How To Make A Dark Lipstick Lighter Without Wasting The Tube | Red Apple Lipstick
Have you ever fallen in love with a dark lipstick that looked stunning in the tube but felt a little too bold on your lips? Maybe you want to soften a deep fall shade for everyday wear or keep using your richer colors when spring and summer roll in.
Lightening a dark lipstick is not about wasting product. With a few easy tweaks you can sheer it out, warm it up, or cool it down so it flatters your skin tone and fits the mood or season you are in.
Table of Contents
Why Lighten Dark Lipsticks
There are lots of good reasons to adjust a deeper shade instead of retiring it to the back of your makeup drawer.
- You bought a shade online, put it on, and realized it feels too dark next to your complexion.
- You love your fall and winter lipsticks but want a softer version for warmer months so you can keep wearing them year round.
- The color is right but the depth or undertone clashes with certain outfits or eye looks and you want something more flexible.
Ways To Make A Dark Lipstick Lighter
Once you understand a few simple techniques, you can customize any dark lipstick so it works with your skin tone, outfit, and the occasion.
1. Apply a softer layer
Start by using a single sheer layer instead of a full swipe. Lightly dab the bullet on your lips in a few spots and blend with a clean fingertip or a vegan lip brush. Blot with tissue to remove extra pigment and you will instantly get a lighter, more diffused version of the shade.
2. Turn it into a soft stain
For an even softer look, treat your dark lipstick like a stain. Apply a small amount to your fingertip first, then press and tap it into your lips. This gives you more control over coverage so you can stop when the color feels just right instead of overpowering.
3. Top with a sheer or nude gloss
If the color only needs to be lightened a little, layer a gloss on top. A creamy or clear gloss can soften the intensity of a dark lipstick and make it look more natural without changing the undertone too much.
For example, Ooh La La is a beautiful deeper brown pink nude that can lean strong on lighter skin tones. Topping it with a medium nude gloss like Honey Badger helps tone it down while keeping the color story the same. Clear and soft nude glosses such as Sun Sparkles and Tiny Dancer are perfect when you want just a hint of softening.
Shade Mixing Ideas With RAL Favorites
When a lipstick feels several steps too dark, mixing is your best friend. Pair a deeper shade with a lighter color from the same family so you keep the tone you love while dialing down the depth.
One of our favorite combinations is pairing Ooh La La with Naughty. Naughty is a tan nude that looks very natural on the lips, so it softens and lightens Ooh La La while keeping its beautiful rose brown effect.
If you prefer a pink nude, try mixing deeper colors with New York. A light pink nude takes the edge off bold shades while leaving you with a fresh, soft finish that still looks polished.
For spring and summer, you can also brighten richer fall favorites with warm, lively colors. A shade like Day After Morocco, a reddish pink with a coral beige undertone, can lift deeper reds and berries so they feel more seasonal and daytime friendly.
Once you start blending, you will find there are many combinations hiding in the tubes you already own. A few swatches on the back of your hand can help you preview new mixes before you commit them to your lips.
Do not be afraid to play with depth, texture, and finish. Little tweaks like sheering, glossing, or mixing can turn a once intimidating dark lipstick into one of your most reached for shades all year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tone down my lipstick if it looks too strong?
Apply your lipstick as usual, blot with tissue, then add a thin layer of clear or nude gloss. This softens the intensity without fully covering the color. You can find great options in our lip gloss collection, including clear and soft nude shades that gently dial back bold colors.
Can I mix two lipsticks together?
Yes. Mixing is one of the easiest ways to create custom shades and rescue colors that feel a bit too dark. Swipe shades on the back of your hand, blend with your fingertip, and then apply your favorite mix to your lips. Try pairing deeper tones with lighter nudes from our lipstick collection for easy, wearable combinations.
How do you choose colors that mix well?
For the easiest results, start by mixing colors from the same family, such as two nudes or two berry shades. Once you feel comfortable, play with contrast, like a deep plum with a soft pink nude, to see how the undertones balance each other.
How do you make dark red lipstick lighter?
Layering a nude gloss on top is a quick fix. A pinky brown nude like Honey Badger or a soft peachy nude like Tiny Dancer can soften a red without changing it completely. For a bigger shift, mix the red with a light nude lipstick such as New York.
How do you make lipstick less pink?
The easiest method is to apply the pink lipstick as a stain by tapping it on, then adding a clear gloss like Sun Sparkles on top. You can also tone it down by mixing it with a pink based nude lipstick such as New York or pairing it with nude glosses like Honey Badger and Tiny Dancer.