Recently I got a press release from celeb cosmetic dentist Dr. Kevin Sands, giving tips on how to fake a whiter smile using certain lipstick shades. Apparently, some lip colors can make your teeth look whiter, and others have the opposite effect. Intrigued, I decided to test out a bunch of colors and see how they affected the way my choppers looked.
(Now, obviously I have light hair and pretty fair skin, so results will probably vary from person to person. But I'm sure a similar concept will apply to anyone with teeth!)
Tell me what you think!
Lipsticks to Make Your Teeth Look Whiter
For reference, here's a photo of me with naked lips. Naked, I say!
Lipsticks to Make Your Teeth Look Whiter
Dr. Sands says wine colored lipsticks are among the best for making a brilliant smile. I quite like this dark wine color;Â it's Aveda Nourish-Mint Smoothing Lip Color in "Sweetplum." ($16 at Aveda.com)
Lipsticks to Make Your Teeth Look Whiter
By contrast, coral and orange-colored shades play up the yellow in your teeth, or so the theory goes. What do you think? In this slide I'm wearing Estee Lauder Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in "Wild Coral Creme." ($19.99 at allcosmeticswholesale.com) I like the color, but do you think my teeth look whiter in the previous slide?
Lipsticks to Make Your Teeth Look Whiter
Dr. Sands says bright reds are also flattering to your teeth, but be sure to skick with reds that have blue, not orange, undertones. Here I'm wearing COVERGIRL LipPerfection in "Flame." ($5.94 at Target.com)
Lipsticks to Make Your Teeth Look Whiter
"Abbey Rose," this pretty tinted balm by Butter London is pretty close to my natural lip color — but better. Affect on teeth? None? ($20 at ButterLondon.com)
Lipsticks to Make Your Teeth Look Whiter
Finally, Dr. Sands says hi-gloss, shiny "nude" lipsticks reflect against the enamel of your teeth, making them look shinier than they are. I actually think this L'Oreal Colour Riche Le Gloss in "Girl's Night Out" is quite flattering to my teeth. What do you think? (I think that exact shade has been discontinuted, but there are some other, similar shades for $7.95 at LorealParisUSA.com)
Lipsticks to Make Your Teeth Look Whiter
Here's another orangey-coral shade: Pur Minerals Lip Gloss Stick in "Coralline." I think this one is more flattering to my teeth, maybe because it's lighter and glossier. ($15 at PurMinerals.com)
The Winners!
While I'm not going to stop wearing other shades (I love corals and pinks), I do think that my teeth looked whitest with the dark wine color, the bright red, and the super duper glossy nude. (I also think I need to get my teeth whitened! Ack!)
