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Image source: zoella.com |
Anyone can pull off red lipstick. I have heard this so many times. Watching my friends and favourite celebrities look drop dead gorgeous in a classic red lip makes me green with envy, because I am living proof that the adage: Anyone can pull off red lipstick, is simply not true. I can’t. No, really, I can’t. I wish Lipstick Queen would come out with a Frog Prince lipstick that would create your perfect red, because that would be a makeup product that truly changes the game, however, I have realised that it is not my skin tone that presents the problem; it’s just me.
Red lipstick is a statement, it gives the wearer power because it demands attention. It adds glamour and intrigue and makes everyone within an immediate vicinity take a bit more notice than they would if you were just showcasing your trusty honey flavoured lip balm, which is what I would be doing. I have been listening to Fat Mascara on my iPhone in the mornings, I highly recommend it if you’re finally getting sick of listening to Can’t Stop The Feeling by Justin Timberlake on repeat, and in one of their earliest episodes they discuss red lipstick. One of their statements really stuck with me: Red lipstick is like the white jeans of makeup. Let’s forget for a second the millions of YouTube videos dedicated to achieving perfect, long-lasting, would survive a nuclear war, red lips and admit that if you put on a red lipstick you can kiss goodbye to a significant portion of your day.
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Image Source: BritishBeautyBlogger.com |
Red lips are not created to be forgotten, because it makes a statement and is eye-catching, you want people to look at you (even if only a little bit). For that reason, it needs to be perfect. No bleeding. No smudging. Transfer-proof. Tonnes of preparation. It takes time to apply, we all know that trick with one ply of tissue and translucent powder, and requires regular check-ins. This is not me. I spend a total of three minutes every morning doing my makeup. I slap on a bit of foundation, loose powder, the essential contour and, if I can be bothered, maybe some eyeshadow. Of course if I am attending something fancy I will spend more time on my mug and add all the extras, but otherwise I am pretty low maintenance. I rarely wear lipstick ever, because it would just fade so I would rather keep my lips supple with a lip balm or moisturising lip tint.
Another of my disappointing attributes I am painfully self-conscious and allergic to attention. All kinds of attention, both good and bad. I hate people commenting on my appearance because I never take their remarks or compliments at face value. It always feels like it is coming from a negative, insincere place. If I could slip in unnoticed at events and occasions I would, unfortunately, especially with family occasions, this is impossible and considered impolite. If I wore a red lipstick I would feel even more self-conscious and wouldn’t be able to enjoy myself, it doesn’t fit in with my personality at all and isn’t worth the discomfort. I honestly wish I could be more confident and feel and look great in a red lipstick. I know beauty seems unimportant but it can make a difference, the way you look completely influences how you feel so it makes sense to me that when women need to kick the shit out of their day they put on a red lipstick. I love it.
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Image Source: Pinterest |
I have always wanted to be able to wear a red lipstick, to the point where I actually purchased one with my hard-earned cash after watching Zoella wax poetic about this drugstore find. In hindsight considering Zoe has pale English rose skin and I don’t this should have been an obvious warning for me. I tried it on and hated it, I looked ridiculous, like a little child playing dress up, I couldn’t have been more disappointed. The lipstick accentuated my imperfect mouth, I became cognisant of every flaw my lips possess. Interestingly, the rest of my face suddenly looked flawless, but unfortunately no one else would notice this instead they would all be staring at my uneven, weirdly shaped lips. It is my understanding that fuller lips suit more daring colours, I know red is considered classic but for me anything that isn’t in the nude family is adventurous. My lips are not Kylie Jenner full and the thought of a needle anywhere near my mouth makes me break into a sweat. So alas, I am hanging my red lipstick dreams up for now and embracing myself.
I don’t wear red lipstick and that’s okay. It’s not about finding the perfect shade or outfit, it just doesn’t suit my personality. I have to find my own version of a red lipstick and I already know that’s eyeshadow. Playing with eyeshadow and experimenting with different tones and finishes enhances my mood like nothing else that is where my creativity and comfort lies. Eyeshadow is fun for me, not terrifying like red lipstick. So I’ll stick with that until I grow up a bit.
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Image source: temptalia.com |
Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this different post and would love to hear your thoughts on what makeup you have tried and not liked or just felt fundamentally didn't suit you. I welcome all your recommendations too so if you have a red lipstick, or any lipstick, that you can't live without please let me know in the comments, similarly if there is anything that makes you feel self-conscious or prevents you from trying out new things please share that too. I always feel alone in not being confident to try out certain things (like red lipstick) so it would be interesting and reassuring to read about your experiences and feelings too. Thank you for taking the time to read my post it means so much to me. Don't forget you can follow me on Bloglovin' to stay up to date with new posts and check out my social media for more makeup and madness. Love you all. Take care.
What is your favourite lip product?
Love ❤
Kiran
I really enjoyed reading this and love that you are rebelling and refusing to find 'the perfect shade' that would still leave you feeling uncomfortable. I do actually love lipsticks especially deep purples in the winter! I find personally that they are much easier to apply and get right than eyeshadow :)
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Thank you for reading Lizzie, it means a lot to me that you liked it xxx
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I won't lie: at first glance, I thought to myself 'oh, well she clearly just hasn't found the right red yet!' However, as I read on, I could totally relate and see where you're coming from... I'm the exact same with pink lipstick. If there's one thing I cannot stand, it has to be pink lipstick! Somebody bought me a pink lipstick for Christmas, and I honestly took it as an insult, ha! I've tried so many, and they all make me look like Miss Piggy. I seriously cringe at myself in the mirror when I try one out again for the millionth time. I'm more into what my mum calls the 'look of death,' opting for brown, grey, purple and near black lipsticks! It sounds awful as I'm fairly pale, but I think they much better complement my skintone and ashy hair colour and they reflect my personality!
ReplyDeleteLaura | Lala London: Beauty & Lifestyle
That is really interesting, so happy to find someone who understands! I bet those colours contrast nicely against your skin. Xx
DeleteLovely post dear! :)x
ReplyDeleteVildana from Living Like V & Stalia Is BAE
Thank you Vildana x
DeleteI am exactly the same, Kiran. I have loads of beautiful shades but just don't have the confidence to wear them. Red just doesn't suit me! Wah! xxx
ReplyDeleteYes, I think it does have a lot to do with confidence, it's a shame isn't it? Xx
DeleteWhen I read the title, I thought you were crazy because red would look gorgeous on you! And then I kept reading, and I understood why you don't wear it. I used to feel the same way about pink and orange lipstick but now I would gladly wear those colours! It was so great to read something about you because you revealed so much through this post and I felt like I got to know you more as a person rather than another beauty blogger <3 (I don't mean that in a bad way!)
ReplyDeleteMaz | www.mazrawrs.com | www.youtube.com/MazRawrs
Aw thank you Maz, that was such a sweet comment. So glad you liked it! Xx
DeleteI shied away from it for years, but now it's my favorite shade to wear. I don't wear it every day, but I love them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! Hopefully I will be telling a similar story at some point xxx
DeleteNever read a confession like this because I always felt that red suits everyone. However, it is a bold colour to pull off & some may find it hard to do so. But then there are so many other shades so it doesn't really matter. Just find the right one for yourself & wear it with confidence! Great post, Kiran :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rakhshanda-chamberofbeauty.com/
Absolutely! Xx
DeleteMy favourite lip product admittedly is a red lipstick! However, I think good corals and nudes are just as important. If you don't feel as confident in a red lip then rock another look, feeling comfortable is the best kind of beautiful :-)
ReplyDeletexoxo
http://gingersnaphattie.blogspot.co.uk
I completely agree xx
DeleteWhile I still believe everyone can rock a red lip, it all comes down to what you want and how you feel! If you can live life without a red lipstick, then you do you girlfriend. :)
ReplyDeletethesixthdisneyprincess.blogspot.com
I'm gonna do me Jasmine haha xx
DeleteI have the same issue with Red lips, I am terrified of them, and everytime I wear one I get scared. Although pink is way worse for me, I cannot pull off a pink lip, it looks terrible!
ReplyDeleteErin || MakeErinOver
Thanks for sharing! I am surprised, do you mean a bright pink? Or just any pinkish colour? Xx
DeleteI am lazy for bold lips in general. They're high maintenance and everytime i have the intention of wearing a red lip i take it off before leaving the house. The thing that kills me is reapplication - i am far to lazy and i'll reapply a lipstick no more than twice before giving up - this goes for all shades haha
ReplyDeletewww.themakeupaficionado.com
I am super low maintenance with anything like that, anything that requires after thought is a no no for me. I don't touch up my face at all, I like makeup that stays on and still looks decent at the end of a long day and doesn't make me feel uncomfortable or feel like makeup on my skin. So I feel you xx
DeleteI used to love wearing red lipstick but nowadays it seems to make my face look so much wider and rounder - I really don't know what's happened! :( And I totally get what you mean about being uncomfortable with compliments too - its funny how we analyse positive feedback but would instantly believe negative comments x
ReplyDeleteViva Epernay | £100 Asos Voucher Giveaway! | Vote For Me - Beauty Blogging Awards
That is a really good point, it's quite sad when I think about it. I just think the world would be a better place if we didn't comment on the appearance of other people, but what can you do? Xx
DeleteI don't like it either! Red does not suit everyone! If I wear red lipstick my way too full lips stand out A LOT!
ReplyDeleteDora www.BangsBang.com
I used to feel the same about red lipstick, but my preferences (and probably my self-confidence) changed over the years and now I wear a statement lip almost every day. But each to their own.
ReplyDeleteLinda, Libra, Loca: Beauty, Baby and Backpacking
I think we all have something that we love on other people but just can't make work on ourselves. For me it's contouring. I have such a bony face that contouring just makes me look like a skeleton! x
ReplyDeleteKate Louise Blogs
Hello, Kiran! <3
ReplyDeleteWe all have that one color which we think doesn't suit us well. But I think that somehow it's about finding the perfect shade of red for example. Some shades of red doesn't look nice to me at all, but there's some that looks really good on me. But I do hope you find the perfect one for you!
Hope to hear from you soon! :)
Love, Airish
Gorgeous Glance | New travel post is up ♡
http://www.airishabella.blogspot.com
I honestly feel like very few reds look 'right' on me and even when they do, I guess I'm just too self conscious to pull it off properly!
ReplyDeleteJasmine xx
Jasmine Talks Beauty | US & Sephora Giveaway
By the sounds of it, you lack the confidence to pull it off and you're just 'not ready' for a red, bold lips yet. Confidence has a lot to do with our ability to wear something so just take your time and slowly ease into it. You'll get there with your perfect red one day in the future.
ReplyDeleteShireen | Reflection of Sanity
I understand entirely what you say, it's about finding what makes you comfortable, as long as you feel beautiful you are beautiful :) I am the complete opposite, I wear bright lipsticks everyday and I feel a little weird without them, I actually struggle finding my "perfect pink/nude". I would love to rock those "Kylie Jenner-ish nudes/browns", I feel none of them fits me and that I look super weird, dead-like pale and make me extremely selfconscious; but when I want to wear them I just do, makeup is fun and it just washes off, no big deal :p
ReplyDeleteCy | http://www.dulcedemango.com/
i lovee a bright red lip ! i love this
ReplyDeletehttp://www.carolinapinglo.com/
Great post, my boyfriend doesn't like red lips at all. So I often wear some nude or rose ones. But also love eyeshadow, but most of the time I only use some brown shades.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Flowery
BEAUTYNATURE
Lovely post dear !! I love red lipstick and I have so many of red shades but I am super scared of wearing them, I think it looks too much on me :) but I would love to wear it ( may b some day ) haha, xx
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I loved reading this article. I think it's absolutely okay not to wear red lipstick if you do not feel comfotable in it. Maybe one day you'll try on one and it will be YOUR thing. And hey, nude is fab as well.
ReplyDeleteLove, Kerstin
http://www.missgetaway.com/
Very lovely! This is such an amazing post!
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I used to be terrified of red or any other bright lipsticks but now I absolutely love having statement lips :) I think you need to find the confidence to wear bright lipstick and learn to have fun with them. It will come if it's meant to be ;) But I agree, that no matter how great the quality, red or any other bright lipsticks are high maintenance :) x
ReplyDeleteMummy’s Beauty Corner
I bet a dark burgundy shade would look gorgeous on you! I've always told others to rock what they feel the best in, whether that is pink, red, or purple. Whatever makes you feel the most beautiful is what you should wear! :)
ReplyDeleteI too stay away from red lipsticks. It is just not my cup of tea. I wore red lipstick to a Christmas dinner last year and everyone loves it. While I'm not opposed to wearing them, they're just not my favorite shade of lipsticks and I feel like I haven't yet found the perfect red for my skin-tone. Great read!
ReplyDeleteFace to Curls | http://facetocurls.com
I really found this post interesting! I'm not a massive fan of a classic red lip, I try to stick to more burgundy or plum shades throughout the colder months xx
ReplyDeleteLauren | itslaurenvictoria.blogspot.co.uk
Loved reading this. Please check out my latest fashion post called From Online To West London!
ReplyDeleteKisses xo | From Aliona With Love
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Red lipsticks definitely don't suit everyone, I have difficulty finding one that suits me and I am still looking. xx
ReplyDeleteJulie
www.rainingcake.com
Such a lovely post. We are all different and that is what makes us unique. x
ReplyDeleteMuch love,
Marianne x www.beautiful-in-essence.blogspot.com
I was able to relate to this post. I used to stay away from red lips as it's bold and I used to think I can't pull it off effortlessly. I tried colourpop bumble which is a muted red liquid lipstick and trust me it looked so good in real life as well as photos. I have also tried few classic red bullets and even though they looked good I don't have confidence to wear them in public. My recommendations are ABH Kathryn or Colourpop bumble or any muted reds to start with.
ReplyDeleteAsh | www.mstantrum.com
I was able to relate to this post. I used to stay away from red lips as it's bold and I used to think I can't pull it off effortlessly. I tried colourpop bumble which is a muted red liquid lipstick and trust me it looked so good in real life as well as photos. I have also tried few classic red bullets and even though they looked good I don't have confidence to wear them in public. My recommendations are ABH Kathryn or Colourpop bumble or any muted reds to start with.
ReplyDeleteAsh | www.mstantrum.com
As I read your post I find myself agreeing with you though I am fortunate enough to have found a red shade that works for me. So if anyone else tells you otherwise, let them read this. Beauty products exist to enhance anyone's beauty and it is up to us to determine which one works.
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Love to read you!!
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Nowadays, I am more into nude lipsticks, rather than bold or liquid lipsticks. Recently, this one is favorite of mine! I repurchased mine in this march, also I bought one for my sister and I did make-up lesson London and there I met Lucy there, I gift her one too! She also loves this one a lot. Actually, this is a universal shade, which suits everyone. That's why this is so hyped. I love other lipsticks from mac too! So comfortable to use, not drying at all! <3
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Ladies were parting from customary excellence, and white lipstick turned into the anger. Hot jeans, Go-Go boots, straight, newly pressed, hair, and white lips were the now-scene! MAC Retro Matte Lipstick Shade: All Fired Up Weight: 3g
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