How to Wear Lipstick in College

New York Fashion Week started yesterday, and I'm sitting here in jeans and chipped nail polish. And while I want to look put together and gorgeous, I'm a little intimidated. Seeing girls all polished and lipsticked any time of the day is uncommon (unless it's for sorority recruitment). And the girls that do go all out get pretty strange looks. Blacksburg is just a little rural town, so why would I (or any of you) want to go through the elongated routine in the morning?

Because the sooner you get comfortable wearing lipstick, the sooner you'll have more confidence!

While it may take some getting used to, wearing bold makeup, like lipstick, can perk up your face, helping you to look more awake and polished. And did I mention it's a confidence boost?! You can go from class to an interview and with just a swipe, you instantly look more put together & more ready to tackle that job or internship. If you have a nice date night, choose a more sultry lip and play up the sexiness that comes with more confidence (and snag a kiss in the process!).

Looking at the Fall/Winter 2012 trends, many of the designers are pairing a light-neutral pink lip with a very natural eye and cheek. This is a great way to start wearing and getting used to lipstick. Beginning with a pink that's close to your natural lip color, it won't feel so obvious that you're wearing lipstick and you'll feel more comfortable. One you get used to wearing a neutral color, try something a little more playful. Maybe for a class presentation, fraternity/sorority social, or to lunch with girlfriends! Once you become accustomed to wearing lipstick, you'll feel naked without it!

The lipsticks below are some nice options for day or night. The ones in top row, especially, are very in for this spring; nudes, corals and pale pinks. And as Valentine's Day is right around the corner, the bottom row would be nice for a romantic night out with your darling!

Planning outfits to wear around your new-found love of lipstick can be a little daunting. But don't let it be! Your outfit doesn't necessarily have to be to be reminiscent of Chanel or Marc Jacobs (although that would be awesome!), you can wear lipstick with dark jeans and a nice blouse or a skirt and a simple sweater. If your outfit in and of itself isn't the most promising, your lipstick can change that right around! With a swipe of some color on your lips, you'll be looking and feeling like that confident, beautiful woman that you are!

Examples of outfits I would wear

Tips for wearing lipstick

1. Go to your local Sephora, Ulta or makeup counter and try on your lipstick before you buy it. There's nothing worse than getting home, being really excited, but then realizing you bought the wrong color for your skin tone.
2. Understand about the undertones in your skin and in the lipstick. Blue undertones go with cool skin tones, while a red or orange undertone goes with warm skin tones.
3. Exfoliate and moisturize your lips before applying the lipstick! This step is super important. A lip buffer like this one from CO Bigelow is perfect, and after, swipe your lips with your favorite lip balm and let it sink in for a couple minutes before putting on that color. If you don't have a lip buffer, you can even use your tooth brush!
4. Put it with a lip brush, so it goes on smoother and you have more control. Sometimes, the shape of the lipstick just isn't right, but with a brush, you can place the color more precisely. 
5. If you like darker hues, invest in a clear lipliner so your color doesn't bleed. This one from Laura Mercier is awesome!
6. When you choose a bright or quite dark lipstick, let the rest of your makeup be subtle. A nice peach blush or bronzer close to your skin tone with a small cat eye works well for day and night!
7. And finally, have fun! If one shade doesn't work, choose another. Life is about choices and changes. Play it up!

Now, how do you guys wear your lipstick? Skirt, dress, jeans, (heaven-forbid) sweatpants? What's your favorite shade?