The beauty of being a beauty and lifestyle writer is that you get to try and test a lot of skincare and makeup products. Though trying new products is a bit risky for my skin, I still love doing it. This time, I'm trying one of the most loved makeup products: lipsticks. I tried and tested 5 lipstick shades from different brands to see which shade suits my skin tone best. I tried and tested them through my coffee sessions, wore them to work, and went out with my friends, just to test them on their long-lastingness, comfort, shine, and wearability.
From pinks to browns and mauves, I tried these 5 lipstick shades and though all 5 of them gave me a beautiful, Insta-worthy look, 3 of them actually stole my heart!
Another best part is that all these 5 shades are under ₹600, making them easily affordable.
The 5 lipstick shades I tried:
- Lakme 9 to 5 Forever Matte Lip Crayon, Pitch Pink
- House of Makeup Non-sticky Gloss: Pinky Swear
- MARS Lip Fuzz Blurring Lip Cream with Cushion Tip Applicator- Bare hug
- Elle 18 Butter Matte Lipstick-Mauve mood
- RENEE Madness Ph Lipstick
Know your undertone
Gone are the days when lipsticks were tried on the back of your hand! The new rule is to try a lipstick shade on your wrist to understand your undertone. This helps in knowing which shade suits your skin tone best.
| How to check your undertone | What you may notice | Your likely undertone | Lipstick shades to try |
| Check your wrist veins | Veins look blue or purple | Cool | Rosy pink, mauve, berry, plum, blue-based red |
| Check your wrist veins | Veins look green | Warm | Peach, coral, terracotta, warm nude, orange-red |
| Check your wrist veins | Difficult to tell whether they are blue or green | Neutral | Pink nude, rose, mauve, classic red, neutral brown |
Pink shades always complement fair skin tone, and they have always been my favourite. I picked Lakme 9 to 5 Forever Matte Lip Crayon in Pitch Pink because I wanted a bright pink that would add colour to my fair complexion without looking too loud. On application, this shade looked fresh and cheerful and gave my lips a bright pop of colour, somewhere in between pink and mauve in a single swipe. I liked the matte and creamy, moisture-rich finish, which felt suitable for everyday office wear as well as casual outings. The lipstick comes with a retractable crayon format that made application quick and fairly precise.
This shade is especially perfect for my evening outings and has made a permanent space in my handbag.
However, I found the finish slightly drying after a few hours, so if you have dry lips, I would recommend applying lip balm underneath. Overall, it was a flattering pink for my skin tone.
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Ever since I tried House of Makeup skin tint, their lip gloss was on my bucket list. Moreover, I included the House of Makeup Non-Sticky Gloss as I wanted something glossy in my five-shade experiment rather than testing only matte formulas. This shade is between pink and nude, is wearable, and I applied it on its own to see how it complemented my fair skin. So, after using it without a lipstick, it gave a nice, shiny pop to my lips; however, after trying it on a lipstick shade close to the gloss shade, it just accentuated my pout.
I especially love wearing this gloss to my office to avoid frequent reapplication, as it stays put on your lips unless you need frequent coffee breaks!
I liked the juicy shine and the fact that the formula did not feel excessively sticky on my lips. It instantly made my lips look fuller and worked particularly well with minimal makeup. However, like most glosses, it did not have the staying power of a matte lipstick and needed reapplication after eating or drinking. I would reach for this when I want a fresh, effortless makeup look.
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I chose MARS Lip Fuzz Blurring Lip Cream in Bare Hug because I wanted to test a soft nude that would work with my fair skin without making my face look washed out. Another reason was a lipstick with a cushion tip! The lipstick is paraben-free, and that was one more reason for me to test it. The lipstick is easily blendable, and it gives a smooth, blurred look. High pigment and a rich colour payoff actually gave me another reason I kept it in my handbag for all my evening parties.
The cushion-tip applicator made it easy to spread the creamy formula evenly, and I liked the blurred, soft-focus effect it gave my lips. The shade is somewhere between a nude and a brown shade that looked subtle and polished, making it a nice option for everyday makeup with a more defined eye look.
My only concern was that the shade felt a little too muted for me when worn alone. Also, you would need to rotate the applicator a couple of times the first time for the colour to pop out. The lipstick is also a bit watery, though the cushion applicator does its work; you have to be cautious to avoid over-spillage of the lipstick. And do look out for the lipstick smudging on your teeth!
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Mauves have always been my mood uplifted and this Mauve Mood shade by Elle 18 caught my attention. More so because mauve shades are usually an easy way to add colour without going too bold. On my fair skin, this shade looked sophisticated and slightly cool-toned, which I particularly liked for evening makeup. The shade is vibrant, so you might not want to experiment with bold eye looks, but this one is not your daily office-wear shade.
The lipstick is buttery, glided smoothly across my lips and felt more comfortable than some traditional matte lipsticks. I also liked that the colour could be built up depending on how intense I wanted it. As the lipstick is loaded with peptides, it does give my lips a fuller look. The buttery formula kept my lips nourished and moisturised for long hours; however, I still prefer wearing a lip balm underneath no matter what lipstick I'm trying.
I noticed that the finish was not completely transfer-proof, and I needed a little touch-up after eating. For me, the shade was the real winner; it gave my complexion a soft, defined look without feeling overly dramatic.
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Since the day of its launch, I was eager to try Renee pH lipstick. Imagining a black lipstick popping up that simply changes the colour altogether when you apply it literally gave me goosebumps. I was curious about its pH-reactive formula that promised a shade that could look different depending on the wearer. I chose it to see how the colour would develop on my fair skin rather than picking a conventional lipstick shade.
I liked the creamy application and the personalised pink tint that developed on my lips. It gave my makeup a fresh, naturally flushed appearance and was easy to wear for everyday looks. The lipstick, as it is infused with the goodness of Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Macadamia Oil, and Olive Oil, itself says a lot about its smoothness. The lipstick is moisturising and nourishing on the lips and adds a sweet shine to your lips.
The downside of this shade is that the final colour can be less predictable than a regular lipstick, so it may not be ideal if you want a very specific shade. For me, it was fun and flattering but less versatile than a classic lipstick. However, the shade did not really complement my skin tone much.
How I chose the five lipstick shades
For this try-on, I did not want to pick five shades that looked almost identical. Since I have a fair skin tone, I chose a mix of pink, nude, mauve, glossy and colour-changing formulas to see which colours and finishes complemented my complexion best. I also considered where I would realistically wear each shade—some needed to work for everyday makeup, while others had to add a little more colour for evenings. Most importantly, I judged the shades on my lips rather than relying only on how they looked in the product images. That helped me identify the three that genuinely stood out on my skin.
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