You can already rock a classic red lip with tons of confidence. But what about blue? Orange? Purple?! Maybe you’ve given some thought to going bold on the eyes, but what about your lips? There’s always a first time for everything… below, we’ll give you tips on how to wear even the most outlandish of colors—it’s up to you to test them out and let us know if they work for you!
Blue
Riri is often known for her unapologetic choices, and we couldn’t love her more for it. (Seriously, how iconic was that blue lip?) There’s a way you can wear it, too. With such a standout color, stick to simple makeup across the rest of your face, like long lashes and a light contour. If the electric blue is a little too much for you, you might want to opt for a darker navy—the color will still be unexpected, but it won’t pop as much.
For this look, we recommend Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics matte lip tar in ‘Vain’ ($14.40).
Orange
Orange is a more forgiving color than one would think. Though Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o can work almost any shade, we personally can’t get enough of her orange look. She complements the mandarin lip with a shimmery gold eyeshadow and a similarly-colored blush, which really brings the whole look together.
We think Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture lipstick in ‘Le Orange’ ($35) is totally wearable and looks stunning on any skin tone.
Purple
We love purple. It is probably one of the most versatile of colors in terms of makeup—and we’re talking anything from lavender to plum. It can work as a neutral, or you can go for an eye-catching shade that makes a statement. Lorde is known for her dark purple lips (which she paires beautifully with sleek winged eyeliner)—if you’re looking for something that will brighten your face a little more, try more of a pink-toned fuchsia.
Smashbox’s Be Legendary Lip Lacquer in ‘Ultra Violet’ ($24) will keep your fierce color lasting all day long.
Green
You’re right—green does sound a little intimidating, and it’s a color that’s probably best saved for costume parties… but since beauty bloggers are up for anything, we’ll give it a shot! After seeing musician M.I.A. having fun with color, we’re coming a little closer to being convinced. Generally, the idea is to pair toned-down colors when you want to wear one bright shade on your face, but when it comes to a green lip, you’ve got to go all out—a neon-colored shadow, like this orange one, actually works to create a loud look that any pop star would be jealous of.
For this color, we recommend NYX Cosmetics Macaron Lippies in ‘Pistachio’ ($5.99). Sounds yummy!
Black
Black is a color, right? Either way, we know Pretty Little Liar Troian Bellisario is owning it. Notice how she keeps the rest of her makeup light and lets her lips steal the show. Anything heavier would push you into Halloween territory.
For this hardcore look, we think you should try Lime Crime’s Velvetines in ‘Black Velvet’ ($20) for the perfect dark matte effect.
Are you convinced, collegiettes? Would you try any of these unexpected colors?