You want red lips. Or do you?

Red lipstick is the hardest thing to describe to someone. What you think of as red is not necessarily red to your bff (cause let's face it, that's who you're with when you're shopping for lipstick).

Do you really want red? Or are you really wanting a wine, or a hot pink, or just a gloss? So let's talk about the options...

First, I haven't really been a red lipstick wearer in the past. I usually gravitated towards a nude, or pink lip, cause I tend to go really dramatic on the eyes. But lately, I have been loving reds!

Reds can be classified as a "true red" (which is really just neutral), "blue red" (which tends to look pink/purple when placed next to a warmer color), and "orange red" (which is kinda obvious... it tends to verge on the edge of coral).

Time for some pictures!

These are the reds that I am going to talk about, starting from left to right.

Red Number 1: Cherry on Top Creamy Lipstick by Merle Norman. This lipstick formula is excellent. It is creamy (duh), so it doesn't settle into the creases of the lip, and it lasts for pretty much all day.

*SIDE NOTE* Lipstick doesn't have a set time for how long it is supposed to stay on. We will naturally "talk/eat" it off all day. It will transfer to straws, your food when you're taking bites, napkins, etc. Smaller lips will need to reapply more often than larger lips. (Basically, Reese Witherspoon will have to reapply her lipstick 3 times as often as Angelina Jolie.)

Cherry on Top is an orange-red, but barely. It is just a little more orange than most.

Cherry on Top, after a full day of work

Red Number 2: MAC Red by MAC. This color looks like a true red in the tube, but is a very blue red. (See the picture up there? It looks fuchsia!) MAC Red is a Satin finish. It is creamy going on, and also has staying power. On me, it looks semi-matte.

MAC Red

Red Number 3: Popsicle Red Lip Glaze by Merle Norman. This red is more of a gloss. It is very sheer, and has a bit of a gold fleck to it. Popsicle Red is very pretty when you are wanting color, but not a lot of pigment.

(I would have a picture here, but since I wore red lips today that were heavily pigmented, you wouldn't get the true sense of the color. There will be another color swatch further down. Otherwise, I'm sure it will pop up in another entry sometime.)

Red Number 4: Hussy Creamy Lip Color by Merle Norman

Red Number 5: Hussy Lip Glaze by Merle Norman

Red Number 6: Hussy Lip Polish by Merle Norman

Merle Norman did something genius. They came up with a lip color, and put it in every formula lip product that they have. The color in the tube looks the same. Going on? Totally different color each time. 

Hussy Collection

The products that I used (from left to right): #2 (Lip Glaze), #3 (Creamy Lip Color), #4 (Lip Polish).

Hussy is a true red, regardless of formula. I have worn Hussy with both cool and warm color clothing. It is a bold color, so I would definitely stick with very neutral eyes, and not a lot of pattern in the clothing, so as not to compete. 

Lip Glaze: Essentially gloss in a tube. If you layer it, you will get more of a color payoff.

Lip Polish: HIGHLY PIGMENTED lip gloss. It finishes to a very wet look. 

Hussy, Creamy Lip Color

Hussy, Lip Glaze

Hussy, Lip Polish

Red Number 7: Heartthrob Age Defying Lip Color by Merle Norman. This lipstick is not as creamy as the others. It does not give a glossy shine. However, it does not feather out, and it stays on pretty well. It is more of a "brown red" in that it is more burgundy/wine than anything else.

Heartthrob

Quick Tip: The best gloss on top of a red? A sheer gold. It doesn't change the color of the red, but rather enhances it. Clear will dilute your color.

Top to bottom: Cherry on Top, MAC Red, Popsicle Red

Top to bottom: Hussy in Creamy Lip Color, Lip Glaze, Lip Polish

Heartthrob

Pucker up!

Lips. Everyone has them. Lipstick is a fun color to play with, and similar to eyeshadow, everyone can wear every color -- it's a matter of finding the correct shade for your skin.

First things first: the tools.

Lip Liner:  Used to (obviously) line the lips. Liner comes in pencil form only, either sharpen or roll up. Lip liner is designed to keep the lipstick/gloss from feathering outward. Lip liner should be kept as close to the shade of lipstick/gloss that you are using, so a good rule of thumb is to have a warm, cool and neutral color of lip liner to get your color wardrobe started. Once you get the hang of it, feel free to have liner to match each shade of lip product you own!

Lip stick: This should be obvious. It's in a tube. Been around for a while. Lipstick will give the most color payoff.

Lip gloss: Gloss tends to be in a tube that applies with a doe foot (looks like a q-tip) or with a brush at the end. Gloss is sheer, and does not provide a lot of color, but does provide a nice shine.


Many makeup brands are starting to come out with all kinds of other kinds of lip products -- stain, glaze, etc. While they are nice, they're just fancy names for the 3 basics.

Ok, now that we know what to use, let's talk about how to use it.

Lip liner should not be obvious. Liner can be used to correct lip shapes that are not even, but is mainly there to keep your lip color from feathering out. Liner should be a natural color, or (even better) as close to the lip color you're wearing.

Quick Tip! Use liner all over to maintain your lip color longer.


To create the illusion of bigger lips, use gloss on top of your lip color, but mostly in the center of your mouth.



Try to use lip colors that work with the other colors you're wearing -- if you wear warm colors in your makeup/clothes, use a warmer lipstick (warm = brown, red, olives, oranges, etc). If you're a cooler person, use a cooler lipstick (cool = blue, purple, pink).

The best rule to keep in mind: when in doubt, ask your best friend. If they look at you like you've lost your mind, probably not the color for you.

SOME PLACES TO TRY BEFORE YOU BUY

Merle Norman

MAC

Clinique

Mary Kay

Bobbi Brown

Many drugstores will allow you to bring back a lip product after you have used it (and changed your mind). Check your store's return policy to be sure.