Lemme tell you a little story. The first time I ever tried on red lipstick, I was in a M.A.C. store. Actually, I was in a mall and just happened to walk by a M.A.C. store. And you don’t just walk by one of those. I went in, headed straight for the lipstick isle {it’s the prettiest one} and admired a couple of my favorite pale pink lovelies. That’s when SHE walked by. Miss fabulous. Platinum blonde pixie cut, bright blue shoes and this fabulous pair of red lips. And I wanted to be her. I wanted to be her lips actually … but that just sounds creepy. So I asked her what lipstick she was wearing. And she told me. Not only told me, but she plopped me down in a make-up chair, picked out the shade and outlined my lips in a perfect red pout.
When I saw myself in the mirror I wanted to die.
Of embarrassment. It was so bright. So RED. I felt gaudy enough to do that talk-behind-your-hand-cause-you-think-you-have-food-in-your-teeth thing. I tried pulling a “Thanks, but no. Turns out I’m not as fabulous as you” *wipe* *wipe* But guess what? Red lipstick doesn’t come off. At least not Ruby Woo. So I left the store, bright red and self conscious.
Long story short, I had a little more shopping to do, and by the time I had finished my rounds and taken a couple more glances in the changing room mirrors … the color was beginning to grow on me. With a quick last minute decision, I dropped back by M.A.C., bought the bright sucker and drove home.
And thus began my slow and steady love affair with red lipstick. The first time I wore it FOR REALS, I figured I’d break it in with a swift kick to the proverbial stomach — church. And you know, it wasn’t bad! I was *this* self conscious about it, but I got over it real quick after husband told me how kissable my lips were and how he wished they would stay that way forever. He’s precious like that.
From then on, it was pretty smooth sailing. The more often I wore it, the less self conscious I became. And the more CONFIDENT I was, the better I felt on the inside and got positive feedback on the outside. Not that this is turning into one of those mushy-gushy ‘be confident’ thingies … but. I mean … be confident. It’s the moral of this loooong story and the ONLY trick to wearing red lipstick. That, and finding the right shade {white pinkies like me — stick with blue undertones okee doke?}
Great. kloveyoubye.
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Come visit me at The Daybook!
Tori says
I felt that way the first time I wore HOT pink to church. I haven’t quite mastered a red yet because I’m kind of oddly colored.
Lynn from For Love or Funny says
It’s funny you write this, because my daughter asked to borrow some red lipstick yesterday and I had absolutely none. Perhaps this is a sign that I need to get some!
Meg says
Love your story about this! I’ve found myself not being confident to wear it on a regular basis and only on special occasions. Buuuuut, I did wear it last week to work and felt pretty good about it. Baby steps 😉
MEGAN LAND
xx
Kristi says
I Would if I could but I cannnn’t.
Ok, I probably can but never in my life have. Whenever I wear any shade of lip colour people always stare….it’s really out of the norm for me. I think though, it would jazz up a night out outfit.ssoooooo perhaps the next night out on the town, I will…maybe…mmmk.
Cute outfit Sydney!!!
kelsey says
Ooh, I have been wanting to try it, but it is so BOLD! I need to find the right color…
Kathrine says
Well, that’s so true! Red lipstick gives me tons of confidence….and I get a lot of envious looks from other women, like “oh, look she has the guts to wear red lipstick during the day!”, you know? I’m in Sales, so sometimes it’s a good thing, sometimes not. Oh well.
I prefer MAC’s Russian Red! 😉
marissa says
i love red lipstick! i started wearing it a couple months ago and now it is the perfect pick me up to drab outfits and drab monday mornings! i think the important thing is to not wear it too much, ruins the effect.
Shelley says
Sydney, I bought some from MAC the other day. Just cuz of you,…I haven’t got up the guts to wear it yet though. –This post just might have peptalked me into it. 🙂
Lisa says
I LOVE red lipstick!!! Have you tried DuWop Private Red? You put it on and then it changes to your body chemistry!!! I love it.
Sam says
After living in southern california for four years, I got used to having all sorts of color in my face ( being bronzed, tanned, and freckled). When I moved to the Pacific Northwest and winter came … I started to look like a vampire. I am so pale (and not in the hot ‘Twilight’ way.) Red lipstick is my quick fix for winter blah. It totally turned my look around.
Chanel Dragon is world’s best red lipstick! (although I asked someone what color they were wearing the other day, and they replied ‘Ruby Woo’. So after this second recommendation, I may have to give it a spin)
ag. says
I am so afraid! Maybe once I work on my confidence, I will actually give it a try!
Vida says
I consider RED lipstick to be a right I have earned. I am a confident(mostly) strong, outspoken(always) 48 yr old chick. Why the hell shouldn’t my lips say what my heart is pounding??
Go for it girls…life is short!
Jackie (Frock Candy) says
Thank you for this post… just this week I have been considering buying/wearing red lipstick, but swear I was just like you… can I pull it off??? well maybe not, but this post just gave me the courage to try 🙂
Connie says
The red lipstick looks fab on you. I’d feel the same way with that “red” color on but always admire the women who can wear it. Your husband is right!
Rachel Dell says
i totally tried on some red lipstick the other day and you’re TOTALLY right. it doesn’t come off. suck. i’m still a little nervous about making the plunge and actually buying it. we’ll see.
callie says
I’m may just be weird this way, but I can’t get over thought of all those germs on those lipsticks they let you try on in these places. 🙂 Or maybe they just had small ones you throw away? I just know some places it is the actual tube that you use, and it’s shared. Ugh, so gross. Anyway, the shade looks great on you though! I may just have to be brave and try it out!
Angie says
I have tried the red lipstick thing, and wiped it off as quickly as it went on. …then I stayed in my room until it wore off! 🙂 Ha! Maybe I can work up the confidence to give it a try again. Love your posts! (here and on The Daybook!)
abby says
Do you mind sharing what color of red you got from MAC? I have my 6 empty containers that I’m ready to go exchange for a free lipstick and I am seriously considering a red!
Shelley says
Ruby Woo. 🙂
Heidi says
I was the same way! Now I love it, and even if I’m not wearing a lick of make up I’ll throw some on and feel gorgeous!
Nancy S. says
Some can wear red lipstick but I am not one of them, way too pale for that. My Mom always wore Revlon’s Cherries in the Snow.
Audrey says
Not everyone can wear red lipstick and I just learned why in this really cool program. It is saving me a ton of time and money when it comes to clothes and beauty. I love it! It honestly is one of the best investments I have ever made. I understand myself better as a woman, and I now have the tools to make fashion work for me!
It’s called Dressing Your Truth and it teaches women how to become their own beauty expert. First you learn your Beauty Profile through this really cool book called “Dressing Your Truth – Discover Your Personal Beauty Profile”. After that, you go through an online program that teaches you what styles are best for you—from clothing and jewelry to hair and makeup.
You can check it out at: http://audreycrozier.dressingyourtruth.com
Amy says
I have always wanted to wear red lipstick…and I have tried…and it ends up turning orange on my lips. Does anyone else have this problem? Obviously I haven’t found the right shade yet.
Michelle says
I’ve never been confident enough to try- maybe now I will! TONIGHT infact ; )
x
Michelle
Pam Speak says
I love wearing red in general but I have two red lipsticks (Both Rimmel, because I find it ironic that I bought neither in London but got the London look…it’s an English thing, don’t worry about it, I laughed hysterically!) I love wearing them and they make me feel sexy and confident because it’s brash and loud and it’s fantastic!
In fact Sydney, you were the person who encouraged me (without saying anything) to buy red lipsticks, I wanted to but wondered what people would say, I had a cheap red and tried it on my blog and got really positive results. I bought some more quality lippies and haven’t looked back!
*hugs*
Pam
Sabrina says
I think you can pull it off because your adorable! I’ve never been able to find a shade the works with my skin tone. I’ll keep searching 🙂
andrea says
Stopped by MAC today and bought Ruby Woo and Ladybug. Ready to take the red plunge!
andrea says
I went to the MAC store today and got Ruby Woo and Ladybug! 🙂
amy says
I went out and bought red lipstick specifically because of this post and I LOVE it, thank you! It was a little scary wearing it to work this morning, but I have been getting rave reviews! You were totally right, the longer you keep it on, the less scary it is.
I got Studio Gear True Red Matte, it’s so purrrrrdy.
Sara says
I love the red lipstick but I don’t think redheads are allowed to do that are they? I know what red and orange do to me when I wear those colors in clothing and I don’t want them temporarily tattooed on my lips to find out the sad truth again. Any suggestions for an auburn-ish redhead!? 🙂 …with luminescent white freckly skin?!
tammylee says
HOney Plum Glow by Cover Girl been wearing it for years with strawberry blonde hair and freckles!
http://www.amazon.com/Cover-Girl-Continuous-Color-Lipstick/dp/B000RT68QY
Lauren says
Dubonnet by Clinique is quite fabulous … not sure about pinky skin but I’m pale-ish olive with blue-green eyes and brownish hair and it works.
Lauren says
i have to have blue undertoned lipsticks too! is ruby woo a blue undertoned one? i hope so, because i’m in love with the color! haven’t attempted to pull off a red lipstick, but i seriously want to 🙂
Solene Marion says
No it’s not quite blue toned, but some inexpensive blue tones ones I like are revlon’s “really red” and rimmel London’s “alarm”.
Ellsie Clare says
I love red lipstick but it makes me look like the joker in batman because I have narrow lips. 🙁
Heidi says
If you want to give red a try for your lips without a big $$ commitment try E.L.F. brand lip stain at Target. I LOVE it. and if the red doesn’t seem to work with my outfit, I simply add a tinted lip gloss. I still don’t like a red cream lip stick… something about the texture makes me feel unnatural, but the lip stain just seems to enhance the color of my lips.
Amanda says
I wear red lipstick pretty regularly now but I use to be afraid I couldn’t pull it off. Mac Russian Red is the only one I owned for years but now I have several in my arsenal.
Jenafer says
In my quest to find the perfect shade of red, I knew my first big girl red lipstick rube would have to come from the MAC counter, I went a couple of times in my endeavor but whoever helped me didn’t feel my commitment to the statement I was going for. I finally found someone who was speaking same language as I was as I told her my red lipstick woes and how I couldn’t find someone to take me seriously and give me “the one”. I had given away more tubes of MAC lipstick than Carrie Bradshaw’s shoe collection in Sex and the City. The girl looked at me, sized up my brown highlighted hair, blue eyes and slightly olive skin tone, checked out my ensemble for the day and in all seriousness said to me, “I’m only going to sell this to you if you’re going to rock it. Can you promise me that you’ll rock this?!” I made the solemn vow and ever since then, Ruby Woo and I have also been BFFs. She’s never done this girl wrong, no mater my hairstyle or hair color, she’s always got my back and I in return, always, always rock it!
Spelling Police says
isle=a small island, aisle=narrow passageway
-The Spelling Police
Lauren B. says
Ruby Woo is my fave red, in my opinion, it is the perfect red! I felt a little self conscious the first time I wore it too, but now look forward to it!!