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How to wear red lips, according to top makeup artists
Wearing red lipstick is often seen as a power move. It’s something women put on to make a statement, be seen, and feel badass.
But there are women who are still apprehensive about getting onboard the red lipstick trend. To be fair, red lipstick can be tricky to wear. It’s prone to feathering, staining the teeth, and is quick to transfer.
A lot of them feel they can’t “carry” the color — which is so not true.
Makeup artist Cherry Pacheco points out that people may be more open to wearing bolder lip colors now, but they would rather go for deep brown, plum, fuchsia, or brick, than red.
“Younger Pinays tend to shy away from red lipstick. I think because they associate it with older people,” she explains.
But really, anyone can work a red lipstick. You just have to find the hue that works for you.
Cherry says the best way to do that is by trying the lippie out, “Just like with a red garment, you need to try it on to see if it's the right shade of red for you.”
Use your skin tone as a guide, she advises. “Lipstick color can be affected by a few factors, like your skin tone (whether you have yellow, pink, or olive tones, etc), skin shade, and the natural color of your lips. This mean [the same] lipstick can look different on different people.”
Celebrity makeup artist Jigs Mayuga meanwhile recommends warmer reds — with hints of orange — for warmer skin tones.
Blue-based reds are best for people with cooler skin tones, while he suggests people with medium to olive skin tones to go for berry reds.
People with deeper skin tones, he says, should go for purple-based reds.
But at the end of the day, Cherry still believes it should come down to how the lipstick makes you feel. “If [it] makes you feel and look good, go for it!” she says.
And you don’t need a big event or a special reason to whip out your favorite tube of red lipstick.
According to Jigs, “Red can be a perfect everyday lipstick, especially if you don’t have time to do the rest of your face.”
Says Cherry, “It is such a classic color, [you can] use red lipstick to brighten a dull or simple outfit, make a statement, or brighten the face.”
For her, bright reds are best during the day, while deeper shades of red are reserved at night.
She says red lipstick really goes well with neutral-colored OOTDs — black, white, beige, browns, and grays — but not so much with pastels, like mint green, lemon yellow, baby pink, and powder blue.
Jigs also cautions against wearing it when you already have dramatic eye makeup on, or when it’s inappropriate for the occasion—say, at a funeral or something equally solemn.
That said, Cherry reminds us, “Balance is key: [It’s] either light eyes with strong lips or smokey eyes with light lips.”
Whether you’re looking for a quick upgrade to your everyday makeup look or you want to go full-on glam, a trusty tube of red lipstick in a shade that works for you is all you need. So take these expert tips and recommendations from two of the country’s top makeup professionals the next time you make your way to the makeup counter, and maybe try out a red lipstick or two. — LA, GMA News
