If you look at your lips in the mirror, you’ll notice that they’re most likely a little darker than the surrounding skin. Whether they’re pink, purple, beige or brown, your lips can impact the color of lipstick you wear on top of them.

Because your lips can affect the shades of the lipsticks you choose, it can be difficult to know whether a certain color will be darker or lighter on you. However, there’s an easy to way to make sure that you’re getting the exact same shade that’s being advertised or the particular hue you want – all you need is a liquid or cream foundation.

Use a foundation like Dermablend – Cover Creme SPF 30 (New Formula) on your lips before you apply lipstick. You can use a color that matches your skin tone, or a lighter or darker shade depending on how you want your lipstick to look.

The foundation will act as primer, making your lipstick application last longer. Sweep on a coat of Lipstick, then blot and reapply. You’ll notice that the color is exactly how you want it.