I spent $65 to have a color expert make my perfect custom lipstick shade, and I was shocked by the result

Finding the perfect makeup shades to suit my skin tone has been a lifelong journey, and I'm still discovering new ways to enhance my natural features.

I tend to keep my makeup basic, sticking to nude and pink tones for my lipstick. If I ever want to spruce things up for a special occasion, I'll wear a darker nude or deeper pink, but my goal is to err on the side of natural.

Thanks to online trends like getting your colors professionally analyzed, I've found myself paying more attention to color palettes across fashion and makeup. This led me to wonder if I've been wearing the right lipstick for my skin tone.

I was eager to get a shade uniquely tailored for me by color experts at Lip Lab in New York City — an in-person space created by makeup brand Bite Beauty.

At Lip Lab, I could choose the perfect finish, color, and flavor for my own unique lipstick for $65 or lip balm for $40. Each session includes one-on-one guidance from a color expert who mixes lipstick shades for you, plus the opportunity to name the shade and engrave the case.

All custom-lipstick shades created at Lip Lab can be saved and reordered online for $40 ($28 for balms).

Lip Lab has locations across the US and Canada, including LA, Las Vegas, and Toronto, and even offers virtual appointments available through its website.

Before I headed to my in-person appointment in NYC, I put on some natural makeup in nude tones — and it pained me to leave my apartment without lipstick.

Although it wasn't strictly necessary, I wanted to make sure the color expert wasn't distracted by any bold colors or shades.

When I walked into the lipstick haven, I was greeted by jars of paints in every color and was overwhelmed by all the possibilities.

Before we started, I mentioned to the color expert that my lips are always chapped, and I was worried that reapplying lipstick throughout the appointment would make them look crusty.

Because of my chapped lips, the expert suggested we start with a scrub — a delicious vegan exfoliator made with agave and vanilla.

While creating my lipstick, I got to choose between different finishes like satin, matte, and sheer. The expert suggested sticking to sheer, which would hydrate my lips more.

I agreed after testing out the sheer finish — my lips had never felt softer.

The expert also explained that the lipsticks are mostly made out of natural ingredients like jojoba oil, cocoa butter, and beeswax.

I mentioned that I tend to gravitate toward nude tones, which I've always felt complimented my eyes, skin tone, and hair color.

I was impressed by how receptive the color expert was to my penchants, making me even more excited about this process.

After looking at a brochure to guide me through the customization process, we decided to start with a shade my eyes were instantly drawn to — a soft nude.

The color expert mixed sheer almond, sheer cashew, and sheer nutmeg colors together with a spatula to create the first lipstick shade.

Although I loved how natural and glossy the first lipstick was, the color expert thought the shade was too similar to my natural lip color.

She was right — after blotting my lips, it hardly looked like I was wearing anything. The nude color washed me out a little, especially under the bright lights at Lip Lab.

This eureka moment definitely made me reconsider nude outfit choices and paler lip tones for the future.

The expert suggested going for softer colors, adding a violet shade to the nude mix. This shocked me because I've shied away from purple tones my whole life.

She explained how some purple hues could complement my warmer skin tone, which was a total revelation to me. I always assumed purple would bring out my blotchy spots, dark under eyes, and scars. I hadn't thought about trying different shades or tones of it.

She added a heaping dollop of sheer hard cider to the mix, which she described as an "orchid-like brown tone."

When I tried on the new shade, I couldn't believe how much I loved the purple addition to the lipstick concoction.

The orchid tone amped up the contrast to my makeup look, which I didn't realize I needed.

Since my lip shade had a sheer, buildable finish, I also attempted to blot some on my cheekbones. It ended up being the perfect blush for my overall look.

I had the option to choose one of four flavors: vanilla, pomegranate, mango, and mint. I decided to infuse my lipstick with pomegranate flavoring.

Once we finalized the shade and flavor, the expert mixed it and poured it into the lipstick mold.

While we waited for the lipstick to dry in the mold, we walked over to a laser that would engrave my lipstick case.

I got to come up with a name for my shade and choose a symbol from the brochure.

There were a handful of casings to choose from, including red, gold, silver, and pink.

In honor of my bold lipstick, I named my shade Pomegranate Pout and decided on a daring, red casing.

Finding out that purple could work on me so well made this experience worth every penny.

I've always been inclined to wear basic tones — nudes for my makeup and black or white for my wardrobe. But my trip to Lip Lab opened my eyes to color palettes I'd been completely avoiding.

Although it'll take some getting used to, this realization made me consider sprinkling violet into my outfit choices, too.

I'd definitely recommend this experience for a fun self-care day alone or with friends.