Is is okay if I live in red lipstick this month?
It is? Well then that's splendid, because I already used up many a red lipstick day and feel many more will arrive in my near future!
One of my first red lipstick days this holiday season came when my family and I went to a Christmas tree farm. I love going to the Christmas tree farm, a place which actually grows Christmas cheer! I thought that I'd dress up for the occasion, and since I live in the South, a place that doesn't know the definition of the word "winter," I decided to sport some holiday cheer by donning some red lipstick paired with a simple knit dress and vintage accents. And I topped it all off with a hat!
Many people I know fear the power of the red lipstick. In fact, many women live their whole lives under the impression that they can't pull it off. It feels too bold. It could easily go wrong. They can't find the right color.
Let me give you some encouragement:
YOU CAN WEAR RED LIPSTICK.
It's not that hard. It doesn't look too harsh when styled correctly. And you can find a good shade for your face, even as you search for the elusive perfect shade.
I don't pretend to be the expert of red lipstick, as I've only worn it for a couple of years and seem to have trouble actually spending money on makeup, but I do have five little tips that will help you to pull off the look effortlessly!
Red Lipstick Tip #1: Be Confident
I really believe that the most attractive thing about red lipstick is the confidence boost it gives a girl. Somehow the bold color emboldens us to walk with a bit more spring and smile with a bit more gusto. So even if everything else goes wrong with your red lipstick, wear it with confidence and most people won't even know!
Red Lipstick Tip #2: Find a Good Shade
Notice that I didn't say "Find the perfect shade." That's not possible for the normal human being. But finding a shade of red that compliments your skintone and eyes can make wearing red lipstick much more fun! So far, I haven't found a shade that I don't like on my skintone, but I tend to go for a shade somewhere in the middle between an orange shade and a pink shade.
I combined two colors for these photos:
Rimmel London Kate Moss in 001. I love this shade because it is not too orange or pink but a poppy red. I goes on smoothly and smells like roses!
Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella. This color is darker and deeper. Although I love the color, I'm not sold on the matte consistency, which dries up eventually. That said, it does last a long time.
I also just received Bite's Mix and Mingle Lipstick in Pomegranate/Polimino. I haven't worn the pink shade yet, but I love the red! It is much more pink than my other red lipsticks and very creamy! In fact, my lips feel like I just applied lip balm, and I haven't reapplied for about three hours!
My favorite makeup artist, Lisa Eldridge, made a video solely on red lipstick that is very informative and helpful for both find the the right shade and applying the lipstick.
Red Lipstick Tip #3: Pair it with Simple Eyes and Face
Just because we put on red lipstick doesn't mean that the rest of our face needs to don loads of dramatic makeup! I find that the simple route is oftentimes best. One way to pair red lipstick is the do a simple eye, a dramatic eyebrow, and just a hint of cheek definition, as shown in these pictures. I believe that filling in your brows balances out the red lipstick splendidly because it creates a structure to your face while not drawing attention away from your red lip!
This is not to say that we can't pair red lipstick with more dramatic makeup looks, and I plan on doing a golden smokey eye with a red lip sometime soon. But do not feel that because you want to wear red lipstick that you must apply a lot of other makeup.
When wearing red lipstick, I do want to say that you should also wear foundation. The red of the lip can make your face appear more flushed and pink, so you want to create a smooth backdrop to your festive lipstick!
Red Lipstick Tip #4: Be Careful
I know that I spent this whole post debunking fears of red lipstick, but I do want to offer a friendly warning. Check your lips periodically when wearing red lipstick, especially when eating. I once forgot about my beautiful lipstick when I ate an apple straight from the fruit, and let's just say that didn't end well. The lipstick smeared onto my chin and made a mess everywhere! So pull out your phone or ask a trusted friend when wearing red lipstick and eating at the same time!
This page contains tips on how to apply red lipstick and make it last. I haven't followed every rule, but I do like to conceal my lips in nude beforehand, and the finishing powder also seems to work!
Red Lipstick Tip #5: Keep Exploring
The most exciting thing about red lipstick is that you can wear it in so many different shades and in so many different ways! I don't pretend to know everything about applying and wearing red lipstick, and that is just the point! I have so much fun wearing the bold color even though I don't know everything and haven't watched twenty YouTube videos about it. And if I can do it, I know that you can too!
So embrace the holiday season this year with a little bit of red lipstick! Be fearless, be fabulous, and be fun!
Much love and holiday joy (with more Christmas posts coming soon),
Princess Hannah
Hannah, you are the absolute cutest!! I love these photos so much.
ReplyDeleteYour tips are really helpful! I've never been brave enough to wear red lipstick aside from theatre-related activities, just because it's kind of freaked me out haha. But I just might have to try it sometime this holiday season!!
You should totally try it! Just have fun with it!
Deletehey hannah the lipstick makes u look older and it looks nice
DeleteI couldn't agree more with everything you said about Res lipstick! I am the biggest fan or Rimmel London lipsticks so I am going to have to try this color:)
ReplyDelete-Madison
www.1minniemuse.blogspot.com
Thank you! And Rimmel London lipsticks are so creamy and sweet smelling! I have another one in pink that I love. Which colors do you have?
DeleteYou are SO MUCH like my seester! She loves wearing red lipstick and dressing up fancy and all that stuff. I do not like that stuff so much. She has tried to get me to wear lipstick on multiple occasions but I have resisted every time. :) I feel proud because she can be quite persistent! Anywho, yes, it is uncanny how similar you two are. I thought that the very first time I visited your blog! I probably told you that too, but I'm not sure. Her blog is http://shirleyesque.blogspot.com/, by the way. She doesn't post that often, but you still might be able to get a glimpse of her personality. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are perhaps more like my younger sister, who is also names Rebecca!! So funny! And I looked at her blog and think that we do have a lot in common. I even chose that blog template for my old blog!
DeleteI LOVE THIS! Im obsessed with red lipsticks. I seriously just love it so much. and so many people say to me "I wish I could pull that off." and like, really, anyone can. it just takes courage. its awesome. I love it.
ReplyDeleteplus you look stunning! I love the photos! keep rocking that lipstick girl!
Yeah!! Another red lip enthusiast! Keep representing the joy of red lipstick! And thank-you so much!
DeleteOH MY GOODNESS YES! I literally just tried on red lipstick last night and was like.. meh I don't think I can pull it off. Haha, this post came a t the perfect time! I am now inspired to keep exploring. ;) Thanks, Hannah!
ReplyDeletePS. YOU ARE ADORABLE ♥
You can totally pull it off! Maybe just try a different shade of red. Which lipstick did you use?
DeleteAnd thanks!
Adorable! I really like these tips and they are very helpful for someone like me who doesn't wear lipstick much.
ReplyDeleteNow's the time to start! I'm glad to be of assistance! Thanks for the comment!
DeleteGreat share! Even I have some awesome collection of branded lipstick online at Majorbrands.
ReplyDeleteMost of the time I don’t make comments on websites, but I'd like to say that this article really forced me to do so. Really nice post!
ReplyDeleteCOOL GADGETS