Red lipstick. It’s empowering. It’s strong. It is sexy. And the experts say that there is a red lipstick for everywoman. Beauty experts also say that every older women can wear a red lip too!
Red Lips for everywoman! When I was younger, I had the “Perfect Imprint”. Now that I’m older I have the “Liver Lips”. It’s not a good look for a red lip!
Um. That would be for every older woman except me!
Dita Von Teese. She will be able to wear red lipstick when she’s 90 and still look sexy. Red Lipstick on me WILL put the fear of God into people –but for different reasons!
When I was younger, I could wear red lipstick. It had to be a cool red and had to be a blue red. No fire engine red or warm reds because my skin tone was just too fair.
Then I aged. And the once bee-stung, full lips that received many compliments back in my single days, and were the lure for getting drinks bought for me, morphed into lips that I could admit were no longer my best feature.
Full lips are great when you are younger but with age, they get a bit fishy looking.
And despite the many red lipsticks that I’ve purchased, red lipstick, at this point in my life just does not work for me.
Is it upsetting? Yeah! I love a red lip! In fact, the most beautiful lipstick color of all time, in my opinion, is MAC’s Ruby Woo. I purchased it. It didn’t look good on my lips and it was upsetting to trash it. But it just wasn’t happening.
This photo doesn’t even give the proper justice to this beautiful red lipstick. It’s a beautiful cool red that is just the most incredible shade. Mac got it right with this one. Too bad I can’t wear it!
And what bothers me most is when I see articles about how to wear red lipstick when you are over a certain age. Or how to wear red lipstick when you are over a certain age.
To prove my point, I dug deep into the bowels of my many lipsticks and came up with a matte liquid lip color. “Passion” by Ulta brand. It’s actually a very pretty red. And since I have a snow day today, I decided to put it on.
A deeper red than photographed, this is a nice red and as an in-store brand is a good price..around ten dollars.
Timewise, it took longer to apply this lipstick than it did the rest of my makeup. I had to prep the lips by exfoliating. I had to carefully use a lip brush. I had to make sure all the little cracks in my mouth were filled in. I had to blot then reapply. I had to run after Chippy after he snatched the lipstick-blotted tissue that he ended up eating.
It took a good 15 minutes to get the lip color this even–and trust me, it still isn’t perfect!
And here’s the end result. It doesn’t look bad but….
In all honesty, I don’t like the way matte lip stick feels. It feels dry and waxy! The only reason I’m smiling is because if I don’t smile I’ll look like..
…Baby Jane. I FEEL like Baby Jane with the red lips!
I added a gloss to get rid of that waxy feeling that matte lipstick often gives.
Feels much better and the shine gives a brighter appearance. Don’t let the lighting fool you–this still was very red..
See–it looks a bit clownish. Bonaparte jumped off the ground with fright when he saw me like this!
See the far corner of my mouth to the left? The smear campaign has begun–and that’s less than ten minutes of wear!
….Bonaparte was very honest and agreed that red lips just were not my most flattering look.
I could stop traffic with these lips. Driver’s would think I was a red light!
Then I went out in the snow to take photos for an upcoming blog post.
I have absolutely no idea how that streak of red lipstick ended up on my cheek–or a bit on my chin. Or under my lip. Or on the side of my mouth. I think it should be called “slipstick”. It’s bleeding so bad that my lips need a tampon!
And the lipstick smeared. Big time fish and liver lips here.
I look like I got into a cat fight here. And the smear!! Ugh!
Sorry. But red lipstick is just too high-maintenance for me. I’m a bit lazy.
I was so happy to wipe it off.
I felt so much better after wiping the red off! Bonaparte was so happy that he gave me a kiss!
So I decided to head back upstairs and put on a more flattering color combo. I went a bit corally pink.
You know how I love to pile on a few colors at a time–don’t you? This combination of (front to back), Lipstick Queen’s “Saint Fire Red”; Flower’s “Lovely Lotus” (which I need to say, I purchased this when Oona was living in Arkansas. I got it at the ONLY Walmart I was ever in that sold Flower brand. I LOVE this lipgloss), and Mally’s “Must Have Pink”. The result was a nice coral pink.
OK. I was a bit sloppy with the application. Don’t judge. I did this to show how a more flattering lip color than red!
Then I went with my most comfortable lip color—neutral pink.
The pinks. Left to right. Revolution Lip Amplification in a color that wore off so I can’t tell you what it is; NYX gloss in “Salsa” and Sephora “Moon and Back” 17.
I feel so much better now!
Wait. There’s more!
I went a bit more neutral with iT cosmetics Lip Vitality Flush in “Je Ne Sais Quoi” and iT gloss in “Love”–two all time faves.
And to finish it all off, I wiped some color off and went with…
A one euro beeswax lip balm I picked up at CityPharma in Paris. I should have bought 10 of these! This balm by Laino is the bomb!!! Can you notice that I’m holding it quite steady with my fang? Yeah. I have a fang. I’ve been asked if I want it filed down. Never! It’s part of my imperfection! I love my fang almost as much as I love my crossed eyes!
Ladies-it basically comes down to this–wear the lip color you are most comfortable in and feel the best in. I can wear a neutral pink and still feel strong, empowering and, sometimes, a tad sexy.
I will stick to my red bag, my red shoes, my red sweaters, all my plaids with red, my red watchband my red…….
Red clothing and accessories work better for me!
Yes. Red is a great color—but for the lips, it really isn’t for everybody! Do you agree? Are you able to carry that red lip off at an older age? If you are—wear that red well!!!!
Simply Red! Remember that group? Remember that great song “Holding Back the Years”? Here it is!!! Enjoy your day!!
