Red Lipsticks for Women of Color

Last fall I did something risqué; I wore bright red lips, and loved it!!!

Wearing Koh Red

I guess I was apprehensive about wearing red lipstick because of how easy it is to get the look completely wrong, and I was not entirely sure how to get it right. After admiring Kerry Washington crimson ensemble with flawless makeup, and timeless red lips, I knew I had to try. So I did my research (Youtube) and gave it a whirl. Well, since then I have fallen head over 4inch heels in love with red lips.

Inspiration : Kerry Washington

It’s quick, surprisingly very easy, and screams confidence. Wearing red lipstick is one of the easiest ways to look like you spent an hour applying your makeup when you actually only spent 10 minutes. A bit of black eyeliner, mascara, and a touch of color on the cheeks is all that’s needed.

These are my fave three red lipsticks:

Bold Red Lips

For a bold, glossy finish I use KOH lipstick in RED! It’s is creamy so it goes on smooth. Be warned, it stains, so you need to apply a base prior to applying the lipstick to make removal a bit easier.

I apply my clear Barbra Cosmetics* Belweder lip balm

Line my lips with BH Cosmetics Waterproof Lipliner in Maven or Jordana Kohl Kajal Lipliner in Deep Purple or MAC Magenta. I find that using a dark purple liner gives a nice gradient of color, but a red liner works well too.

©       Use a lip brush to apply KOH RED!

©       I also apply just a touch of clear gloss

Matte Red Lips

For a matte, retro look I use MAC Ruby Woo. This is not moisturizing, so you need a good balm to use as a base.

©       I apply my clear Barbra Cosmetics* Belweder lip balm

©       Line my lips with BH Cosmetics Waterproof Lip Liner in Rouge or MAC Lip Pencil in Chestnut

©       Use a lip brush to apply MAC Ruby Woo

Plum Red Lips

Dark plum is especially flattering on darker skin tones. I use Black Opal Black Current to achieve a rich plum red look. I really like the color of this lipstick, but absolutely hate the way it smells. Fortunately, the scent does not linger.

©       I apply my clear Barbra Cosmetics* Belweder lip balm

©       Line my lips with Black Opal Precision Lip Definer in Black Cherry

©       Use a lip brush to apply Black Opal Black Current

©       I apply a smidge of Clinique Long Last Glosswear SPF15 in Mystic 18 to finish the look.

The Body Shop Blue Corn 3-in-1 Deep Cleansing Mask

For a brief moment I thought this was the one. The mask that would end my search for a product that would get rid of the impurities and leave my pores squeaky clean. But alas, it was not to be.

The mask is grey with a blue tint, grainy, and THICK. So thick that is a rather difficult to apply. Once applied, I felt a slight tingling, and thought, this must be working. Plus, it contains Koalin clay, an ingredient well-known for its cleansing and absorbent properties. So it has to work, right?!

It dried in the recommend 10 to 15 minutes. There was no mistaking whether or not I needed to wash it off because this thing dried as hard as concrete. It was very uncomfortable as I could feel it pulling my skin. The worst part is that I could not get it off! I tried warm water and a wash-cloth but it just would not rinse off. I could see little white spots of leftover mask all over my T-zone wear my pores are a bit enlarged.  I had to wash my face with a cleansing gel to remove the whitish residue left all over my face.

Despite these cons, I was still impressed with the refreshing, tingling sensation I got when I applied the mask (silly me), so I held out hope that it would help to  unclog the pores in my t-zone. I tried the mask 7 more times over a period of 4 weeks, but saw no improvements. Needless to say I had to accept defeat and toss this one aside.

I think this product would serve best as an exfoliator, but based on my experience, I would not recommend it as a deep cleansing mask for individuals with oily skin or enlarged pores