I see you, proudly toting a bright-red Marc Jacobs tote or flirtatiously teetering and tottering in 6-inch patent red heels. Yet, you have the audacity to sport lips only shameful in their nakedness, their nudity—their inglorious state of undress. No gloss, no balm, no COLOR. In case you have forgotten (by fault of memory or lack of caring) that it is my proud duty to inform your cosmetic decisions, to shape your style and beauty perspective, to make you pretty…I am back to impart to you, collegiette, that it is not OK to embrace the vibrancy and ferocity of red in all aspects of your life—wardrobe, décor, email font—save your makeup bag/drawer/counter.
With the recent return of red on the runway and with your obvious longing to snag a cute boy, there is no reason for your shamefully naked lips to not become shamelessly R-E-D.
Before I guide you (see Guide on pages 2 and 3), collegiette, on a customized course that will lead you to the shade of red that is best for you—your skin tone, your day, night, textural and cost preferences—let me say that not only are red lips a hot trend this spring, men have found them hot since—the dawn of time!
Also, we are at a university, which is why I feel so inclined to make an academic appeal. Recently, scientists at Manchester University of the UK have found that it takes all of 10 seconds for a man to be drawn in by your kisser. More importantly and as it pertains to my point, men were most attracted to women whose lips were—gee, which color could it possibly be—red. Should you need further corroboration, head of the investigation, Doctor (yum) Geoff Beattie, said “The practice dates back as far as the Ancient Egyptians, who used red lipstick and rouge to enhance their attractiveness.” In my mind, ancient Egypt coincides with the dawn of time…give or take a lot of years… “Our research suggests that red lips and perceived attractiveness are still inextricably linked, with red lipstick being the most powerful attractor, and one that significantly increases visual fixation.” Basically, if you want to keep that feller’s peepers on you, opt for big, bold red.
Your coloring has to complement its coloring
collegiette, in red you must take into consideration the fact that no two reds are alike just as no two collegiette™s are alike.
For collegiettes who have lighter skin tones consider a more coral or orange-based red like Maybelline’s Color Sensational Lipstick in Sweet Nectar, which costs far less than your Marc Jacobs tote or your patent heels at $5.54 or if you want color and SPF, YSL’s (Yves Saint Laurent for the forgetful and uncaring) Rouge Volupté in No. 16 at $34.
For collegiettes who have medium skin tones consider a true red or a cranberry shade like Cover Girl’s Lip Perfection in Hot at $7.99 or Tom Ford’s Private Blend Lip Colour in Cherry Lush at $45 which can be seen in the title image.
For collegiettes who have darker skin tones consider deeper, richer burgundy reds or warm bricks like L’Oréal’s Paris Colour Riche Lipcolour in Red Rhapsody at $9 or a lipstick with gold flecks (!!) like Elizabeth Arden’s Color Intrigue Effects Lipstick in Ruby Pearl at $20.
Day and Night
Now given that red is such a vibrant and mannetic color, I suggest you use it in moderation and with a light hand, collegiette. During the day you can use a gloss or a balm, maybe even a stain—if a lipstick is a crayon or paint then this is the watercolor or marker equivalent—so as to avoid the drama and power that a lipstick can provide. And naturally, you can use a lipstick or a stain at night so as to finally embrace the drama and power a richer texture and deeper intensity provide.
Reddy to Go
I hope I have successfully shown you how seductive red lipcolor can be. Not only can it brighten a dull day or add “WOW!” to a plain, colorless outfit, it can also make a charming suitor out of an unsuspecting Prince. Also, did I mention that certain reds, those with blue undertones, make your teeth look whiter? Thus, it is my final hope that at some point in your collegiette career you try out a red gloss or lipstick because I would really like to think that my extensive Google image searches (Plural!) were not in vain.
Fondly,
Aminah, fellow collegiette™ and devoted style/beauty advisor
Sources: Google Images• Bella Sugar • Glamour • Refinery 29
Originally Posted April 20, 2011