Let's Paint the Town Red

(Or how to choose the right red lipstick for our skin tone)

I used to have a fear of wearing red lipstick. I had this idea that red lipsticks were the realm of those with a fairer complexion. No biggie, I thought, morenas like me have other beautiful browns and pinks to choose from anyway. Then I thought, well, why should mestizas have all the fun?

Choosing the right red lipstick, or choosing the right make-up for that matter, really depends a lot on finding the right products that will suit your skin's undertone. One easy way to determine your skin's tone would be to look at the inside of your wrists. If the veins on your wrists are more greenish, then you have a warm, yellow undertone. If your veins have a more purplish tint, then you're more on the cool blue side. Mestizas, or those with a fair or rosy skin, usually have bluish undertones while morenas usually have yellow undertones. Mine are more greenish so I ought to stick to red lipsticks with brown and red orangey undertones.

One product that I've tried that I really like is Maybelline's Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Ruby Lustre. It's still red, but not the scary kind of red, if you know what I mean. It's the kind of red lipstick that won't leave you looking clownish. Another Maybelline product that a morena friend of mine really likes is the Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Brick Rose. I find it a tad too dark for me, but she likes it a lot and it suits her really well so you might want to check that out too.

I also like L'Oreal's Glam Shine Cream in Glam Red. Like Maybelline's Ruby Red, L'Oreal's Glam Red has brown undertones which suit our morena skin. If you're looking for a red lipstick that has SPF, then go for Elianto's Spa Lipstick in Royal Red. This red lipstick has SPF 15, which is really important for protecting your lips and preventing it from getting darker.

One super cheap red lipstick that you might wanna try out is Fashion 21's Lip Spa Nutrient-Rich Lipstick in Raspberry. For only 175 bucks, you get the color and the staying power of a rich red lipstick. Fanny Serrano's Color Brilliance in Army isn't so bad either.

If you want to splurge a little more, try going for Elizabeth Arden's Color Intrigue in Stop Traffic. It's a rich, warm red that morenas can definitely pull off.

I guess at the end there's really no "right" or "wrong" lipstick for you. If you feel like going for cherry reds, then go for it, if you think it looks good on you. It all boils down to personal preference and what makes you feel beautiful and comfortable at the same time.