade and subtle sheen makes it good for wearing around-the-clock… and don’t even get us started on the leather case.
Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Colour Moisturising Lipstick in ‘Red Door Red’
On the deeper side is Elizabeth Arden’s Beautiful Color Moisturizing Lipstick in ‘Red Door Red’.
It’s a true red with almost watermelon undertones which really bring out the best in your teeth.
Oh, and it feels like heaven on your lips.
Lancome L’Absolu Rouge in ‘160’
Warmer in tone than the Elizabeth Arden, but not too much.
A lot of reds tend to make teeth look yellow, but a slick of this one across your lips will give you a Colgate-worthy smile instantly (see exhibit A, left).
Plus, it smells so good we’re always tempted to take a bite.
Giorgio Armani Rouge d’Armani in ‘600’
Plum-meets-fuchsia. This shade really packs a punch and waves its magic wand over your pearly whites.
#winning.
Sheer and high-shine. Build it up, or wear it as a gloss. The blue (or ‘blueberry’, as its aptly named) undertones instantly make your teeth look whiter.
Say “cheese”!
Burberry Lip Mist in ‘206’, Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour in ’50 La Romanesque’, Givenchy Le Rouge Givenchy in ‘305 Rouge Égérie’, Giorgio Armani Rouge d’Armani in ‘600’, Lancome L’Absolu Rouge in ‘160’ and Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Colour Moisturising Lipstick in ‘Red Door Red’.
