One of the best ways to boost your confidence is with a bright, white smile because it makes you look and feel good. Of course, brushing and flossing are the first steps to creating a healthy, beautiful smile.
Additionally, dental procedures such as whitening can undo external staining from things like drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes. However, did you know that there are certain lipstick shades that make your teeth appear whiter?
You might be surprised at how the different lipsticks and colors affect how white (or not so white) your teeth appear.
There are certain shades that make teeth appear whiter (or yellower) than they really are. It all comes down to choosing the right shade and finish to create the appropriate contrast.
The lipstick works in a similar way to other forms of color correcting. For example, the warmer tones cancel out cool tones, which brings out the yellow.
On the other hand, the cooler tones cancel out the warmer tones, which makes teeth appear white.
We’ll explain more below:
Reds
When choosing reds, you want to go with a blue-based formula instead of an orangey-red. For example, Ruby Woo from MAC Cosmetics has been a favorite for celebrities, people obsessed with makeup, and industry insiders for many years.
This is because the blue base is like a whitening treatment in a tube. Why is this? The answer is simple: it’s because, on the color wheel, blue and orange/yellow are across from each other. Therefore, when placed alongside each other, they cancel each other out.
So, if you have yellow teeth, a blue-based red lipstick will help to cancel it out.
Of course, right now, orangey-reds are being noticed in the fashion world, just keep in mind that when you wear them, they’ll make your teeth appear more yellow- which is what you’re trying to avoid.
Light Pinks
Instead of choosing a coral or orange light pink, go with a cool undertone. Unfortunately, pinks can be trickier than the reds because they don’t have the dark contrast that makes teeth pop.
Still, the same rule applies as above: you want to avoid the orangey tones and opt for softer, berry-hue pinks.
Dark Pinks
The same rule applies to dark pink as with light pinks. If you’re not sure, choose a berry hue.
Of course, that still leaves a wide variety of shades to choose from. Berry shades are typically pink or purple-reds, so the blue tones are pretty strong. Whether you opt for a deep plum or light raspberry, it will be really great for brightening your smile.
Also, keep in mind that a sheer, glossy formula will make your smile look that much better than if you were to choose a matte lip color.
Dark
When it comes to choosing a darker lipstick, you want to choose purples and dark berry colors over browns. This is because brown hues don’t offer any contrast to yellow teeth and actually highlight the yellow/brown in your smile.
While it’s true that contrasting colors help, but not the contrast of brown. It’s much better if you opt for dark berry colors. Deep reds and purples actually provide the allure of providing high-contrast to make teeth look bright white, and they are blue-based.
Nudes
When choosing nude colors, you want to choose a sheer formula with just a slight hint of gloss. While it’s true that the brighter colors provide contrast and it might seem silly to go so au naturel- but sometimes you just need a bit of gloss to make your teeth pop.
These days, Lipstick Queen’s Butterfly Ball colors, which are designed to brighten teeth, have become an obsession in the fashion world. They have the same formula as lipsticks and in the tube look a bit scary because of their blue shimmer.
However, it actually goes on sheer with just a hint of iridescence- and the blue is not even noticeable. Now, your teeth are suddenly radiant.
On the other hand, there are a couple of red flags to keep in mind when choosing a neutral or nude lipstick: of course, the first thing to consider is the actual color and the second is to consider the texture.
You want a glossy formula that will reflect the light.
A matte formula will actually cause your lips to look dry, which is not good for your smile.
Lipsticks to Avoid
Of course, it’s your teeth and your lips, so you can do with them whatever you choose.
However, you want to avoid certain colors and formulas. These are listed below:
Frosty Shimmer
While it’s true that a shine is a great idea, if you go icy, you end up making your lips appear whiter – which causes teeth to appear dingy.
Orange
This has already been mentioned a few times. Hopefully, you get it by now. Orange lip colors make your teeth appear more yellow.
Neon Colors
While it’s true that there are some fuchsia lipsticks that will work- as long as they have obvious blue undertones.
However, much like neon clothing will make your skin look tan, brightly colored clothing can cause teeth to look yellow.
Conclusion
When it comes to whitening teeth, there are lots of options on the market, from toothpaste to gels to professional treatments in your dentist’s office.
Unfortunately, some of these can be quite expensive, especially if you’re living on a budget.
However, lipsticks are not that expensive and can help make your teeth appear whiter than they really are.
You want to opt for the blue-based ones and avoid the orange-based colors. This way, you can be more confident with your smile.
