What colour lipstick makes your teeth look whiter?

Have you ever been told you have, 'pearly whites', a 'dazzling smile', or that your 'smile is looking radiant'? They're probably all compliments anyone would love to hear.

So, aside from exemplary oral hygiene, what's the best way to create the appearance of whiter teeth to keep those compliments coming?

If professional teeth whitening isn't on the cards yet, there might be something in your makeup bag that could help. The wrong lipstick could actually be the culprit for the appearance of yellow teeth! So, before you reach for whitening strips or a teeth whitening kit, read our tips to get brighter teeth with something you can find in your makeup bag.

Colour theory is great for understanding how you can improve the appearance of whiter teeth and enhance your smile. We're talking about some common colour rules in this article. 

We'll share the best shades to make your teeth appear whiter and keep those positive comments coming through about your sparkling smile. Keep reading to find out about the rules you can apply to lipsticks, and maybe even your wardrobe.

What is colour theory?

Colour theory is a framework that helps designers, creators and artists pick great colour combinations. We're sharing some of those industry tricks to help your smile glow without whitening your teeth.

Use the guidelines as a toolbox for choosing and combining colours. With our tips you can create a visually appealing contrast between lipstick colour and your smile, resulting in the appearance of whiter teeth.

If you took an art class at school, you might remember the colour wheel. It represented the colour relationships between a spectrum of shades. Some colour combos work well sitting together, while other combinations create what we might call a clash.

Lipstick colours work like any other colour combination rule. Cooler tones of lipstick can work to counteract yellow teeth, whilst warmer tones can result in making teeth look duller than they are and emphasise tooth enamel on the stained side of the spectrum.

What shades of lipstick make teeth look whiter?

The rule of theory is that avoiding orange and yellow-toned lipsticks can save you from regretting your choices if you look back at photos later. They can enhance the hues seen in your smile. Not great if you're actually trying to make your teeth look whiter! We always recommend opting for something with cooler notes, to brighten and lighten the appearance of your teeth.

Don't forget! Whatever tone you choose for your lipstick to make your teeth appear whiter; start with a hygiene appointment, and brush your teeth well with a whitening toothpaste. Maintaining great oral health is always the most important step before applying any teeth-whitening products.

Now, let's take a look at the lipstick shades you can count on.

Bright Pinks

Nothing gives the 'wow' factor like a burst of bold berry or popping pink. Something with a shine and a romantic raspberry undertone can make your smile striking for all the right reasons.

Light Pinks

Tread carefully with light pinks. As there's the possibility of them being lighter than your teeth when appearing next to each other. That means it could have the opposite effect, without a stark contrast to help your teeth dazzle. Stick to berries, plums and purple undertones instead.

Rich Reds

Embrace your romantic era - fall in love with your smile again. Rich reds make a solid statement - dulling down any appearance of orange or yellow tones in your teeth. Be sure to stick to rich and ripe like good red wine. Shades that boost a blue tone underneath rather than reflecting the orangey reds will leave you with white teeth and a bright smile!

Nudes and Natural Gloss

Simple shades can plump up your lips without distraction and elevate the sparkle and shine in your teeth. We recommend opting for something with added vitamins, moisturisers or gloss to accentuate and not make lips look dehydrated.

3 tips to make teeth whiter in a photo

1. Avoid overly warm filters: Warm yellow tones on your lips or your photo filter can have the same effect.
2. Make sure you have good lighting: Natural lighting will enhance the brightness of your teeth rather than mixing a dimly lit room with surface stains on your teeth!
3. Turn up the ice: If you can change the temperature setting on your camera, increase the blue tint slightly.

How to get whiter teeth with Impress

Our tips can certainly help you in the short term. But if you want to get the best teeth whitening in town, we recommend our professional teeth whitening treatment. Ready to book your free consultation? Check out our clinic pages or complete this short booking form.