Vain For Vanity's Sake: the red lip

Red lips are my go to whenever I need to be pulled together when I'm not feeling so pulled together. Also, for the record, it is not just a holiday look! Every Christmas the same red lip 'get the holiday look' story comes out in every fashion magazine paired with gold eye shadow. Its not just a holiday look okay? I can not stress this enough. Even if it was, why can only the holidays be a fancy time? I want to be fancy all the time or whatever 99999,0000 reasons I want to rock red lips. It's a classic look that is easier then a smoky eye (to me). My smoky eyes looks like someone took a fistful of dirt and threw it in my face and hoped for the best.

Red lips CAN have a bad rap by certain people. Chelsea handler described a girl she didn't like in one of her books as wearing "whore red" lipstick (still love her). Paris Hilton describes it has 'clown makeup,' (still hate her). It's not for everyone and certainly one needs the confidence to not wipe it off after glancing into the first reflective surface after applying it. Besides who cares if people don't like it, as Dita Von Teese said, “You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there's still going to be somebody who hates peaches.” You do you.

Any skin color, hair color combo can work this look, there is a shade for everyone.

To ease into the look, one can always start out with simple, slightly red color to get used to the look. Try Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, it's a universally flattering shade and my very very first purchased lipstick.

Something to keep in mind, your skin color changes, it gets tanner in the summer, lighter in the winter. So a variety of colors might be needed or you can match the lip color to eye color since that tends to stay the same.

According to Allure:

1. For light brown, hazel, or green eyes: orange-ish red, or blue based reds (my choice)

2. For blue eyes: true red, or deep red

3. For dark brown eyes: Berry-red lipstick