Style

July 12

Make-Up Tips & Tricks: Finding Your Perfect Shade of Red

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I love wearing red lipstick, probably inspired by my grandmother who rarely leaves the house without her lipstick on, usually in some variation of red! With fall drawing near, it’s my favorite time to seek-out new shades of red lipstick. But with so many shades out there, it can be difficult to find the one that’s right for you. My tip? Seek-out a shade that compliments your natural skin tone and undertones. Best way to do this? Actually go to a brick and mortar beauty store like Sephora, or Nordstrom and test colors in person. Once you’ve narrowed down your selection, ask a makeup consultant to give you a test stick and scrape a tiny amount of lipstick from the tester (at the base, not the top) and try the color on. Some red shades actually change color once they’ve been applied to the lips (I’ve heard from many women who have actually experienced this and I have as well). Here are some suggestions to help guide you:

Fair – Look for a red that has pink or blue undertones like raspberry-red to add vibrance to your skin tone. Try bareMinerals Alpha or Laura Mercier Audrey.

Light (yellow based) – Look for an orange-based red to brighten your skin tone. Try NARS Heat Wave or Bobbi Brown Sunset Orange.

Medium – When tan, opt for an orange-based red, like coral, brick or rust to make your complexion glow. Try bareMinerals Warm Coral Red. When staying out of the sun, opt for a blue-based red like a cherry shade to add warmth. Try NARS Jungle Red or MAC Ruby Woo.

Dark – Look for a blue-based red in plum or merlot, or even an orange-based deep red to add depth and a radiant glow. Try Bobbi Brown Your Majesty or Chanel Carmen.

Of course, a “true” red with no undertones will look good on anyone, but is hard to find! My favorites? bareMinerals Srsly Red or Bobbi Brown Simply Red.

 

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