How To: Wear Red Lipstick

I love red lipstick. Red lipstick makes a statement. It is not unlike a killer pair of stilettos in that it perfectly highlights hyperfeminity and sexuality. I once heard that people who wear red lipstick smile more. And, while I don’t know if that is true or not, I do know that wearing red lipstick does make you more aware of yourself and your response to others.

For instance, just do a search on “wearing red lipstick” and you will find a long list of people remarking on their relationship with their red lipstick. How it impacts their days, how it changes their mindsets, and how it makes them feel about themselves. Because, you see, red lipstick is the kind of thing with which you actually have a relationship. Women claim that it makes them stand up straighter, smile more, feel sexier, cause people to be friendly, etc. etc. Some even claim to garner more attention just for the wearing of it.

And, while I do believe that red lipstick can cause others to treat you differently, because nearly anything has that power, I believe that red lipstick has the power to make you feel differently about yourself. From the moment I slather mine on in the morning I feel “dressed.” I am hyper aware of myself. No matter what I am doing I instantly feel more glamorous. There is no denying that red lipstick is dead sexy. Imagine feeling sexy while doing the laundry! Red lipstick has the power to do this!

If you wear it every day, as I do, you become known for it. And. . .People like it. Red lipstick does garner attention, and you have to be willing to weather that in order to wear it. Confidence is key. And, you know, the odd thing is, when I am wearing my red lipstick, I feel more confident already! Red lippy dresses up any outfit. A t-shirt and jeans can somehow become more when you throw red lipstick into the mix.

I’ve spent a good deal of time finding the perfect red. Not too gothic appearing (I’m really pale), not too orange, not too magenta, not too brown. A perfect red is a lifetime quest, and one I am happy to undergo. Often when I reveal my color of choice to someone asking about my lip color they will say: “But, I just can’t wear red.” And, to that I must say: “Everyone can wear red, the key is finding the right red for you!” The key is to find a red with the right undertones for your skin color. I prefer dark wine colored reds and reds with bluish undertones because they look best against my pale skin. The best tip I can give is think about what color clothing looks best on you and look for a red with that same undertone. You are bound to find something in that particular red family that will look D-Vine on you.

Red lipstick requires a lot of maintenance and a certain degree of etiquette to ensure happy wear. I don’t like to wear lip liner with my red, because I talk a lot for my work and I don’t like that rimmed look that happens as the red wears away. But, I’ve heard of a lot of red wearers who swear by a good lip pencil. Incidentally, due to the fact I wear my red lipstick off so fast, I like long-lasting lipsticks. The only rub with long-lasting lipsticks is that you tend to want to re-apply before the color has fully worn off in an attempt to re-moisturize your lips. But, when you do this, you are actually applying another layer of color, and, in long-lasting lipsticks, this actually darkens the color. So, what begins as a nice red lipstick can end up looking very vampy. If vamp is what you are going for this is perfect, but if you were attempting to achieve something else you may want to be on alert when using long-lasting lipsticks. So, when I want to re-apply a long-lasting lipstick, I rub off the remaining color before I re-apply. Oddly enough, I’m not a huge fan of the semi-permanent lipsticks. They tend to dry-out lips, they don’t layer well with other lipsticks, if you don’t’ keep on gloss the color will actually chip off in a gross manner, and isn’t it just a little creepy that they require a strong cleanser just to fully come off. Additionally, if you miss-apply, you have to get out a make-up remover just to remedy the situation. I find the only time I am a fan of semi-permanent lip color is for an event wherein I know I won’t have an opportunity to check up on my lip color

Red lipstick rubs off on stuff; it is part of its nature. Long-lasting lipsticks prevent this to some extent, but not fully. If you’re going to wear red, you really, really, really must be aware of this. If you touch your lips you run the risk of smearing red across your face. You can also rub the lippy off onto your fingers and then stain the things you touch. And, when you hug people you have to remember to gently turn your head slightly so as to not bury the lipstick into their clothing. If you have a penchant for getting lipstick on your teeth, red can be particularly noticeable. It is best to always keep a small mirror in your bag or on your person when you red wear for touch-ups and clean-ups. Another must-have is a small box of tissues for clean-up and for removal. When dining-out red lipstick can be a bit of challenge. The lipstick can leave un-classy looking stains on the sides of wine glasses and cups. And, the last thing you want to do is wipe your lips off while dabbing way a yummy bit of food and in doing so permanently stain the napkin red. I like to keep a little packet of tissues in my bag for discreetly wiping away my lipstick before I begin dining.

I’ve got a long list of favorite brands and types of red lipstick. And, I’ve found the best way to wear a red is to blend to achieve the perfect tone. Often, I’ll lay on long-lasting lipstick under a more moisturizing red for a really rich glamorous look. My long-lasting lipstick favorites are Loreal Endless Lipstick in ‘Fired Up” and Revlon ColorStay Lipcolor in “Fabulous Fig.” Both of these are great formulas that aren’t too drying and really wear very well. Usually, I will put on one on these just perfectly, and then smear on a more basic red lip color (and rather than re-apply the long-lasting lipstick, I’ll just keep smearing on more basic red lip color as the day continues). One of my favorite basic lipsticks is MaxFactor Color Perfection in #295 Sepia. I’ve been wearing this color since high school, buy it in bulk, and quite literally have a tube stashed everywhere. My other favorite basic red lipsticks are: Origins Flower Fusion in ‘Poppy,’ and Bobbi Brown Lipcolor in ‘Burnt Red.’

You will rarely see me without my red lipstick. I like the way I see myself when I wear red lipstick. I feel more glamorous, femme, ladylike, vixenish, happier, charming, and more like me through the wearing of it. Bottom line, red lipstick is just amazing.

Other posts by MsHinterland

• Down and Dirty, Super Cheap, Easy and Fast to Make, Holiday Office Party Gift - December 17th, 2008
• Gifting Giving and Wonderful Handmade Goodness - December 4th, 2008
• How To: Make A Cupcake Pincushion From A Bottlecap - November 26th, 2008
• How To: Make Your Unearned Femme Privilege Work For You At The Hardware Store - November 24th, 2008
• Insecurity Is Ugly - November 10th, 2008

Tags: Ms. Hinterland, Reviews