The week of Valentine’s Day wouldn’t be complete without the requisite red lipstick post, but this year is a little different. See, I’ve gotten so comfortable sporting a bold lip over the past year, that more often than none, you’ll see me in a bold color, even at preschool drop-off. So these Cupid-worthy picks are my personal favorites, and you’ll see that you CAN wear red, even if you don’t think you can pull it off.
The Newbie: Scared of color? Prefer to keep your look subtle? Just because you’re not ready to rock full-on color, you can still get in on the crimson action with Clinique’s Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in “Two Ton Tomato.” You get a sheer wash of color and hydration that rivals your favorite balm (except it looks a lot better).
Leaning In: So you’ve dipped your toes in the water but you’re not ready to dive all the way in… If this is the case, look no further than M.A.C’s relatively new Huggable Lipcolour in “Red Necessity.” I rarely leave home without this amazingly hydrating glossy lipstick that toes the line between red and hot pink. It’s not too opaque that you feel like everyone is looking at your lips, but you get a decent pop of color that gets attention. P.S. I loaned this to a never-gone-red friend for an event this past weekend. She told me she got loads of compliments and she’s buying one for herself ASAP.
The Full Monty: If your bold-lip motto is “Bring it!” then you’ll want to check out BeautyAddicts’ BeautifullLips in “Femme Fatale.” (The name says it all.) This pigment-packed lipstick delivers rich, creamy look-at-me color as it helps plump your pout with peptides. Winning!
Matte Mama: Bold color never goes out of style, but a matte finish gives this look a trendy spin. I love a lipcolor pencil because it makes application a breeze, and nothing lasts longer than my beloved NARS pencils. I have three in the rotation at the moment (two pinks, one red), but Valentine’s Day screams for the Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in “Mysterious Red.” Unfortunately this color was part of the Fall 2013 collection so it’s no longer available (kicking myself for not ordering two), but “Dragon Girl” is a more than suitable replacement.
