I had never done it before. I would see other women doing it and secretly wish I could do it too. The movies were full of them and watching starlets on screen so effortless made me wonder what I was missing out on. But no, I could never be as cool and seductive as them. I could never have perfectly lacquered lips, swathed in rich color. Ruby red pouts that are the picture of sex appeal and boldness. I was a lipstick virgin; seduced by the power of the bold lip.
Lipstick has come a long way from crushed beetles and aristocracy. Today, the prevailing lipstick trends include bold hues like sherbet oranges, pinks and deep reds. For a lipstick virgin it can all be overwhelming. By definition a lipstick virgin is one who’s never wore lipstick. You may have played around in your mother’s makeup drawer, but if you’ve never hit the town with a full on Liz Taylor pout, then your just scratching the surface.
Do you have Lipstick Phobia?
I’ve always been a tried and true lip gloss girl (my lip gloss is poppin’) so a foray into lipstick felt foreign and weird. Perusing the Rite Aid beauty aisle, I would reach for a red tube, get it home only to find that I looked more like Bozo the Clown than Dita Von Teese. Combine that with the bullshit stigma that bright hues and African American skin don’t mix and I was certain that lipstick wasn’t for me. Behind closed doors I would try it out but I was hesitant to go out on the town without feeling fully confident I could pull off the look.
{Losing my Lipstick Virginity}
How to Find your Perfect Pout?
My lipstick phobia was certainly self-induced. Seeing women of color in magazines and online looking dynamic in their bright lips eased my fear and assured me that I too could pull of a bold lipstick. Here’s how I took my phobia by the reigns and awakened to the luster of lipstick.
1. Get thee to your local beauty counter
While buying lipstick in the drugstore is good for experimenting, it’s also throwing money away. Get the advice of a professional at the department store or MAC store. Let the consultants try different shades on you and find one that works without having to make the commitment of purchasing. I recently took a trip to the MAC store to buy the lusted after Ruby Woo, but the makeup artist showed me that Mac Red was much more my shade.
2. Experiment with different shades and finishes
There is no one set shade for anyone. You may think red is your color only to find that pink suits your skin’s undertones better. Lots of lipsticks have a matte finish that many find too drying. Try high shine or moisturizing lipstick. Take free samples from consultations and experiment to find undiscovered shades and finishes that work.
3. Take your lips for a test drive
Once you’ve hit the sweet spot with your shade and finish, pucker up and take your new pout out on the town. I suggest a social setting as a new lipstick can be a bit much for work (especially when you normally wear gloss) Gauge how you feel wearing your new shade and ask the opinion of a good friend. And remember to carry it with you for touch ups!
4. Be confident
Like anything new, it takes confidence to pull it off. You and your vivacious new lip color are sassy and command the attention you deserve!
I have actually worn lipstick before but always nudes and soft pinks with a lil gloss on top…does that count? I’m guessing no. I also wanna dry a deep red this fall…I hope it turns out as beautifully as yours!
Thanks Na! I’ve always been hesitant to wear dark lipstick, but I like the way it turned out so I think I’ve popped my lipstick cherry!
“I would see other women doing it and secretly wish I could do it too.” Precious! Great post you have here, and that shade does look wonderful on you! With lipstick I think it’s a matter of getting used to. To me (someone who didn’t know until now if you usually wear lipstick or not, you looked just perfect). But I see how you could be hesitant about it. I’ve started wearing lipstick some time ago, yet I find that I always turn to the neutral, almost invisible shades. Now I have a new mission: find my perfect red!
xx,
I
Thanks! The shade is MAC Red and I think I’ll definitely be wearing it more often! Let me know how the lipstick search goes!
Excellent post (as always)! Thank you for including the tips on choosing the correct shade of lipstick. As a makeup artist, I get frustrated when people don’t take the time to find the correct shade of lipstick. Anyone can wear lipstick, you just have to have the correct shade. And one more tip: when wearing lipstick, it’s important that the lips are smooth and well moisturized. Putting on a lip care product (I LOVE The Body Shop Hemp lip care stick) before applying lipstick will leave the lips feeling more comfortable when using a more drying lipstick formula.
Thanks for the tip Jessica, my love, and glad you enjoyed the post!
I like to think of it as I have lips that hollywood actresses pay money to get. Unlike you, I haven’t managed the leap into lipstick. My happy medium is colored lipgloss.
I like that Olusola, I’ll have to use it. Colored gloss is a step in the right direction!
Hello Fajr! I met you at the IFB conference on Thursday and it was such a pleasure. We had matching pens, remember? Anyway, I love this post–I am a lipstick fanatic (the brighter the better). Kudos for losing your lipstick virginity; you look gorgeous in the picture!
Yes Ariel I remember you! I was stalking you for those killer boots! lol
great blog! im loving those colors! i usually wear lipstick if im going out and love bold colors!
come follow me xxo
Thanks for the comment!
I only recently got into lipstick and before felt like nothing looked good on me. I think that’s ridiculous about dark skin not looking good in bright colors. Everyone has the perfect shades of red for them. Russian red by mac is supposed to be universally flattering and I really love it. I agree about drugstore lipstick, like cheap paint its just more filler less pigment. However, I’m curios to try Revlon’s Cherries in the Snow b/c its an old skool shade around since the 50s
I have to agree Melina, it is ridiculous about dark skin not looking good in bold colors, but I internalized that for so long. And drug store lipsticks never look good to me, maybe Cherries in Snow is the one exception. Thanks for the comment hun!
I wore dark lipstick in highschool when I was more of a hoochie (I think everyone was either wearing Toast of New York/Revlob or Rum Raisin/Loreal back then), but I pretty much gave up lipstick about 7 years ago and am now a gloss girl. I will try lipstick from time to time, but I always end up blotting it and applying gloss over it anyway.
this is great advice I too was a lipstick virgin the only thing close to color I would get too if loreal’s lipgloss in the tube that has tint to it (lol cant remember the name) and then i felt the urge to try pink im still a lil nervous to go outside with it but the color is so pretty….i read somewhere that to match a shade well take a swatch of the color and place it on your forearm which is the closest to your complexion and work from there…..
Donna, you better wear that Pink and be Proud! Lipstick is so popular now that there are so many shades for every complexion. I was hesitant at first, but now I can’t get enough of red lips!
Thanks for the comment!
Stylishly Yours, Fajr
beautiful lips