Why am I scared to wear Red lipstick ?

[honeylou42]

I feel I need a dollop full of confidence pouring into me to start wearing red lippie. I'm fifty and love it on others, but scared to death to try myself without feeling stupid. Does anybody else feel like this ? How can I not care about it and feel fabulous

I don't like the way my lips look in lipstick. It doesn't look like my face/my lips and I just think my mouth looks small and mean. So I don't wear it! I don't subscribe to the idea that everyone suits it at all, but if it's just a confidence issue I say go for it. Ease yourself in.

its finding the right shade/tone that suits your complexion/doesn’t make your teeth look yellow; something that suits your skin type and isn’t going to be drying; does a traditional lipstick work for you or would a stain/oil be better, do you need a liner, etc.

there’s so many options these days, I think most people should be able to find something that works for them, but knowing where to start can be a bit daunting!

I’d suggest going somewhere that has a range of brands and ask one of the assistant to help you find a colour/brand that suits you.

I hate the way my face looks in lipstick. Would love the colour but I look horrid (thin lips, a bit wonky). Funny that I don’t care at all what I look like without it, but putting any on makes me feel awful.

You can try a nice sheer tint in red - gentle intro. Chanel do a lovely one (white case).

I've progressed from that to Lisa Eldridge's Velvet Ribbon and I love it.

I wear various shades of red lipstick every day. They're all blue hued ones. It's a lazy way of wearing makeup because you don't need to do your eyes, just a flick of mascara plus a bit of foundation.

I'm 53.

Love red lippy. Cheers me right up. I have warm colouring so mostly yellow/.orange reds or pinky reds but have occasionally used Ruby Woo (blue red)but with plenty of balm on top. I think my colouring is warm but neutralish.

It will be the shade of red rather the the lips imo. Go to a counter and ask for a colour match.

Try a tinted lip balm and then ease yourself in to full on red lipstick.

I agree. Red makes my teeth look whiter. It depends on the tone in the red. Blue tones make teeth whiter, orange tones and pjnks make them yellower ime.

Mac ruby woo or russian red doesn't bleed. I occasionally wear it in the winter to brighten things up. Will wear it on Christmas day if it hasn't dried up. I ought to check really.

Hmm. I'm not on board with this red lippy business. I read an article by Sali Hughes in which the world responded totally differently to her when she wore it so I went and bought some.

When I put it on my partner and child both burst out laughing 🤣

It's a bold blimmin move. I'd recommend getting comfortable with more natural, muted shades then working towards the red if it feels right. I like tinted lip balm in berry shades and that's what suits me. You don't have to hit fifty then wear a leopard print coat, colourful trainers, a cross body bag and a bold lip, whatever the beauty 'experts' say.

I agree with others that said you need to find the right shade - some reds are blue based and some more orange based and it makes all the difference depending on your skin tone.
also I find if I wear red lipstick then it’s better with less other make up - especially eyes (unless for a glam event!) so I usually don’t wear any eye make up and a basic blush & foundation with the red lippy

It's all about getting the right shade of red , blue reds don't suit me but I love and orange red MAC Lady Danger is my favourite and I avoided red lips for years until I realised it was the shade was the problem

Ooh yes LADY DANGER is THE colour to wear if you are warm. Its always mentioned in the colour/style forums.

Some warm pinks/reds are MAC crosswires, Estee Lauder Impassioned, YSL Pink Rhapsody, MAC Russian Red (?), Max Factor Bewitching Coral (love this), Max Factor Gypsy Red, Revlon Kiss Me Coral , Max Factor Pink Brandy.

Nivea lip balm is what you need when you're too scared to wear red, it's fabulous! Just enough but not too much.

I would say its less of a thing these days to wear Red or bold lippies. But I personally think with a pared down outfit it can be nice and classic. Or for going out out. Very French.

It's definitely one of those things where shade makes a difference.

Do you own any red clothes? Before I had my colours done I had NOTHING red in my wardrobe at all, now I probably have one of everything in my red (geranium orange based red or a bright poppy red). I have brown hair and it works well to lift boring brown 😂. I feel warm and cosy and cool in red.

It can be a really simple way of bringing confidence to a look - the right shade says assured femininity.

Ruby Woo was the worst offender for bleeding for me. I only wore it at home on Christmas Day. Couldn't trust wearing outside because it looked a mess after a few hours.

I find most deep colours very wearable if you put them on over lip balm. That way you get more of a transparent colour wash. 🙂 Then when you are used to the colour you can add more lipstick and less balm for a bolder look.

The balm for me also prevents bleeding. (In my 50s too.)

Not everyone can wear red lipstick. All 3 of my sisters look completely amazing with red lips. I on the other hand, look like an old hag. And it was ever thus, even in my 20s.

I’ve tried ALL the shades back when it was trendy, believing the nonsense that there is a red shade for everyone. Space MK, Sephora, Bobbi Brown and Mac staff have all admitted defeat. In fact, one of them ended up laughing!

Try one of the Revlon lip butters in a shade like cherry tart or red velvet OP. They are slightly less intense than a matt red, but a good way to ease into red. Feel lovely on too.

Or a Clinique chubby stick

I can’t wear eye makeup due to allergies, so I always wear lipstick at work, usually red. I recommend trying lip stain, blotting off the excess, then putting a balm over the top. If it wears off, it’s less of a mess than lipstick coming off, and can look more modern

Somehow I've always felt self conscious wearing red lipstick as well; it just doesn't feel like me.

Now that I've let my hair go grey, I think I need a bit of a lift of colour for my face, and while I haven't gone full-on red lippy, I use a more sheer wash of colour. My most recent is MAC Brick-O-La, so more of a brownish red.

Yea me too! I don't know why - my mum wouldn't leave the house without lipstick on. If I wear any it's just a shade or two darker than my own natural colour. I guess I feel it's too obvious or something.