Makeup Tricks to Make Your Teeth Look Whiter

Makeup Tricks to Make Your Teeth Look Whiter

Bleaching is certainly the best option for whitening your teeth, but if you need an instant result then there is a short term measure you can take while you are in the process of bleaching your teeth, which can take several weeks. Try these two makeup looks for immediate whiter-looking teeth today:

 

For some, teeth bleaching just isn't an immediate option—maybe you have caps, or you have super-sensitive teeth, or you just can't deal with the peroxide flavor. But you can still make your teeth look brighter by creating an optical illusion with makeup. No, not makeup on your teeth—the right lip color and some skin-tone enhancement will do the trick. Think glam lips à la hot TV series "Mad Men," or a sun-bronzed complexion, a little like George Hamilton but prettier. Seriously! Here's how to achieve each smile-enhancing look.

Complexion prep 

 

An even complexion will allow your unique features to be the beauty focus. Cleanse and moisturize, then apply light foundation and concealer and set with a light dusting of loose powder.

Glam lips for whiter teeth

Striking lip color is best offset by simple, defined eyes and brows and subtle cheeks. Blue-based reds will counteract any yellowness in teeth.

Sweep a nude matte eye shadow, such as Clinique Color Surge Eye Shadow Stay Matte ($17.50, 2.5 g), from lashline to brow. Highlight inner corner of eyes and browbones with shimmery shadow, such as Sephora Colorful Pearl Mono Eyeshadow in Pearl No. 1 White Pearl ($12, 28 g). Use an angled eyeshadow brush to apply dark shadow along the base of your upper lash lines. Try M.A.C Eye Shadow in Print ($17, 1.5 g), or Revlon Line Fantasy Cream Eyeliner in Black (limited edition, $12.95, 4.6 g).

Curl lashes and apply a mascara such as Maybelline New York Volum' Express Colossal Mascara ($7.99, 9.2 mL) in black.

Define brows. Try the Sephora Eyebrow Palette, ($15, 2.5 g).

Enhance cheeks with a neutral powder blush, such as Rimmel Underground Cheeky Blush in Cool Down ($8.95, 8 g).

Line lips with Revlon Colorstay LipLiner in Clear ($9.95, 28 g) to prevent color migration. Use a lip brush to apply colour, such as Chanel Glossimer Lip Gloss in Red Shine (limited edition, $30, 5.5 g); Clarins Joli Rouge Lipstick in Raspberry #723 ($26, 3.5 g); Lancôme Paris L'Absolu Rouge lipstick in Berry Noir ($33, 4.2 mL); or Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Lipstick SPF 15 in Rose Culte ($38, 4 g).

Sunkissed glow

If you use a daily glow moisturizer, such as Olay Complete Touch of Sun Daily UV Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 ($19.99, 75 mL), on face, neck and decolleté, you may be able to skip foundation (remember, your concealer needs to match your faux-tanned skin).

Prep and even out complexion.

Sweep shimmery peach-gold, such as PlantLove 100% Natural Origin Eye Shadow in Marigold ($20, 3 g), over lids to just below browbones. Dab pale gold shadow, such as Cargo EyeLighter in Gold ($18, 2 x .8 g), on inner corners of eyes. Use an angled brush to intensify upper lashlines with deep bronze eye shadow such as Estée Lauder Pure Color Eye Shadow in Bronze Cube ($20, 2.1 g).

Curl lashes and apply mascara, such as L'Oréal Paris Carbon Black Voluminous Mascara ($9.95, 8 mL).

Define brows lightly with brow powder.

Apply Benefit Benetint cheek and lip stain ($35, 12.5 mL) or Smashbox O-Glow Microcirculating Cheek Colour ($34, 15 mL) to apples of cheeks for a healthy, outdoorsy flush.

Dust powder bronzer, such as Physician's Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Bronzer ($21.99, 9 g), across forehead, cheekbones, bridge of nose and tip of chin.

Top lips with a sheer color with blue undertones. Try Benefit Benetint Pocket Pal ($25, 3.2 mL/clear gloss 2.8 g); CoverGirl Wetslicks Amazemint Lip Gloss in Un-Wined or Toast-ed ($6.99, 8 mL); Bath & Body Works Liplicious Tasty Lip Color Sheer in Black Cherry ($7, 14 mL); Rosebud Minted Rose Lipbalm ($9.50, 23 g); or The Body Shop Lip Gloss Dot in Bilberry Juice ($10, 6.5 mL).

More tips for whiter teeth

Pro makeup artists have another an unusual tip for making teeth look whiter: a tiny bit of red food coloring gently rubbed into gums with a soft toothbrush. It's quirky, but experts say it really works. The food color won't stain your teeth; instead it makes gums look a healthy red, which makes teeth appear whiter.