Experts Say These Lipstick Shades Instantly Whiten Teeth

It’s the season for showing your biggest, brightest smile. In addition to teeth-whitening strips and treatments, choosing the right lipstick shade can take your sparkling smile to megawatt status. Choosing the wrong color can also make your teeth look dull, darker and sometimes like they’re yellowing. The first thing you want to do is say no to warmer tones, says Zahra Eram, founder of Eram Dental Clinic in Zurich. “Too many warm tones and colors that lean towards brown, beige and orange tones can make your teeth look yellow,” she says. To give your teeth an instant brightening effect, choose shades that are on the cool side of the color wheel.

Featured Experts

• Zahra Eram is the founder of Eram Dental Clinic in Zurich
• Lauren Becker, DDS is a board-certified cosmetic dentist in New York
• Joe Kravitz, DDS is a board-certified cosmetic dentist in Rockville, MD
• Guy M. Lewis, DDS is a board-certified cosmetic dentist in Houston

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Chanel Rouge Allure in Pirate ($48)

Dr. Becker says when in doubt, a good rule of thumb is to think darker colors so your teeth pop against it but remain in the cool blue and purple family. She notes that you can never go wrong with a pop of Chanel Rouge in Pirate.

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NYX Soft Matte Metallic Lip Cream in Monte Carlo ($6)

Eram says her drugstore favorite blue-based reds are Red from Revlon and Monte Carlo from NYX. “These will give you your whitest smile on a budget,” she adds.

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Rare Beauty Lip Shuffle Matte Cream Lipstick in Inspire ($20)

“I always recommend Crest Whitening for an at-home solution or a visit to your dentist for a whitening first,” adds New York cosmetic dentist Lauren Becker, DDS, who likes the Rare Beauty Inspire shade. “That way, when you pair your cool-toned lipstick with it, they’re sure to be bright white.”

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NARS Air Matte Lip Color in Dragon Girl ($28)

“An undertone like blue can neutralize the yellow color that our teeth naturally have, so teeth appear whiter than they are,” says Dr. Becker. NARS Dragon Girl and Cruella are two blue-based reds that are long-lasting without drying out lips.

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• BUY ON NORDSTROM – $28

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Makeup by Mario Supersatin Lipstick in Tribeca ($28)

This bold, intense blue-red offers a comfortable, long-lasting wear that enhances your smile’s natural brightness. “Think of your smile as a stage: the lips are the curtains, the teeth are the stars and the gums are the supporting cast,” says Rockville, MD cosmetic dentist Joe Kravitz, DDS. A 2023 study even confirmed that cool-toned lipsticks can create the appearance of brighter teeth by enhancing the contrast between lips and teeth.

• BUY ON SEPHORA – $28

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Lisa Eldridge Insanely Saturated Lip Colour in New Wave ($36)

This bold fuchsia with blue undertones delivers vivid, high-impact color in a luxuriously creamy formula. “Deeper shades like wine, cranberry, or dark reds create a striking contrast with your teeth for an instantly polished look,” adds Houston cosmetic dentist Guy M. Lewis, DDS.

• BUY NOW – $36