The Red Spread: Day 1

It's February y'all which means two things: 1) Soul food Black History Month dinners at PWIs to make us feel like we're apart of the school (thanks Pitt) and Valentine's Day.  V-day wouldn't be complete without a pair of come-hither-you-better-buy-me-this-dinner lips.  How do you choose the right color?  You don't want to look like the undead but you don't want to look like Homey the Clown.  It's about knowing your skin tone and which reds are best (See yesterday's post on finding out your undertones) 

Reds essentially come in three shades: blue-red (which have blue in them); orange-red (which are brighter); and true reds/neutral (they work on everyone).  Here's the catch 22 with black women.  While you may be cool or warm you also have to consider your skin color.  If you are a cool undertone but wear a blue-red while having fair skin your lip color may have the effect of washing you out.  Using a deeper lip liner can help blend the color so it warms into your skin instead of looking harsh.  

Lipstick for Cool Undertones

Blue-Red--pink tones of red, berry reds, blackberry reds, and brick reds

(*Disclaimer, all of us here do not have cool undertones, these are examples of blue-red lipsticks)

This is a lipstick I've been pining over forever and Sephora finally had it in a mini, Hourglass Indestructible Matte in Icon.  I paired with MAC Lip Pencil in Vino to add a little definition.

Iana, much like me has warm undertones but medium skin so we can walk the line of blue-reds without looking ghostly.  Here she has on Maybelline Colorsensational Matte #690 Siren in Scarlet.

Work is always the appropriate place for a red lip.  Ashley (one of my several partners in crime) is wearing Wet n Wild Silk Finish Lipstick in 552A Garnet Pink.  This is a lighter blue-red.

 

Steph being the good sport as always has on MAC Red with MAC Lip Pencil in Brick.

Nykia is looking awesome and lite brite in MAC Russian Red.

Denyta looking ravishing and caramelly in MAC Russian Red.

Aieshya mixed it up using MAC Ruby Woo with MAC Lip Pencil in Nightmoth.

So I accosted April at dinner because her MAC Ruby Woo looked great on her and somehow different than what I've usually seen.  Even with her fair skin and a cool tone, Ruby Woo still looked great on her and didn't wash her out.

Layering lipsticks is a great way to achieve the look you want. Jo has on NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl with COVERGIRL Eternal Ruby around the edges to tone down the brightness.

Tomorrow will be Orange-Reds, so look for your warm reds, tomato reds, brown based reds, golden reds, and tawny reds


TO SUBMIT YOUR FAVORITE REDS FOR THE RED SPREAD ALL MONTH LONG PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH A PHOTO AND PRODUCT INFORMATION.