The Do’s and Don’ts of Red Lipstick
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, some of you may be feelin’ a red lip to celebrate the occasion. Even if you’re not going on a date, rocking red lipstick can be empowering – one little swipe can provide an instant boost of confidence. Contrary to popular belief, red lips are extremely versatile, Valentine’s Day or not – you just have to know the basics. So before you rush to the beauty counter, read my do’s and don’ts below.
DO
Prep Your Lips
For better looking and longer wear, make sure your lips are exfoliated, hydrated and ready for color. Exfoliate with a simple DIY brown sugar honey scrub and finish with lip balm, or go with a brand like sara happ for different flavors and ingredients.
Consider Undertone & Teeth
The easiest way to choose a red lipstick? Know your undertone! Cool undertones generally look best with cool reds, while warm undertones look great with – you guessed it – warm undertones! Ladies with neutral undertones can rock just about anything. But don’t forget to think about teeth – if you are concerned about not-so-pearly whites, a true red or slightly cooler shade will brighten.
Keep Eyes Simple
Balance is key. Although I’m all for experimenting, you can’t go wrong with a sleek or classic look like smokey eyeshadow or a cat eye with red lips. There’s no need to go all out with color here, it will likely clash.
Lock It In Place
Choose a long-wearing lip color with ingredients that will nourish while you wear. em’s lip gallery lipstick in ‘love me!’ contains both Argan oil Vitamin E as well as pigments that will make your lips pop. Make sure to apply your lipstick, then blot and repeat to get it to stay. If you want to opt for a color you already own, a touch of translucent powder will seal the deal.
DON’T
Skip the Liner
Lip liner may seem like a dated step, but it’s not to be missed. If you wear it correctly, liner will define your pout and prevent your lipstick from bleeding so you won’t have to worry while you wear. My tip is to go for a waxed-based liner in a natural shade, applied softly around the lips. Not quite confident enough for liner yet? Click here to see how your highlighter can save the day!
Pair with Bright Colors
Like I mentioned with the eyes, it’s best to keep the rest of your makeup to a minimum color-wise. That doesn’t mean you have to go au naturel per se, but that adding pinks, blues, greens (you get the idea) and other vibrant shades into the mix will draw the attention away and likely clash with the drama of the red. If you’re going to spend time nabbing the perfect color, you want all eyes on your lips.
Be Afraid to Layer
Layering lip color is a great way to find new shades that work for you. Experiment with your current collection to create more subdued versions of your boldest hues or mix up new shades entirely, just use the same color principles you would when painting: red blue = purple, yellow red = orange, etc. Even if your stash isn’t made up of primary colors, this helps you gauge which shades you may be left with, and you’d be surprised at how many possibilities there are.
How often do you rock red lips? Have a favorite shade? Leave it below!
<3 Mish
