Seeing Red: Turn up the heat with classic color
The look is timeless: a wash of sheer neutral color on the eyes with an elegant stroke of liquid liner for emphasis, paired with luscious candy-apple red lips. It’s a look that immediately evokes thoughts of sensuality, power, playfulness, and a woman who is balls-out brazen. Every woman has a tube of red lipstick, it’s as much of a staple on the pin-up as it is in the boardroom. The bombshell red lips have inspired writers, filmmakers and photographers. For the box office smash, Pearl Harbor, one area of focus during pre-production was the manufacturing of a lipstick that would look historically red on screen. The New York-based photographer/designer Michael Angelo is currently working on a photographic series inspired by Poppy King’s Red Sinner lipstick (available at www.lipstickqueen.com).
As part of one of this past holiday season’s hottest looks, there are two key points to wearing red lipstick that are essential for a successful application. First of all, take the time to find a red that suits you. That’s right, all reds are not the same. Without a full on lesson in color theory, there are reds that have an orange base, a blue base, even a purple base. And depending on your own natural lip color, these reds could leave you seeing coral, seeming Smurf-ish, or looking like you just step out of a meat locker.
A helpful hint for finding the right red for you is to ask the salesperson at your local cosmetics counter for a sample to take home and try in natural light. That’s the true test of how a color is going to look. If you’re serious about finding the perfect red, then don’t be embarrassed to pull out a cosmetic spatula and a plastic freezer bag to ensure that you get a take-home sample. Just remember to get a card from each counter and keep it with the sample, so you know where you found each color!
Second and lastly, it is imperative to prime and set! Be sure that your lips are exfoliated and moisturized.
Then applying either a cosmetic primer or by lightly powdering your lips, apply your liner.
The lip liner can alter the color of the lipstick so choose carefully. Then, apply a thin coat of the lipstick, with a lip brush ideally. Then apply another light dusting of translucent powder. Not enough to cake up, but just enough to set the color or make it appear matte in the mirror. Then, brush on another coat of red. This will keep your color longer and guarantee a beautiful saturated color!
Another helpful hint: keep the rest of it, your eye and cheek color, neutral and low-key. If you are going to wear red lips, then let the lips be the focus.
A heavily colored, dramatic eye will compete with the lips and make your features seem off balance.
As I mentioned, all reds are different and each cosmetic company has its own formula for its trademark red. You really have to do your legwork to find the right red for you, but when you do, it will have been worth the effort.
Be sure to visit several counters and look at as many colors as possible.
Be careful not to allow the salesperson to shove just any old lipstick your way. If you want red, buy red!