The power of a bold lip

I’ve never been a red lipstick kind of girl. All my life I have kissed, bulshitted and charmed my way with shimmery pink glossed lips. It was safe. I lacked the dexterity required to keep a flawless red pout all evening without it bleeding, fading or smearing on my face and making me look like a clown. But lately, I’ve been chucking the safe look.

All strong women seemed to carry the bold lip with much aplomb. Think  Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Bette Davis, Condeleeza Rice and Dita Von Teese. It takes a certain personality to carry it off. Or does it?

This year, I’ve been all about the bold lip. Maybe because this was a year of change. A year to speak up. A year to be bold. I started slowly and gingerly tapping a delicious melon colored lip color from Shiseido called Cantaloupe Kiss. When I felt bolder I experimented with strong pinks such as Nars Schiap, named after surrealist goddess Elsa Schiaparelli. It gave the right shock of pink without overwhelming the face. I love putting in on a perfectly cleaned face using a no-nonsense base like Chanel’s Teint Innocence to clear out any shadows and ruddiness leaving a clean and clear base. Always line lips when doing a bold lip. I like using the ever reliable MAC Spice lip liner for bold pinks and oranges and MAC Brick lip liner for reds. For the eyes, keep it clean by applying a sand pearl eye color and a precise swoop of liquid eyeliner. Adding some dramatic mascara helps while a spare dusting of blush keeps the face from looking washed out.

For a more sultry effect, I see red. A good red is hard to find, as any bold lip veteran will tell you. It has to be crisp and bright without being garish and blue toned. Think witch lips. A good tone to go by is something that resembles the color of blood. MAC has created the heaven sent Pro Longwear Lustre Lipcolor which has two ends: a long lasting liquid lip color on one side and a slick non-sticky gloss on the other. It really lasts for 10 hours, I promise! I usually apply the liquid lip color on well- moisturized but blotted lips and let it dry for a minute before applying the gloss. Although it does have the tendency to cake, reapplying the gloss at a regular pace keeps this from happening. Colors to look for are Lasting Lust for a straightforward Hollywood red and Alta Moda for a sexier and moodier wine red. When I feel like going way edgier, I whip out my Shu Uemura black lipstick. It strangely complements any skin tone and can be mixed with a brighter gloss for a more interesting effect.

During the day, your lips can come out and play too! My personal favorites are Napoleon Perdis in Calypso, a vivid lilac shade and Henri Calayag’s Blood Vinyl lip tube available in his salon.  These are easygoing brights that are easy to maintain during hectic mornings and afternoons. It’s soft enough to accomodate bronzer.

Stop being shy and enjoy the sunny weather on your lips, it’s a bright idea!