5 Easy Tips for Wearing Bright & Bold Lipsticks (PHOTOS)

Say what you will about Sarah Palin, but she got one thing absolutely right. Remember her famous joke, "What's the difference between hockey moms and pit bulls?" The answer was, of course, "Lipstick," and golly, was she spot on. Lipstick, my friends, is everything. Perhaps not to furry, four-legged creatures but certainly to us two-legged ladies. But finding the perfect shade for your skin tone is no easy task. Yup, it's flirty and totally feminine to wear but how do you know what hues look fantastic against your face? Which red should you choose? Can anyone pull off purple?

The trick is, and always will be, matching up colors to your complexion and knowing what color family to stay in. So look at yourself in the mirror — and I mean really look. Now that your summer tan is fading, what's your natural color? Fair, pale, olive? Be honest with your answer. Knowing your shade is better in the long run. Now pucker up ladies, 'cause here's the how-to on 'stick and skin …

How do you pick your shade?

Image via TaniaSaiz/Flickr

For Pale Skin

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Walmart, Walmart

Peach hues (Colorsensational Pearls Lipcolor available at Walmart, $5.50) and nude shades (Revlon Super Lustrous Pearl Lipstick available at Walmart, $4.97) work well with your skin and won't look harsh against your natural complexion. A hint of shine & glimmer will make your pout look plump.

For Fair Skin

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CVS Pharmacy, CVS Pharmacy

Flirty and bright reds in the coral family are the perfect shade for you. Stick to a color without shine or gloss (CoverGirl Lipstick 405 Fairytale available at CVS Pharmacy, $6.39) that will give you an overall matte finish. Opt for shades that have a pink hue (L'Oreal Riche Colour Caresse Lipstick available at CVS Pharmacy, $7.99).

For Medium Skin

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Sephora, Sephora

Say you haven't totally got an olive skin tone but you're pretty close. If you want to play up your pout, accentuate with cranberry (Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Lip Colour available at Sephora, $26.00) shades that help warm and brighten. A texturized red (Dior Dior Addict Extreme Lipstick available at Sephora, $30.00) will pick up on the golden tones in your skin, blending well.

For Creamy, Olive Skin

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Sephora, CVS Pharmacy

Stick to creamy tones that work well with your skin tone, both in the summer and winter seasons. Avoid shine with a bold, deep red (Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture available at Sephora, $32.00) or a rose-tinted brown (L'Oreal Lipstick available at CVS Pharmacy, $7.99).

For Dark Skin

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Sephora, Sephora

It's time to totally liven up your lips if you've got a darker tone. Stick to deep (Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick available at Sephora, $19.00), burgundy shades (Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Lip Colour available at Sephora, $26.00) and bypass the shiny, glossy finish. Super bright colors will seem too harsh against your skin.