Some people are addicts, some run for the hills. Which one are you?

No doubt about it, red lipstick is a statement. It’s been the shade of choice for so many iconic women: Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Madonna… to name a few! Even in the ‘old ages’, where the formulas were toxic, with ingredients like white lead, iodine and bromine, woman still wanted to wear it!

Red lipstick is such an iconic look it can be intimidating, I get it! HOWEVER the thing to remember is that how you wear it, why you wear it and the message you want to project is completely and entirely up to you!

Color Rules?

I genuinely feel there are no rules! If you love it, wear it girl! However, I understand, it can be a bit daunting picking a color and feeling confident in it — there are so many different reds out there! To try to work out which shade may suit you better, I would first consider undertone. There are reds with cool/blue undertones and red with warm undertones.

To figure which one is for you, think about what kind of jewelry you like to wear: gold or silver? If gold, you’re probably more drawn to warm reds, whereas if you tend to go for silver or white gold jewelry I would try out the cool reds. Find yourself liking both? You’re probably a neutral girl and can wear any red shade! Whoop!

This is just a rough guide line, something you could think about next time shopping for a shade. By no means stop wearing a lipstick that makes you feel powerful. The most important thing about red lipstick is how it makes you feel; if you love it, own it! .

Texture Thoughts

Select a texture that makes you want to wear it; else what’s the point of buying it?! Do you have dry lips? Matte formulas will make your lips look more dry however it will last longer and need less touching up throughout the day. Hydrating textures will feel more comfortable, but could bleed (move outside your lip line), I recommend a lipliner under these formulas.

Want a real statement look? Add a full red lipgloss over your lipstick. However, be careful of your hair catching and dragging a lovely red line across your face… the worst! Personally I wear my hair in a ponytail when using glosses to try to prevent this.

Application Tips

Start by rubbing away any dead flaky skin; after your shower with a wash cloth is perfect. Put on a lip balm after your skincare routine. Then do the rest of your makeup. Before applying the lipstick you want to remove any left over balm — removing it will help the lipstick formula really grab onto the lips and won’t dilute any of the pigment. Use a lip liner to sharpen the edges or a clean cotton bud around edges for a more defused look.

For exxtra staying power: apply red lip liner over the entirety of your lips before lipstick. It helps lock in the color and will wear down evenly when eating and drinking.

There you have it, go forth and wear red lipstick… I give you the green light!