How to Wear Red Lipstick
Spring is sprung, the grass is 'riz, I wonder where the bright lipstick is!
Oh, gosh - it's just been "nude, beige, natural, concealed past the point of recognition" lips for far too long. I am SO past it - even the nude lip icon, Jennifer Lopez, looks fresher and brighter with a dash of color on her lips:
See what a difference a bit of fresh, healthy COLOR makes to even the most gorgeous face? And seriously - how many of us actually look as beautiful as J-Lo anyway? So if a look is unflattering on HER, well....you get my meaning.
So, in honor of a change of seasons, let's all do a change of face. uh, I mean lips.
Go pink, peachy, rose, mauve, coral, orange, violet - so many shades from which to choose!
But go BIG or go home!
For right now, let's talk about RED lipstick. It's perhaps the most womanly or ladylike color there is - classic, used across cultures and across decades - heck, across centuries! There has been tons written already about the whys and wherefores of red lipstick. But what really matters is the HOW of red lipstick.
But first, some inspiration.
With red, you have to let your eye adjust a little bit, especially if you're used to nude/gloss looks.
Start by applying your foundation/concealer/powder if you usually use them.
Then put on red lipstick. Try a gentle stain first - apply with fingertip, then blot.
Look in your mirror.
WOW. That's BRIGHT!!!
Leave it alone - DO NOT wipe it of. You heard me! NO TOUCHING THE LIPS!!!
Go do something else for a little while, then look again.
Man, you are ALL lips. For better or worse. If you are blessed with full pouty lips, you probably feel like you've got a child's inflatable pool toy resting smack dab in the center of your face. You do not. In actuality, you have full, pouty, sensuous lips that are now tinted a super sexy shade of red. If your lips are smaller or more delicate (as I like to describe my own), you might be feeling that the intense color is somehow shrinking your lips to tinyness. It isn't. Just seems that way. Give it time.
No add mascara and do your brows as you usually do.
Look again. That's better, isn't it? Balance is being restored to your face. Your lips STILL look silly bright. Mayeb you feel like a clown. Or a cheap hooker. However, you do NOT look like either, unless you are wearing a red rubber nose or booty shorts. Heaven help you if you are wearing BOTH a red rubber nose and booty shorts. Either you need to check into rehab, start charing WAY more for, umm, special services, or turn in your Clowns Union membership card.
Now go do something else for a while - check the Aromaleigh Forums.
Look in mirror again. Now those red lips of yours are looking more "normal", huh? Yup.
Your eyes are adjusting to a new bold lipped you.
Add a bit more lipstick, or go deeper, richer, shinier or matter - whatever. Just play a little bit. Find a balance that strikes you. It's your face, after all!
Add eye liner if you usually use that. Look in mirror again.
Ooh - Me Likey!
Now, put on a pretty top and go out - to the grocery store. That's the perfect place because you are on display, but not ON DISPLAY. You have the perfect excuse to linger, or to jet out quickly if you feel uncomfortable.
Chanel your inner Gina Lollabrigida or Sophia Loren, or Bettie Paige, or any other red lip maven you love. Smell the fresh produce, buy yourself some flowers. Make kissy faces in the store windows as you pass.
Reapply your red lipstick in public - make it a caress. Put on a show for anyone who might see. Order up a latte somewhere, and revel in that perfect lip print you place on the rim of the white paper cup. Sexay!
Catch the admiring glances of passers by. Aren't you loving it?
Yup - you are now a red lip girl! GggrrrrrAAAWWWWWWrrrr.
I knew you had it in you!
Repeat as needed for ANY bold, bright new color. Shake it up - if everyone around you is doing red, opt for Schiaparelli shocking pink. Hanging with the Coral Crowd? don a bit of violet for good measure. Heck - grab a bold cobalt blue if you are especially daring. Whatever your choice, just have fun, wear it confidently, own it, rock it. They're your lips, but they're on display for all to see!
Oh, gosh - it's just been "nude, beige, natural, concealed past the point of recognition" lips for far too long. I am SO past it - even the nude lip icon, Jennifer Lopez, looks fresher and brighter with a dash of color on her lips:
See what a difference a bit of fresh, healthy COLOR makes to even the most gorgeous face? And seriously - how many of us actually look as beautiful as J-Lo anyway? So if a look is unflattering on HER, well....you get my meaning.
So, in honor of a change of seasons, let's all do a change of face. uh, I mean lips.
Go pink, peachy, rose, mauve, coral, orange, violet - so many shades from which to choose!
But go BIG or go home!
For right now, let's talk about RED lipstick. It's perhaps the most womanly or ladylike color there is - classic, used across cultures and across decades - heck, across centuries! There has been tons written already about the whys and wherefores of red lipstick. But what really matters is the HOW of red lipstick.
But first, some inspiration.
With red, you have to let your eye adjust a little bit, especially if you're used to nude/gloss looks.
Start by applying your foundation/concealer/powder if you usually use them.
Then put on red lipstick. Try a gentle stain first - apply with fingertip, then blot.
Look in your mirror.
WOW. That's BRIGHT!!!
Leave it alone - DO NOT wipe it of. You heard me! NO TOUCHING THE LIPS!!!
Go do something else for a little while, then look again.
Man, you are ALL lips. For better or worse. If you are blessed with full pouty lips, you probably feel like you've got a child's inflatable pool toy resting smack dab in the center of your face. You do not. In actuality, you have full, pouty, sensuous lips that are now tinted a super sexy shade of red. If your lips are smaller or more delicate (as I like to describe my own), you might be feeling that the intense color is somehow shrinking your lips to tinyness. It isn't. Just seems that way. Give it time.
No add mascara and do your brows as you usually do.
Look again. That's better, isn't it? Balance is being restored to your face. Your lips STILL look silly bright. Mayeb you feel like a clown. Or a cheap hooker. However, you do NOT look like either, unless you are wearing a red rubber nose or booty shorts. Heaven help you if you are wearing BOTH a red rubber nose and booty shorts. Either you need to check into rehab, start charing WAY more for, umm, special services, or turn in your Clowns Union membership card.
Now go do something else for a while - check the Aromaleigh Forums.
Look in mirror again. Now those red lips of yours are looking more "normal", huh? Yup.
Your eyes are adjusting to a new bold lipped you.
Add a bit more lipstick, or go deeper, richer, shinier or matter - whatever. Just play a little bit. Find a balance that strikes you. It's your face, after all!
Add eye liner if you usually use that. Look in mirror again.
Ooh - Me Likey!
Now, put on a pretty top and go out - to the grocery store. That's the perfect place because you are on display, but not ON DISPLAY. You have the perfect excuse to linger, or to jet out quickly if you feel uncomfortable.
Chanel your inner Gina Lollabrigida or Sophia Loren, or Bettie Paige, or any other red lip maven you love. Smell the fresh produce, buy yourself some flowers. Make kissy faces in the store windows as you pass.
Reapply your red lipstick in public - make it a caress. Put on a show for anyone who might see. Order up a latte somewhere, and revel in that perfect lip print you place on the rim of the white paper cup. Sexay!
Catch the admiring glances of passers by. Aren't you loving it?
Yup - you are now a red lip girl! GggrrrrrAAAWWWWWWrrrr.
I knew you had it in you!
Repeat as needed for ANY bold, bright new color. Shake it up - if everyone around you is doing red, opt for Schiaparelli shocking pink. Hanging with the Coral Crowd? don a bit of violet for good measure. Heck - grab a bold cobalt blue if you are especially daring. Whatever your choice, just have fun, wear it confidently, own it, rock it. They're your lips, but they're on display for all to see!
posted by Your Style Muse at 2:41 PM
2 Comments:
Hi Bridget, I have only just discovered your blog and I am bookmarking it. I for one don't need any *help* with red lipstick because it's my favorite lipstick color. I will wear red lippie any day and any time :) Regardless, I love this inspirational article! The world needs more red lipstick :) - Lili
Hey, Lili Girl! You are a QUEEN OF COLOR! Thanks for popping by!
But mostly, thanks for making the world a brighter place, with your ruby red pout! (And amazing eye shadow skilz!)
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