The color of the pads of your fingers is similar to that of your lips, so they give you an accurate picture of how a shade will look on your mouth (and you won't risk ingesting nasty microbes at the department store counter). Swipe a range of colors on your fingertips and see which ones look best. Then hold your favorites close to your mouth to decide which one is most flattering; the right bright shade will make your eyes sparkle and won't bring out redness in your cheeks. For Teri, Laura Mercier Lip Stain in Mulberry ($20;
Sephora.com ) was a perfect fit.
