BeautyHack editor Yulia Kozoliy - on how to get out of your comfort zone with red lipstick and why you need it.
Before drawing conclusions, I will introduce you to the course: there is enough routine in my life, which I try to "dilute" with useful and pleasant hours with my family and activities for myself. The classic daily program involves: an hour drive, 8 hours at the office, a walk with the dog and an evening with my daughter. Having decided on an experiment, the first thing I did was to think: "Where is the place for red lipstick on this list?" But who does not risk, he … laments the missed opportunities. Therefore, the next day, I placed in a row all the shades of red found in the cosmetic bag: MAC, Chanel, Dior, Tom Ford … Let's go!
Overcame Impostor Syndrome
In childhood and adolescence, I was a shy girl who did not seek to stand out and worried about all the reasons at once. Over the years, this has globally gone, but sometimes it manifests itself in little things. And red lipstick became for me the very litmus test that showed uncertainty and reminded me of the "impostor syndrome." It's not the first time I wear red lipstick, but I usually choose it for events lasting a couple of hours (not a couple of weeks!). And then thoughts come: "Isn't it too much for 9 in the morning?", "Will not the lipstick confuse my interlocutor at the meeting?" etc.
It turned out that being strong, confident and independent with the usual nude makeup and oversized from head to toe is much easier. Try it with red lipstick!
But if we still manage to abstract from the inner voice (it happened to me on day 5), it becomes clear that you are setting the tone for the party, letting people know that today you are going to spend this day with the mood of “scarlet lipstick on your lips”. After all, half do not care what lipstick you have, all fears come from within.
I became more attentive to myself
Red lipstick draws attention to all skin imperfections. First, you won't go out with flaky lips. Secondly, you will look in the mirror more often. Thirdly, you will honestly touch up your makeup - lipstick will not forgive traces of fatigue on your face at the end of the day. You will be more careful to eat and drink.
Dressing with red lipstick on your lips also needs to be hyperacute. Otherwise, walk with marks on your clothes all day.
The phrases "persistent", "comfortable on the lips", "does not dry" are no longer just empty words
If before the experiment I did not have any special requirements for lipsticks, I could forgive the dryness of products with a matte finish and did not expect resistance from other lipsticks. Now she's become incredibly picky
She began to rate them on a scale from 1 to 10: "How comfortable is her texture?", "Will she dry her lips, can I use it tomorrow?", "Will it not" float "immediately after application?" Since then, I realized that high-quality work on improving the means is a curtsey towards the fans of the brand, who really need new formulas (we talked about how matte lipsticks evolved here).
Made it easier to compose a daily bow
My minimalist approach to wardrobe compilation was perfectly supported by red lipstick. The more laconic the style, the easier it is to add a bright makeup detail to it. And vice versa: lipstick makes it much easier to think over the image. My basic set: white and blue jeans, an oversized white shirt, jacket, wide leg pants and a pair of basic white, gray and black T-shirts. Add jewelry and red lipstick and get 7 different looks for 7 days!
Learned to apply red lipstick
Scarlet lipstick, in principle, involves different options for the finish: matte, with a glossy sheen, satin, with a tint effect. The most comfortable, of course, tint - looks natural, it is not scary to eat and drink, since the shade will wear off as naturally as possible, you can safely kiss the child without fear of leaving a red mark on the forehead or cheeks (and we went through this). The most successful tints are from Becca and Benefit. True, Benefit does noticeably dry lips, and Becca is certainly beautiful, but it is not able to create a dense coverage if necessary.
Further in the rating of persistent products, matte textures are, of course, in the lead. They are instantly fixed on the lips and are ready to disappear only under the influence of a two-phase makeup remover. I checked it on one of the most popular shades - Russian red from MAC.In winter, this lipstick was very dry on the lips, and in the summer it turned out to be very comfortable with it - especially if you apply a moisturizing colorless balm under it and lightly blot your lips with a napkin (if you don't, lipstick the account of the balm layer can "float" and "go" into the pink undertone).
Satin and powdery finishes are also good. I prefer them for evening outings (just like glossy lipsticks). Still, they require total attention: for greater durability, first I fill in the entire surface of my lips with a pencil, then I apply lipstick.
Among the lipsticks with a powdery texture, my absolute favorite is Chanel. Tom Ford products are good for their versatility: thanks to the double-sided design, you immediately have lipstick and a pencil to match.
For two weeks of regular use, I had to apply lipstick in different ways: with a finger to create a tint effect (my favorite option is that the coating can be easily corrected during the day and you feel comfortable in a children's clinic and other places where red lipstick really attracts attention), an applicator (flat I get the best tool - I found this one at NARS), straight from the case (I finally correct the contour with a brush with foundation.
In 14 days, I went through almost all stages of emotional response, from denial to anger and acceptance. When you want to stop the experiment to finally relax, and when you think you need to change clothes, because red lipstick does not fit everything you are wearing. And only at the end you realize that behind an innocent beauty experiment there is a quality work on yourself, your fears, blocks and doubts. The bottom line is only inner confidence, energy and buzz from what is happening in the moment!
