The Red Spread - Day 4

Get 'em girl! But how you gonna get 'em? With a come hither stare and a bountiful pucker draped in a deep red.  I love a true red lip color, it's got that Jessica Rabbit, Marilyn Monroe, Dorothy Dandridge thing about it. BUT, there's something about your deep reds, that says this ride is not for the faint of heart, this is a grown ass woman you're dealing with it so come correctly or leave quickly.  And I love it for that.

We made it to Friday y'all thanks to all the lovely ladies that submitted photos.  Next week we get to do it all over again so send me your favorite blue-reds, orange-reds, pink-reds, true reds and deep reds!

Deep reds

Burgundy, Brick-Reds, Plums, Wine, Berry, Caramel-Reds

I can't do a sexy face to save my life guys, I've tried and failed but at least the lipstick looks good.  It's Plum Scene by Smashbox lined with MAC Lip Pencil in Vino.

Layers, layers, layers.  You can get the look you want using multiple lipsticks.  LaToshia has on Mochalicious on top of Cherry Bomb both by Wet n' Wild.

Liesel decided to turn heads using Buxom Full-Bodied Lipstick in Menace.

Just cause you're kickin it doesn't mean you can't be cute.  Brandy has on Burgundy from Wet n' Wild.

I love how the internet keeps high school friends close even when they're far away (thug tear).  Cecilia has on NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella.

I'm trying to coerce people into the lipstick game, get them while they're young[er] than me. Britnee has on Black Opal Violine lined with Revlon ColorStay Lip Liner in Plum.

The Red Spread - Day 3

Spring is coming y'all I can feel it.  That's what I told myself while the wind was kicking up in my face this morning.  Day 3 of The Red Spread and we're doing true reds, bold reds, neutral reds.  These are the reds that look amazing on everyone because they are in fact just red.  The key, in my novice opinion, to pulling off true reds is to bring the attention to your lips.  One way to do that is through subtle eye makeup.  Today I opted for more brown and slight gold BUT I made sure that my eyelashes were on fleek (I think that's how you use it?) because a bold lip needs a counterbalance and the best one is in the eyes.

Today I have on one of my top 5 favorite lipsticks NARS Pure Matte in Mascate

Dena, of Code Red Flag fame, has on Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Always Red.  Another one of my personal favorites, it looks great on everyone like a True Red should.

Stephanie took a break from giving her baby boy all the kisses  to throw on Venetian Red Rich Formula Lipstick by Motives.

Tomorrow is vampy reds, think blood red, dark reds, man-eater reds.  If you'd like to submit please email me here.

The Red Spread - Day 2

I wish it was summer y'all.  Orange-reds were made for summer.  They pick up all the of the sun's rays and the gleam from the ice in your margaritas.  It's day 2 of  "The Red Spread" and as I promised orange-reds are today's focused.  Orange-reds, as the name suggests, have more of an orange undertone in them.  They work well for warm undertones because they pick up more of the gold, yellow, and orange in the skin.  So here is today's look:  

Today I have on MAC Lady Danger lined with Burgundy also from MAC

 PLEASE NOTE***

Though I have warm undertones, I have a lot of red and yellow in my skin (thanks colonialism), which means wearing an orange-red can result in me looking like a traffic cone.  So I had to take very deliberate steps to pull this look off:

1) I had to get a dark red lip liner.  This was the only orange-red shade at MAC (though I could've tried elsewhere) that was remotely close to what I wanted.  But I needed to subdue the color and make a distinction between the lipstick and my face so I went with Burgundy which picks up more of the red.

2) I had to make sure that the clothes I wore didn't amplify the yellow and red in my skin. I chose a complimentary color.  I tend to look really good in yellows and oranges but I could not wear any of those today for fear people would think they were going to run into me.  So again I had to wear something that was going to break up the coloring.

3) Finally my makeup had to compliment.  Blue-reds, you can wear nearly anything with because they are also going to give you the contrast.  Orange-reds have a bit more sass and like to be in the spotlight.  So what I did was work a lot of golds onto my lids.  I have a gold eyeshadow on my lid from Too Faced the Return of Sexy, and then a darker gold called Hammered from ColourPop, and then to add some depth and give a slot nod to the orange I have an orange shade on the curve of my eyelid from Sephora Collection Smoky Studio 2 Palette.  I didn't use any eyeliner as that would be too severe a look.  I also added some bronzer because it's the winter and I get pale, so pale that I look like a ghost haunting my apartment. 

Lipstick for Warm Undertones

Orange-Red--this also includes warm reds, tomato reds, brown based reds, golden reds, and tawny reds

Now Amelia is an example of warm undertones and dark skin, which gives her more versatility in her color choices.  Here she has on MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Intense in Number 43.

Alison is an example of warm undertones and light skin, which means unlike me, she doesn't have to worry about blending in with the orange, the yellow in her skin is much more pronounced giving the red and the orange some backdrop.  Here she has on NARS Semi- Matte Lipstick in Heat Wave.

Tomorrow is True RED day, these will be your neutral reds, your bold reds, your hot-damn-I-need-to-kiss-her-in-the-mouth-reds.  Please send your pictures and products!.

 

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.

I've Got You under my Skin (Tone) - Info Tip #1

So you're at Sephora, you're walking down your favorite makeup line section and you stop in front of the 30 lipsticks trying to decide on a shade.  You decide on red, but now which red? One thing you might consider are your undertones  How do you figure out what your undertones are?  So I asked myself this question and came across this site: http://stylecaster.com/cool-warm-skin-undertones/ .  And it was incredibly helpful.  It's important to know your skin tones because it helps send you in the right direction for your lipsticks.  Once you've gotten the low down on your skin tone, really look for lipstick shades that will compliment.  Practice makes perfect so keep experimenting!