EVELYSS / Guides / Beauty

What Lipstick to Wear With a Green Dress (Emerald, Olive, Sage and Forest)

“Red and green are opposites, which is exactly why they're so striking. The holiday problem only starts when you add more holiday around them. One clean red mouth over emerald is elegance, not wrapping paper.”Her take

Why does green make lipstick choices harder?

Green and red sit opposite each other on the color wheel, so a green dress makes any red or pink undertone in your lip look stronger. That can be beautiful. It can also make a shade you normally wear suddenly look brighter or more orange than you expected.

Start by finding out whether your green leans blue or yellow. Emerald and bottle green lean cool. Olive, moss and khaki lean warm. Sage and mint are soft and muted, and they need a softer lip. Then match the lip to the same temperature.

Which lipstick goes with each shade of green?

If you're unsure, hold the lipstick and fabric together near a window. If the lip looks slightly dirty or chalky next to the green, the temperature doesn't match.

• Emerald: blue-red, raspberry, cool berry or a rosy nude.
• Forest or hunter green: wine, deep berry, brick or a muted plum.
• Olive or moss: brick, terracotta, warm brown-nude or burnt rose.
• Sage: soft rose, muted peach or a pink-beige nude.
• Kelly or bright green: a clean red, hot pink or a very simple nude with mascara.
• Mint or pale green: coral, peach or a sheer pink.

How do you wear red lipstick without looking like Christmas?

Choose a slightly blue-based red with cool greens, or a brick red with warm greens. A very bright fire-engine red over bright green reads most like a holiday decoration. Satin or matte finishes also look more grown-up than high-shine gloss here.

Then cut anything else festive from the outfit. Skip red shoes, red nails and red bags, and avoid sequined green if your lip is bold. Gold jewelry and a clean, simple eye give the look polish. During December, the same outfit will still feel seasonal, which is exactly right.

What eye makeup works with a green dress and bold lip?

Keep the eye neutral with a strong lip. Soft brown shadow, a thin brown or black liner close to the lashes and two coats of mascara are enough. Avoid matching green shadow to the dress, which tends to flatten both.

If you prefer a soft lip, the eye can do more. Bronze, copper and warm brown all look rich beside emerald and forest green. Plum shadow can also work, especially with hazel or green eyes, but keep the lip quiet if you do.

Which shade suits your skin tone?

On fair skin, blue-reds and rosy berry shades tend to look crisp, while very dark wines can look heavy unless they're sheered out with a fingertip. On medium and olive skin, brick, warm rose and classic red tend to work well.

On deep skin, try rich berry, wine, bright true red or a warm caramel nude that's close to your own lip depth. Whatever your coloring, test in daylight with the dress on, and take one photo before you leave. Lips can read lighter on camera than they do in the mirror.

What about the rest of your makeup?

Keep blush in the same family as the lip: rose with berry, peach with coral, soft terracotta with brick. Olive-toned greens can pull a little sallow near the face, so a touch more warmth on the cheeks helps.

Line the lip with a matching pencil and blot once, especially if you're wearing a deep shade. A clean edge is what makes a bold color look intentional over a strong dress.

Questions people ask

The takeaway

Match the lip's temperature to the green, keep red clean and singular, and test the pairing in daylight before you leave.

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