Abstract: A method for selecting a particular shade of lipstick that will brighten the appearance of one's teeth includes providing a plurality of tooth color samples in predetermined colors, selecting a plurality of lipstick shades, determining which of the lipstick shades best increases the apparent whiteness of selected tooth colors, and correlating a given tooth color sample with appropriate lipstick shades. Apparatus for carrying out the method includes a plurality of tooth color samples and a correlation chart for identifying the best lipstick shades that can be used with each tooth color.