Can any one wear a red lip? The answer is YES! It just depends on the tone & the strength of the colour.
If you are warm toned in your skin you need to have a red that has an orange or coraly slant to its colour. If you are cool toned in your skin, you need a red that has a blue or pinky slant to it’s colour.
Sound simple? There is another aspect to take into consideration
as well.
Are you warm & light in your features or warm & dark in your features? You could also be cool & light, cool & soft or cool & bright. I’m talking in colour analysis terms now. Not only is your skin tone important but also your seasonal flow. This is where all your features (including the under
tone of your skin) is taken into consideration to calculate the most complimentary colours for your complexion. Obviously this translates into your makeup palette as well.
For example; someone who has cool tones to their skin BUT have light hair, eye colour & skin depth could be considered as a light summer (cool, muted & light). The best red lipstick colour for them would be a pretty med tone berry shade AND NOT a true, bright, blue red. HOWEVER, if someone else was cool in their skin tone YET had dark hair, medium depth skin, & bright sparking eyes; they could be considered a clear winter (cool, clear & bright). In this case a true, bright red lipstick would work.
The best way to find out your true colourings is to get a colour analysis done (click here for a link to my service https://www.livinginstyle.net.au/colour-analysis/). A stylist who offers this service will be able to tell you the best colours for you to wear and also the best shades of lipstick. Generally as a rule; if you have light &/or softer features you need to match that with a lighter or softer shade or red lipstick. If you have a brightness to your complexion you can wear bright & stronger reds. If you have depth & darkness to your features you can wear stronger & deeper tones of reds &/or berry shades.
Here is a quick guide using Mary Kay Cosmetics (of which I am a consultant of alongside my personal styling business).
If You Have T
he Following Features:
1/ TONE: Warm; SKIN: light to medium depth; EYES: light to medium depth or bright sparking; HAIR: light to dark in depth…you will suit orange & coraly reds & they can be on the strong & brighter side. Mary Kay tones that would be good to try are: True Dimensions Lipstick: Firecracker; Crème Lipstick: Apple Berry, Really Red. You could also try a slightly cooler version of red, True Dimension Lipstick in Sizzling Red.
2/ TONE: war
m; SKIN: medium to dark depth; EYES: medium to dark depth; HAIR: medium to dark depth…you suit orange & brick shades of red that can be strong but will need some deepness & softness to them as well. Mary Kay tones to try are: True Dimensions Lipstick: Firecracker; Crème Lipstick: Apple Berry, Amber Suede combined with Really Red (this helps to tone down the brightness of the red).
3/ TONE:
cool; SKIN: light to medium depth; EYES: light to medium depth; HAIR: light to medium depth…you will need pink & blue reds that have a slight softness to them; the berry shades are perfect for you. Mary Kay tones that would be good to try are: Crème Lipstick: Berry Kiss, Apple Berry, Whipped Berries. You could also try True Dimensions Lipstick in Sizzling Red, if you were on the darker side of blonde or light-medium brown hair.
4/ TONE: cool; SKIN: medium to dark depth; EYES: medium to dark depth; HAIR: medium to dark depth…you will need pink, purple & blue reds that can be stronger but still need to have some softness to them also. Mary Kay tones that would be good to try are: True Dimension Lipstick: Sizzling Red, Mystic Plum; Crème Lipstick: Berry Kiss, Apple Berry. You could also try a slightly warmer toned red such as True Dimension Lipstick in Firecracker.
5/ TONE: cool; SKIN: light to medium/dark depth; EYES: bright & sparkling; HAIR: medium to dark…you will need pink & blue reds that can be strong & even a little warmth to them. Mary Kay tones that would be good to try are: True Dimension Lipstick: Sizzling Red, Firecracker; Crème Lipstick: Berry Kiss, Apple Berry, Really Red.
PLEASE NOTE: this is all just a basic guide line. The only way that you can truly tell if a lipstick is going to suit you is to try it on (just like clothing). Your skin tone & the strength in value of your hair & eyes will determine whether you can wear bright & strong reds, or you need a softer or lighter version. That is what I love about Mary Kay Cosmetics; because they have a complimentary try before you buy policy, you can experiment with colour alongside a consultant to pick out a personal palette that is just right for you!
