From Marilyn Monroe to Taylor Swift, women have worn red lipsticks for decades as a means of attracting attention.
The colour red has many meanings, with studies revealing that it’s energizing, excites our emotions and motivates us to take action. At its most positive, the colour red can create life with its sexual energy, as well as triggering feelings of ambition. Not only is the colour red a great confidence booster, but a recent study has also confirmed that red lipstick if the sexiest lip colour choice.
Scientists at the University of Manchester found that red lipstick draws attention to the mouth, and is more likely to attract a second glance, most notably from the opposite sex. In their study, they tracked the eye movements of 50 men who were viewing different images of women and found that men spent longer fixating on the women wearing red lipstick.
The results found that men spent 7.3 seconds staring at red lips, 6.7 seconds on those with pink lips, and 2.2 seconds on those who wore no lipstick.
Another study, conducted in France, discovered that waitresses who wore red lipstick on the job received tips 50 per cent of the time from male customers, while those wearing brown, pink or not lipstick were tipped 30 per cent of the time. The study concluded that men tipped those specific waitresses more as they found them more attractive. The researchers noted that the rise in tips by male customers could be due to red lips being “associated with an indication of estrogen levels, sexual arousal and health.”
I can’t wear red lipstick, can I?
Many women shy away from red because they think it won’t suit them.
However every skin tone and hair colour can pull off a red lip. Put simply, red colours are divided into two main groups. Coral reds have an orange undertone and work well on darker complexions. And blue reds, which have a blue base, are best suited to fair tones and are said to make teeth appear instantly whiter.
To test what colour red suits you best, try a test patch on the tip of your index finger. The colour on the pad of your finger will be a closer shade to your natural lip tone than on the back of your hand. Or, if you’re undecided on a shade, visit a cosmetics counter where a professional can match you to your ideal lip shade.
Wearing a red lip is the fastest way to upgrade your image, it’s face-brightening, teeth-whitening, and mood altering.
How to apply correctly
First things first, buff away any dead skin from the lips using a lip exfoliating cream, or brush gently with a toothbrush. Secondly, moisturize and prime with a lip balm or, even better, a lip primer. Without this prep, a bold lip colour will attract attention to any cracks or flakes. Don’t coat your lips with too much, and blot away any excess, otherwise the lip colour will then find it hard to stick.
To emphasize the colour, prevent it from bleeding and help it to last, you can use a lip liner that matches the red you’ve chosen. Before applying your lipstick, you can either outline lips with the liner or colour them in completely. Both ways will give your colour super staying power.
It’s always a good idea to use a lip brush when applying lipstick as they assist in creating a precise, even line while staying within your natural lip line. Start in the middle of your mouth, moving out to the corners.
When donning a red lip, stick to a more natural eye and a nude face. This will balance your overall look and keep the lips as the focus. During the day, use pencil to define your brows and a couple of coats of mascara for a suitable, but powerful look. When going from the office to drinks, winged eyeliner paired with your red lipstick makes for a classic, but not over-the-top combination.
Glossy versus Matte
The main difference between glossy and matte lipstick is that a matte option, quite simply, does not make the lips look shiny. Matte lipsticks come in deep, bold colours and generally last longer than their glossy counterpart. Matte finishes make the lip pop for a glamorous look, whereas a glossy lip conveys casual elegance, with more focus placed on the eyes. However, there’s no moisture put into matte lipstick, so ensure you hydrate your lips before application.
Glossy colours add a look of shine to our mouths while enhancing the dimension of depth. Wear gloss alone or teamed with traditional lipstick, but note that glossy textures tend to run and bleed easier than a matte one.
As Gwyneth Paltrow famously said: “Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick.”
