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I’ve been following Zara’s adventures in red lippy over at Kiss and Make Up with interest. She’s getting to grips with wearing a variety of scarlet shades on a daily basis, and while most of us have gotten to grips with black winged liner at this point, red lipstick continues to confound gals up and down the country. It’s such a statement look that it’s easy to just not go there for fear of getting it wrong.
And while there isn’t a pillarbox shade out there to suit all, it is a fact that everyone can wear some variation on a red. Read on for our hints and tips.
WHAT COLOUR SUITS?
- If you’re the classic Irish cailin with dark hair and pale skin, you can try a rich, ruby red. Guerlain’s Kiss Kiss Lipstick in Exces Derouge would be only gorgeous.
- Pale-skinned blondes – like Gywnneth – can pull off that true-bluey red shade. Try YSL’s amazing new Rouge Volupte in Red Muse.
- If you’ve got a sallow skin tone, try a red with a good bit of brown in it – Bobbi Brown Lip Color in Red is ideal.
- Redheads with pale skin also suit browny-reds, but if you’re a redhead with a bit more colour in your cheeks, try a pinky shade on lips, like Estee Lauder’s All Day Lipstick in Rosewood.
- If you’ve a dark complexion you can carry bold shades really well – look for deep cranberry and plum shades. Shocking brights will work really well too. I like Lipstick Queen’s pigment-rich Sinner lipsticks in Plum Sinner and Red Sinner (from Space NK)
TIP: If you just hate the full coverage look of an opaque lipstick, try a red gloss. Chanel and Smashbox both do lovely bright scarlets with a hint of glitter.
WHAT DO I WEAR IT WITH?
Less is more in this case. Unless you want to look like you drunkenly fell into your makeup bag after a fight with Homer Simpson’s Makeup Gun, then step away from the heavy blush and overdone eyes. A lick of liner; a sweep of a pale gold or biscuit coloured shadow; mascara and a delicate blush are all you need to finish the look.
HOW DO I UPDATE IT FOR 2008?
Don’t use liner. This season’s lip is softer and less defined. Either apply straight from the bullet and then blot, or pat on with a finger – that’s been my preferred method so I don’t look too ‘jokerish’.
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Ooh I really want to try that YSL one – been looking for a good bluey-red for a while but they’re usually not in my budge (not that YSL will be, ha!)
La Roche Posay do a few nice reds – I usually wear a coral-y red one by them, I can’t remember the name but it’s fairly long wearing once you blot and reapply a few times. Plus it doesn’t feel heavy, it’s quite matt.
I use Viva Glam by MAC. It’s fantastic for staying power. A darker red with a slight pink tone is Diva, also by MAC. I have been stopped on the street on more than one occasion when wearing this and asked what it is. I rarely wear red to work though, I kind of feel they don’t deserve it, if that makes sense!
Don’t you need really white teeth to carry off red though. I’ve a red balm lippie (that I won here!!), often tried it, but never had the guts to wear it – such a chicken! Maybe this weekend though.
Oooh i’m dying to try this! I’m in the ginger hair – pale skin – rosy-red cheek club. So i’ll be checking out that Rosewood lippy for sure!
I’ve been looking at the new YSL Rouge Volupte lippie and the colours are fab!!
Will defo check out the red muse
Sweetie – I don’t have super-white teeth and wear red quite a lot, no bother!
Chanel do great reds
I have dark hair and pale skin and often wear a bright red matt-finish lipstick by Mac called Ruby Woo. It’s not for the faint at heart, but it is such good fun to wear!
Zee i wear that red absolutelt loves it
I find it works well when applied with a lipbrush too. Straight from the tube most reds look clownish on me, but when I apply with a brush, the colour actually sinks into my lips rather than sitting on top and it looks much better.
Zee i wear that red absolutely loves it
MAC Russian Red is fantabulous for a strong look.
i worry too much about my perfectly applied red bleeding and ending up looking like a complete loolah w smears across my face.. and whether it’s coming off in patches if i’m drinking.. so i haven’t ventured towards statement red for ages..
i had a great benefit one called ‘zero guilt’ but sure it hasn’t seen the light of day on the counter since they revamped their make up [which, imo, has to be the most boring range of 'colours' ever]
I have Ruby Woo too and it’s a bit too much for me, being pale and blue eyes. Never should have listened to airport lass.
I had this amazing Prescriptives pinky red lip gloss from Prescriptives that was perfect for me. Shade Lullaby. Heartbreak encues when they discontinued it. Cue buying a couple of them and I’m nearing the end of the last tube. . boo hoo
papillion – use their custom blend service to recreate it!
Thanks so much for the advice – used to wear red lipstick but lost my nerve somewhere along the way. Have wanted to get back into it, but have been a bit scared as to what shade would suit me.
I had always thought that being blonde with blue/green eyes I should go for a blue-red tone, which you seem to confirm, but in the past year a number of people have started, (Mary Greenwell, Space NK, Poppy King of Lipstick Queen fame) that blondes should wear orangey reds, which goes totally against everything I’ve read up to now, (and everything my own horrendous teenage experiments proved). Glad to hear that you’re suggesting the blue-red instead.
Ruby Woo is apparently what Dita von Teese uses. Camille O’Sullivan, (another lady fond of the red lippie) uses a Revlon one, can’t remember which.
A few weeks ago the new Beauty Editor of the Sunday Times Style magazine suggested a Dior red lipstick, which she claimed suits everyone. Anyone see the article and happen to remember the shade? The magazine was, as usual, deposited in the receycle bin before I had a chance to note down the particulars.
Firenze – I don’t think there are rules, these are just general guidelines as to what may suit a colouring type. But we’re all different and no one necesarily conforms to a set pattern. You might be a honey-skinned blonde and love – and suit – a burgundy. Experiment and see what you’re comfortable with. I’ve pale skin and black hair and regularly wear orangey reds as well as blue reds and burgundies.
Firenze – Best thing to do is to try lots of colours you like the look of and then buy the one (or more!) that you like the best!
I’m blonde with blue eyes and fair skin and plum colours (or anything with a blue undertone) really suit me.
Thanks for the link honey! I’m glad you like the feature.
you’re very welcome!
Have pillar box red hair and wear Chanel New York.
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