When you think of makeup, one of the first things that come to the mind is lipstick. And no girl can ever have enough of them. Consider these 6 practical tips for buying lipsticks before your next purchase.

Buy good quality
As with everything you put on, or into your body, quality is the first criterion. Opt for high-quality lipsticks that use the best ingredients. Merely paying a hefty price for a famous brand will not ensure a superior quality product. Make sure there are no harmful ingredients like Methylparaben, Retinyl Palmitate, Polyparaben, and other such chemicals in the lipstick you buy.

Be practical
Always check the manufacture and expiration date on the lipstick. Although some brands claim lipsticks last for 3 years, it is ideal to dispose them after 12 or 18 months from the date of manufacture. So go for brand-new stock. Before you make your purchase from a retail or online store, learn about the exchange policies of the seller, just in case you need to return the lipstick for some reason.

Check reviews
If possible, read reviews, get feedback, and/or check swatches. Needless to say, do all this before buying your lipstick. When a product is introduced in the market, there will be plenty of reviews about it, so make sure you read the pros and cons, ask the retailer for swatches to see if you like the color/shade, to better appreciate what you are buying. Better still, ask someone who has already purchased the lipstick for their evaluation of the brand or shade of lipstick you are considering.

Choose the right texture
There are different types of lipsticks like satin, sheer, matte, moisturizing, creme, glossy, pearl, and long-wearing lipsticks. Depending on whether you want to draw attention with a dramatic effect, give a fuller, plumper look to thin lips, tone down plump lips to give a sharper look, want your lipstick to last through the day, or you intend to blend two types of lipsticks to match your outfit, whatever is your need, choose lipstick texture accordingly.

Understand your skin tone
This is fundamental to choosing the right shade of lipstick. Skin tone and complexion play a vital role in whether a lipstick shade uplifts your makeup or makes it appear dowdy. One way to confirm if you have a warm or cool skin tone is by checking the color of your veins. Blue or purple veins indicate a cool skin tone, while green veins indicate a warm tone. And any other color in-between those two refers to a neutral skin tone, a true blessing because all shades and colors of lipsticks look good on them.

Try it on
Try the lipstick on the inner part of your wrist or the back of your palm. You could also use a swatch near your face to see if the lipstick color you choose suits you. Just by looking at a shade (without a sample), you would never know if it is the right one. This means unless you are absolutely sure about which brand, color, and shade of lipstick you want to buy, do not purchase it online.