PINK Lips

We all know the story of Snow White; her mother wished for a daughter with skin as white as snow, hair as black as ebony, and lips as red as blood. 

Not lips as brown as bark. Not lips as purple as plum. 

Lips' natural hue is, for the most part, pink. The premise of makeup is to exaggerate pleasing natural features. Therefore, we must conclude that lipstick is supposed to be PINK. 

Plenty of females wear brown or purple lip color. I am aware that there are those that are able to pull it off.  But pulling it off does not mean looking the best possible. The fact is that even those that can wear brown or purple shades should be wearing PINK. Pink, pink, pink. 

According to Chanel’s global creative director of makeup, Peter Philips, who used the color on the catwalks of Jil Sander and Fendi, pink is the easiest lip color to wear. ‘‘It flatters almost everyone,’’ he says. ‘‘If you have a bit of olive in your skin tone, you should go for more bluish pinks. Suntanned girls look great in coral pinks. Ivory-skinned girls and redheads look best in a range of rosewood shades, while dark-complexioned girls often look fantastic with an intense but luminous pink. . . pink lipstick [is] highly versatile.’’ - NY Times Style Magazine, April 12, 2011

As mentioned, pink comes in a variety of different options. There is deep plummy pink, or reddish pink, or Barbie pink, or pale muted pink, to name but a few.

For the truly brave soul, there is red. Red is merely pink taken to the nth degree, so the reasoning is the same.

Each lipstick can react differently to various skin tones, so it has happened that I would ask someone for the lip brand they are wearing only to have it look terrible on me. Experimentation is required. 

I have quite a few pinks, but most of my lipsticks were limited edition or were promptly discontinued as soon as I bought them.  I would recommend applying with a lip brush, especially with vivid colors;  it gives more control and accuracy.

Here are the lipsticks that I own still in circulation:

Illamasqua Lipstick in Drench (a rich, deep pink)  -  I use this one for weddings. I have had no real problems with this brand, but two lipsticks my mother bought inexplicably melted in the holder; 

Tarte Vitamin Core Lipstick in Revive - in my case, it simply enhances the lip, rather than being a strong color  (although it has a tendency to change hues over time, starting off as more intense and then subsiding to perfect lip enhancement). The center of the lipstick is contains vitamin-infused balm. I wear it on weekdays; 

Revlon Matte Lipstick. Stormy Pink, Sky Pink, and Pink Pout are currently the only pinks available.  I haven't tried these shades, but they look as though they have potential.    

The most universally recommended red is very often Matte Mac Lipstick (available at department stores) in Russian Red. 

However, my mother swears by Ruby Woo (she has many red lipsticks piled up, but she only ends up using this one); it is less "blue" than Russian Red, and not as harsh on fair skin. 

Supposedly, Gwen Stefani is a fan of both. 

Another Mac Matte pink shade possibility is Please Me, a pale, muted pink, if one is going for a '60s look.

I will repeat again, one really has to experiment, as lipsticks depend greatly on skin undertones as to which hues will stand out. What looks fabulously pink on one person may look lavender on another. So try them on, and return or exchange if necessary.