Find YOUR perfect Red Lipstick

Red lipstick is a classic look that has truly stood the test of time.  It can add instant glamour to your look and really makes a statement!  What better day to show your red lipstick than Valentine’s Day?

Though it is a classic look, many people avoid red lipstick as they aren’t sure what shade is right for them.  Since it is such a bold statement, you want to be sure it complements your skin tone so that you draw attention for the right reasons.

Before you can choose your lipstick, you must first know how to determine your undertones.  This is easy to figure out by answering a few questions about yourself:

• Can you see an obvious yellow tone in your skin or a rosy or blue tone?   If you’re out in the sun for quite awhile and forget your SPF, do you tend to tan or burn easily?  In sunlight, look at the veins on the inside of your arm – do they appear bluish purple, bluish green or yellow/olive?
• In eye shadow and clothing:  do you feel you look better in earth tones (olive, orange, brown) and warm metallics (gold, bronze, copper)?  Or better in jewel tones (royal blue, emerald green, purple) and cooler metallics/neutrals (silver, white, gray)?

If you see a yellow tone to your skin, you tan easily, your veins have an olive or yellow tone, and you feel you look best in warm, earth tones, then you have a yellow, golden or peach undertone.

If you see a blue or rosy tone to your skin, you tend to sunburn, your veins appear blue or purple, and you feel you look better in cool, jewel tones, then you have a pink, red or blue undertone.

Some of us are lucky enough to have a neutral undertone, meaning you look fabulous in every shade!  And there are always exceptions to these "rules."  For instance, I have a rosy tone, can sunburn easily, and I look best in jewel tones (blue undertone), but my veins appear blue-green (neutral undertone), and I lean more towards warm metallic eye shadows and gold jewelry (yellow undertone). 

Yellow undertones are most common, whereas darker, more pigmented skin tends to have either yellow undertones (lighter skin) or red undertones (darker skin), so being fair or tan doesn’t necessarily make you one undertone versus another.  So you can follow this guidance, but ultimately, trust what you see.  If it doesn’t help you look or feel your best – don’t wear it!

From the list below, find your skin tone with your best red shade, and a celebrity inspiration:

Peach, Golden, Yellow Undertones:  Choose an Orange or Brown-Based Red Lipstick

• Fair, Beige – both tones look flawless with a warm, deep red - gloLip Stick Cabaret – Keri Russell, Lauren Conrad
• Golden – bold coral toned red - glogloss Poppy or gloRoyal Lip Crayon Countess Coral – Angelina Jolie
• Bronze, Olive – can wear a variety of shades, pops with a coral or tomato toned red - gloSheer Lipstick Bali – Jessica Alba
• Cocoa, Caramel  – a warm orange toned red - gloLip Stick Siren – Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson

Pink, Red, Blue Undertones:  Choose a Blue or Pink-Based Red Lipstick

• Porcelain – plum or berry toned red - glo Perfect Lip Duo Royal – Emma Stone
• Fair – cool, vibrant red – gloSheer LipStick Jamaica – Reese Witherspoon
• Beige Rosy – berry toned red complements your pink undertones - gloLip Stick Aubergine – Megan Fox
• Beige Tan – cool, true red - gloLip Stick Vixen – Blake Lively
• Cocoa –works with a warm red, but looks best with a cool, blue based red - gloLip Stick Vixen – Sanaa Lathan
• Dark – deep, wine toned red - gloLiquid Lips Sultry or gloRoyal Lip Crayon Regal Ruby for this look - Iman

As you can see, many of the recommended shades overlap with one another.  The rule of thumb:  If you have an undertone in the yellow family, try an orange or brown-based red lipstick.  If you’re more of a blue undertone, try a blue-based or true red lipstick.  If you stick with a shade that complements your skin tone, you’ll get the best results!

Still not sure what red lipstick is for you?  Let us know, we’re always here to help!

Happy Valentine’s day!  Until next time… stay tuned and stay beautiful!