“Mood-lifting war paint,” is what Elle’s April Long called women’s desire to sport bright lipsticks. In addition to making us feel sexy, firey and all around naughty, the bright red lips covering the mouths of women from Manhattan to Mobile are our reaction to a boring summer and a still drab economy. That splash of color may be the perfect remedy turning us from bored to cocksure in a matter of moments.  I may not have a job, but I have enough self-esteem, control and power to look myself in thine eyes and color my purty pout red.

In fact, Estee Lauder Chairman, Leonard Lauder noticed a spike in red lipsticks sales during the post-9/11 economic downturn and the same holds true today, proving once again, that fashion and beauty trends are rooted in psychological substratum. Some old urban myth falsely led us to believe that only certain skin tones could wear red lipstick. Bollocks!  But before you go running to Sephora, be sure the hue you choose is truly the hue for you. In searching for the perfect fall now pick-me-up, matching your skins undertone with that of the lipstick is key. Your skin’s undertone is either pink or yellow. (Traditionally called cool or warm, respectively.) If your skin is fair - especially if it’s rivaling Snow White - then your undertone is likely pink or cool. This includes violet, blue, green and blue-red undertones. Reds with a blue base best compliment pink undertones. Plum, purply reds will look smashing. If your skin’s undertone is yellow - this includes olive, tan and gold tones - choose reds with a golden base. Orangey-red lipsticks and the ubiquitous corals from the beginning of summer will compliment you best.

Because red lipstick tends to bleed, most make up artists recommend wearing lip liner. Just be sure to check on them or risk walking around with a candy-colored ring around your kissers. And yes, red can transition from day to evening as easily as your white pants and little black dress. Even typically light-lipped ladies are sporting the red pout. Even better - pair the red lipstick look with the menswear trend (the shoes, the military blazers, the still here boyfriend sweater). It adds a sexy somethin’ somethin’ to an adroygynous look. I mean, if the eternally bohemian Sienna Miller can rock it, so can you my friend. So can you.

We can’t outright recommend colors for every skin tone, but MAC has an overwhelming amount of reds to choose from and make up experts to assist. They have the lip lining thing, which can admittedly be frightening, down to a near science.  Chanel Rouge Allure looks like fire but feels like butter. For the budget conscious or those with commitment issues regarding reds, try Revlon Fire and Ice. Once you color your kissers, the world is your playground. Have fun.

Emma Dinzebach

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