Seeing Red

You can't even imagine how many times clients will look at red lipstick and PANIC. The mere thought of it sends quivers of confusion through their brains as if it were a foreign alien in the makeup world. For some, it probably ignites flashbacks to that dear old relative who would leave those lovely lipstick marks all over your cheeks every time she had to endearingly greet you. (I still remember my mom pulling me aside to aggressively rub off the rouged stain on my chubby little 5 year old face). Some people may just not like the look of it - but more often than not, I've been approached with: "I just can't wear it," "It looks great on you, but not on me," "I'll look like Bozo the Clown," "How do you not get it on your teeth?" or simply, "WOW...that's... RED." The fact is, I truly believe that deep down every woman wants at least one night in their life where they can pull off a fierce red lip. Something about it exudes a certain air of confidence and sex appeal, and while most men prefer the natural look, no man can deny that it looks polished and beautiful for a special night out. But who cares about just what the guys think... if you look and feel amazing, then chances are, other people will think so too. So, okay ladies, it's time to face your fears with that little red devil and bust out the big guns... we're going into BEAUTY BATTLE.

First and foremost, the key to wearing red lipstick is understanding that you're not just wearing a color, you're wearing a "look". You can't just rock out your usual Kardashian-clad smokey eye and say, "Hey, I think I'll bump up my look with some red lips tonite..." You'll become more easily associated with a street corner than with a killer sense of style. You have to assess yourself and think, "Do I want my red lips to be the center of attention? Or do I want to add a touch of red to my already perfected look?" Let's break down a few looks that can help you define the type of look you're going for:

THE CLASSIC PINUP
Awarded to the all-time iconic beauties of the past like Marilyn Monroe, Jean Harlow & Great Garbo (yes that rhymed) this look is nothing short of glamour at it's best.

The red lip is clearly the focus here... you want a perfectly defined "true red" color that's matte, while keeping the skin free of shimmer - just a hint of blush, neutral eyes and winged out liquid liner on the top lid.

Recommended Reds: 

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella 

Smashbox Lipstick in Legendary

MAC Lipstick in Russian Red

THE MODERN PINUP

This look has become a more adapted version that has graced faces in Hollywood with countless celebs like Megan Fox, Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani, Katy Perry, Eva Mendes & Taylor Swift, just to name a few...

To modernize this glam look, choose a red lip shade that has a little more shine to it. You can wear a slightly more pinky-red, or berry-red (depending on skin tone) but top it with a pretty gloss. Also, keep the skin fresh and dewy, and use a shimmery gold or pearl color on the lids. Lastly, add the winged liner with either a blendable gel liner or kohl pencil to soften up the look on the eyes and make it a little less harsh.

Recommended Reds:

YSL Lipstick in Rouge Flamme

MUFE Lipstick in #45 (Satin Raspberry Red)

Sephora Shimmer Gloss in Bronzed Beauty (red w/ gold glitter)

THE BOHEMIAN BOMBSHELL

So, I appropriately coined this term myself in order to describe the trend I've been noticing in every magazine this fall. It's a combination of earth tones, and berry-kissed lips, exuding that sort of "effortless glam" look. This is a great way to incorporate a more toned down type of red into your beauty diet, without feeling like your lips are the center of attention.

Keep the focus on the eyes here, by using sepia toned browns with a hint of sparkle to give that soft smokey eye look. Smudge a chocolate colored liner along the lashes and tightline to define the eyes without being to precise. Keep the skin sun kissed and glowing, and add a berry stain or gloss to the lips for a hint of color.

Recommended Reds:

Stila Lip Stain in Pomegranate Crush

The Balm Shelter Gloss in Material Girl

Laura Mercier Lip Stain in Mulberry

RUNWAY RED

This fearless trend is clearly for the bold at heart. There's no shying away from the fact that your lips will stand at attention and get you noticed with this 'siren red' look. And despite the fact that this look may take you less than 5 minutes to achieve - you'll look polished and professional with a modern edge.

Here, you want to be a minimalist with your makeup. Keep the skin looking as natural as possible with a tinted moisturizer, contoured cheeks, a pop of peachy blush and an illuminating highlight to the tops of the cheekbones. Add one coat of a defining mascara to the lashes, and keep the brows soft and natural. When tackling these red lips, choose a shade that ranges from a true red, to a slightly more orange-red. Anything deeper will make you look a little too vampy since the rest of the face is so bare. And make sure to apply this lip color with a lip brush - you will get a more precise finish without having to use liner or packing too much color on to the lips.

Recommended Reds:

NARS Lip Gloss in Bloodwork (my favorite!)

Bobbi Brown Lip color in Red

Illamasqua Lipstick in Ignite

So there you have it! We've made it through the beauty battle and uncovered the mystery of the red lip. Its pretty safe to say that judging by the course of cosmetic history, red lipstick will never go out of style. Experiment with colors... and try something new! Darker skin tones can easily add instant drama with warmer tones and berry reds, where as fair skin tones can look gorgeous in cooler shades of red. But we know there are no lipstick laws and these rules can be bended to suit a specific look. But no matter what look you're going for, just remember - wear it with confidence and you'll always be able to pull it off. 

xoxo,

Laura