Your lip colour draws out certain hues in your skin tone. Just as deep berry shades flatter darker skin tones and cool pinks look great with pale skin, the lip colour you choose can make your teeth look whiter in comparison. Avoid any lip colour with gold, yellow or orange undertones, which provide little contrast and can actually give the illusion of a yellow cast on your teeth. Instead, the best lipstick colour for whiter teeth is any shade with blue undertones, like a true cherry red or even a blue-toned plum.
Colour balance isn't just for your lips. Every skin tone has different undertones, writes self, usually categorised as warm, cool or neutral. If your skin has warm undertones, you might tend toward an orange or peachy colour for blush, but choosing a bright pink can have the same teeth-whitening effect as a bright red lipstick. Sweep the blush along your cheekbones and the perimeter of your face to give your teeth a bright boost.
If you're not into colourful lipsticks, don't worry: you can still make your teeth look sparkling white with a subtle lip gloss instead. Just look for a lip gloss that has a silver shimmer rather than gold. The cooler silver tones and a little bit of shine can help brighten your smile without adding any extra lip colour. Light pink glosses with a hint of silver sparkle can also help brighten up your smile. Or, add a silver shimmer gloss on top of your lip colour of choice for a dazzling look.
When you draw attention to your eyes (and use the right eye shadow shade), you can take attention away from teeth that are less than sparkling white, says Women's Health magazine. Look for darker blue-toned colours that offer contrast between your eyes and your teeth. Navy shadow is a modern swap for grey or brown, while plum eyeliner can bring out the white in your teeth and the sparkle in your eyes. Avoid orange-toned eyeshadows, and finish your look with black or navy mascara.
The best way to whiten your teeth is to remove surface stains with twice-daily tooth brushing, and to talk to your dentist about professional whitening options. But if you need the illusion of a brighter smile now, makeup makes for a quick fix that can help you feel gorgeous and totally confident in your smile. By knowing which colours flatter your skin and your teeth, you can see instant results while you work on longer-term solutions.
This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
ORAL HEALTH QUIZ
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ORAL HEALTH QUIZ
Take our Oral Health assessment to get the most from your oral care routine