I’ll read the draft carefully before suggesting anything.
The article is solid — clear structure, specific technique, good use of contrast as a through-line. Here are the issues worth addressing:
Problems to Fix
1. The stat sourcing feels thin in one place
Section 3 cites “38% neutral, 33% cool” undertones from “our database,” but Section 6 references “28% warm undertone Dramatic types” without that adding up cleanly (38+33+28=99, which is fine, but the warm figure appears without the same source framing). Either introduce the warm stat in Section 3 alongside the others, or drop the percentage in Section 6 and just say “the minority of Dramatics with warm undertones.”
2. The reader quote is doing nothing
The Brooklyn quote in Section 5 is a body type realization story dropped into a makeup section. It does not connect to the lip advice around it. Cut it or replace it with a quote actually about the lip commitment specifically.
3. “Full stop” is a cliché
“Matte red. Full stop.” works as emphasis, but it is overused in beauty writing. Consider: “Matte red. Everything else follows from there.” or just extend the sentence rather than using the period-stop device.
4. The FAQ answer on pastels is vague
“The key word from the type data is ‘sharp pairing'” — what type data? This reads like an appeal to authority with nothing behind it. Rephrase as a direct recommendation: “A pale lip needs a graphic eye or strong brow to hold contrast, or it disappears entirely.” (You already say this — just cut the “type data” attribution.)
5. Minor: “taut flesh” in Section 4
“Naturally lean, taut flesh” is a slightly clinical phrase that reads oddly in the middle of a practical makeup guide. “Skin” works fine.
What Is Working Well
- The opening is strong — leading with the common wrong advice before correcting it is more engaging than a generic intro.
- The Do/Don’t structure is clean and scannable without being a pure list article.
- The Tilda Swinton and Joan Crawford references are well-chosen and actually justify the point rather than just being name-drops.
- The “what it should feel like” framing in Section 6 is a good landing point before the FAQ.
One Structural Note
The Quick Answer block comes after the intro paragraph. Here’s the thing. Most readers will hit the intro, read the bold summary, then decide whether to keep going. Right now the intro and the Quick Answer repeat a lot of the same content (graphic, matte, defined edges, avoid soft). Consider cutting the Quick Answer’s detail in half so the intro does the hook work and the Quick Answer is purely the scannable bullet version — not a second introduction.