To me, nothing says retro glamour like a perfectly red pout. And thanks to Mad Men, Alice in Wonderland and recent runway trends, it looks like the really red lip is back with a vengeance! This classic look may seem simple and easy to do, but if executed wrong red lipstick can tank an otherwise flawless face fast. The wrong shade can make you look ashy, or give your teeth a yellow tone, and if applied incorrectly you may just find yourself looking less Joan Holloway and more Bozo the Clown.
Red Lipstick Tips:
To figure out what red is right for YOU is to consider your skin tone first. If you are fair, burn easily, and find that you look best in silver jewelry like Nicole Kidman, then you have cool undertones. If you tan without burning and look great in gold jewelry like Jennifer Anniston, then you have warm undertones. When selecting your perfect shade of red you should look for one that complements the undertones in your skin.
Blue based reds look best on skin with cool undertones like mine. 
The easiest way to see the base of your lipstick is to swipe a swatch on your inner arm and then smear it a bit. If the red looks more pink when smeared it has a blue base and will complement your fair skin perfectly. Blue bases also make your teeth look whiter: bonus! If you have medium skin will yellow undertones, you can rock a true fire-engine red. This red will stay true and strong (wont look pink) when you smear it. Olive complexions do best in a blood or brick red, which will appear more orange when smeared on your inner arm.
3 Extra Tips
One way to dip your toe into this trend is with a red lip gloss or sheer lipstick formula.
If you want to go all night long without worrying about your look dab on a lip stain underneath your lipstick for extra staying power.
If you’re rocking a red lip, take it easy on the rest of your makeup. A simple neutral shadow, sheer wash of blush and mascara are sufficient. The focus should be on your beautiful, sophisticated lips.
What are your favorite red lipstick tricks? Have a favorite shade? Share in the comments!
Xoxo,
Miss T
Tags: beauty, cosmetics, How to apply makeup, lipstick, Makeup
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I’ll have to try the arm trick. I have found over the years that I have to buy reds that are very dark. A true red always seems neon on my face. Red glosses are a whole lot easier to manage, and I love Victoria Secret’s Beauty Rush lip gloss, and Juiced Berry is a really good shade. Clinique’s Black Honey looks reddish enough on me and is a gold standard.