RED

Red is the new black! Believe it, and not just because it’s the holiday season, but because it makes us all look good. There is a red shade for everyone, and I am here to tell you which one is the one for you.
Red was worn by our ancestors, and iconic woman in Hollywood. Every good, powerful, beautiful woman wore red in her time. Marilyn Monroe wore red as a symbol of sex appeal and structure. Now in present day Christina Aguilera wears red in that same blond-fair-red liped look. Pin-ups were known for their sex appeal and seductive natures, and even they wore red lips as part of their look.

Marilyn Monroe

Even ask Mimi! of la-Mimi.com she has an awesome blog about it!

One of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to makeup is that red lipstick cannot be worn by every woman. Ugh! It really saddens me to hear women proclaim that red lipstick is just not for them, well at least not in this lifetime. The truth ladies,  is that any woman can pull off red lipsticks as long as she wears the right shade of red and believe me there is a perfect shade for every single one of us. 
Now you might be thinking:
This is just way too complicated and how do I find the right shade of red that’s just perfect for me? 

The answer to that is pretty easy: just look in the mirror and examine your skin tone as well as the shape of your lips.
If you have thinner lips then the lighter shades of red will flatter your complexion and in contrast opt for darker shades of red if you have fuller lips. Next step is to look at your skin tone. The easiest way to remember this is: “the darker your skin tone, the darker red you want to use.”
 However, if we go into details then generally paler skin tones look better in Pink tones of red, Berry reds and plum tones.  Darker skin tones such as olive skin tone and darker look better in Orangey reds, brown based reds and golden reds.
What you ultimately want to achieve is a harmonious look that compliments your beauty and doesn’t scream RED LIPS. Therefore, I advise you to experiment with colors, until you find one that is just ideal for you. 
One of my readers, Leyla has asked me to write on this topic, because to this day she hasn’t been able to discover that perfect shade of red lipstick, so she was hopelessly convinced that red is just not for her. Darling, I hope this article has been helpful to you and my other readers and you are ready to treat your lips to some sexy red hues.  

Heres 3 different skin tones and 3 different red looks

When you ask a beauty columnist they always say when you wear red lips go light on the eyes and cheeks.. like this about.com aritcle

Rule No. 1: The secret lies in the rest of your face

The paler the skin, the bigger the pop. Go light on the eyes and the blush, otherwise you’ll risk looking like a clown (Cameron Diaz made this fatal mistake at the 2007 Golden Globes). Skip eyeliner and go only for mascara (black for brunettes, brown for blondes and redheads), making sure to apply to bottom lashes (it opens up your eyes). Dust face with powder and cheeks with a soft blush. 

I tend to disagree somewhat with that this article says. I agree to pair a nice set of red lips with a simple face, however, I believe in a little different system of the eyes.
Michelle’s tip Step 1: Eyes- Keep it simple! Do a nude base and a darker nude in the crease to create some definition. Then add a liquid black eyeliner and line from the outer edge of the cornea to the end of the lash line (so basically you are lining almost all of your eye just not the inside) this will give that pin-up look on the eyes. Don’t skimp on the mascara either! The blackest black mascara is the most dramatic for this look.

Rule No. 2: Line inside of lips

Red lipstick tends to bleed, so fill in lips with lip liner first, suggests makeup artist Ashunta Sheriff in Harper’s Bazaar. 

Rule No. 3: Pick the right color

If your complexion is pink, you’ll look better in plum shades, while girls with yellow tones are flattered by warmer reds that have a brown base, according to celebrity makeup artist Jemma Kidd in Harper’s. 

Rule No. 4: Don’t let nails clash

We prefer non-red nail polish when you’re going red on the lips. A clear polish or light color is cool, and dark polish is a trend that shows no sign of going away anytime soon. If you want to go red on the nails, make sure the color matches your lips. 

I tend to disagree with this one as well. I don’t think that nail polish color is really dully noted these days with all the dark colors out there. But, with a beautiful red lip and some nude pin-up eyes an american french manicure is always going to look perfect.

Rule No. 5: Blending is in

Few makeup artists stick to one shade of any lipstick, they tend to blend a few to create the perfect colors. If you’ve bought a red lipstick shade that’s too bright, dark or whatever, don’t throw it away. Instead, experiment with other lipstick shades you have on hand to create the perfect shade of red. 

Check out pages and pages of red lipstick from high-end brands like Chanel to the good-but-cheaper brands such as Revlon and Cover Girl (I am partial to M.A.C.). 

Rule No. 6: Choose lighter shades if you are older

Our lips thin as we age and dark lips can accentuate them. To keep lips from looking too severe, try a rosy red or avoid red lips altogether and opt for a neutral shade, playing up your eyes instead.
Russian Red by M.A.C. is a favorite of Von Teese’s and just so happens to be the red lipstick Madonna wore in the 90s when she did her Blonde Ambition tour. It’s a rich, matte color that will stay on your lips for hours longer than creamy lipsticks. She talked about it on SFGate.com in 2007 (read the interview): “I wear the lipstick on my non-red-lipstick days, or when I want to be incognito at yoga class.”
M.A.C.’s Ruby Woo is another favorite. You can still get it online or at M.A.C. stores. Like Russian Red, this matte lipstick will stay on your lips for hours. To keep it from getting too dry, apply gloss over it.
Guerlain’s KissKiss Exces de Rouge is pricier, but is a perfect red for women with pale skin and pink undertones.

Penelope Cruz

Michelle’s tip of the week… I encourage you to try a to find a red that compliments your skin tone and lips. If you are fair complected try to work with a gloss first. then work up to the matte lipstick colors. The gloss will take less time to adjust to and won’t be too harsh for the first time user.
Anyone a Dita Von Teese fan? Here’s some helpful hints from Dita the diva that I found on the world wide web!

Russian Red by M.A.C. is a favorite of Von Teese’s and just so happens to be the red lipstick Madonna wore in the 90s when she did her Blonde Ambition tour. It’s a rich, matte color that will stay on your lips for hours longer than creamy lipsticks. She talked about it on SFGate.com in 2007 (read the interview): “I wear the lipstick on my non-red-lipstick days, or when I want to be incognito at yoga class.”
M.A.C.’s Ruby Woo is another favorite. You can still get it online or at M.A.C. stores. Like Russian Red, this matte lipstick will stay on your lips for hours. To keep it from getting too dry, apply gloss over it.
Guerlain’s KissKiss Exces de Rouge is pricier, but is a perfect red for women with pale skin and pink undertones.

To get the look of all your fave celebs go here https://cart.juliehewett.net/ and check  out the amazing red  shades they have to offer! Go ladies!! Give in to the power of RED! I’ll be here when you get back if you have any questions!
-Michelle Resendiz