My experience wearing Lime Crime lipstick in Styletto.


“Hi, I’m a pile of black lipstick. If you look from far away, I look like Darth Vader!”

Talking to Christine of Temptalia earlier, we were both very excited about the return of black lipstick in fashion. “I haven’t seen anyone do a bold lip in a while,” she said, “but black can be intimidating.” Intimidating – that’s it. When I think black, I think couture, the Roaring 20s, avant-garde. Dark lipstick is a powerful statement that shows that its wearer is comfortable with cosmetics, herself and the surroundings. She is probably no stranger to attention and turning heads, but that’s not why she does it.


Gwen Stefani wears hers matte.

There are a few tricks to pulling off black and making it work for you:

  • 1. Eyeliner

Black is the queen of all lipsticks who will not stand for competition. Keep the rest of your makeup – like eyeshadow & blush – understated. The only exception to this rule is eyeliner – it creates a balance between the eyes and the mouth. Stick with liquid or gel eyeliner for maximum darkness and apply thickly in a cat-eye fashion – the more dramatic, the better!

  • 2. Subtler brow

Keep things modern by opting for softer eyebrows – light or medium browns work best. If you have naturally dark eyebrows, simply style them with clear gel without filling in. If you’re feeling really daring, have them bleached professionally a shade or two lighter.

  • 3. Lipliner

When wearing black lipstick, lip liner is a must. Draw a thin line along the edge of your lips and fill in lightly. For full-on, luscious color, apply black lipstick directly from the tube, avoiding going over the liner. Blot and re-apply.

Gloss or matte? Black looks amazing in both matte and glossy finishes, so it’s up to you. I glossed mine up for further boldness. If you do decide to go the shiny route, be sure to pat – not smear – gloss on top of your lips with a finger. Over-blending will diminish its staying power.

  • 4. Maintenance

Yes, the Queen of all lipsticks is one demanding lady! Check up periodically to make sure your lips are in top-notch shape. Personally, I find touch-ups very glamorous and carry a pocket mirror in my purse just in case I need to reapply my lippy. :)

My personal experience with black lipstick was transformational, and one I wouldn’t mind to repeat. I debuted Styletto at a Goth wedding – possibly the toughest audience as these folks are connoisseurs of all things dark. I was sort of expecting to see many black-lipped beauties in attendance so it came as a complete surprise that I was the only one! All of a sudden, I felt very daring – like I was the most confident woman in the room – and couldn’t stop smiling. I got many complements throughout the night, from men and women – Voltaire said the lipstick “looked so good he wanted to eat it” (Can you picture a gothic man biting into a lipstick? The best visual, ever! :D).

So there you have it – black can be very do-able for special occasions, all it takes is some confidence and a little bit of nerve. What you get in return is a stand-out shade and at the very least a conversation-starter. Plus, it made my teeth look whiter – always a reason to smile!

Deerlings: Do you have questions about wearing black lipstick? Want to share your experience? Now that we have a new comment system, we can have a real discussion!

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