Red lips vs. Nude lips

Oooh the lips. The focal point of any face, eyebrows frame the face, but lips…… oooh lips.  Lipstick creates mystery and magic and memorable looks that linger. But if you get it wrong, there’s nothing worse. You’ve all seen the too orangey red or the wrong colour nude that is more bleck than beautiful. Those colours that are hard for anyone to pull off.

Still, there’s something about lipstick that makes it the one product you absolutely must have to change your entire look. Having gorgeously coloured lips can give you confidence: when wearing lipstick, you’ll instantly feel better. I have very full lips which I love (I’ve known women pay money to have lips my size) and I feel more confident and beautiful when my lips are their perfect shade.

My go-to colours are red and nude… depending on my outfit and my mood. Personally I seldom deviate from my MAC Ruby Woo in the evenings or Mac Rebel in the day, but application of both always seems like such a process. With Boots launching their No. 7 lipstick matching service I’ve now tried matte lipsticks too!

So here’s the classic debate… which is better red or nude?

Red

Matte or gloss, deep or bright, a swipe of red lipstick can update your look instantly and actually has more benefits than just accentuating your playful pucker…

 A New York Post survey conducted by former DKNY PR girl Aliza Licht asked 460 women on Twitter what they thought when women wore red lipstick at work: 91.2 percent thought it was totally appropriate and 78.8 percent thought it made the woman look more confident.

A study conducted by Chanel’s R&D division and researchers at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania found that facial features—like lips and eyebrows—get noticeably paler as you age because your skin gets darker. When a woman is young, her lips are much redder than her skin, creating an image of youth. When older women wear red lipstick, they can mimic that effect by creating a strong contrast again.

 The New York Times looked into a study conducted by Procter & Gamble and Harvard University that found that women who wear bold makeup are perceived as more likeable and competent in the workplace.

After watching the video below… I’m going to RUN out and get me some of my girl RiRi’s FENTY BEAUTY by Rihanna Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Colour in Uncensored

Nude

Nude lips are the go-to style of the decade. No longer a trend… nude is the new classic. Although they originally were only paired with dramatic, smoky eye, nude lips have continued to grace runways and have stolen the spotlight on red carpets everywhere!  Whether you’re fair and blond like or have a medium complexion or have a lovely chocolate glow, they really are universally flattering!

What is the perfect shade of nude lipstick?

Nude lipstick is an effortless way to look fresh and youthful.  Be careful about flattering your skin tone though. In the lipstick aisle with its overwhelming world of taupes, toffees, and caramels it’s easy to get it wrong. Like red lipstick, it’s not one colour for all. It’s all about choosing shades closest to your own complexion. If it looks ashy, it’s too light. If your lips look too muddy, it’s too dark.

Or… you could do this DIY nude hack instead.

I LOVE NUDES!😍😍😍 😔but not all of them go with my skintone perfectly.. so this is what i do to customize them to make sure theyll match my skintone no matter what! 🌬exfoliate/clean your lips with a baby wipe 💦MOISTURIZE! Im using @farsalicare Rose Gold Elixir like alwayssss ^^^^give it a min to sink in #farsali #farsalicare 🌝Apply your FOUNDATION to the centre of your lip INCLUDING cupids bow – im using ysl foundation #BD55 💄Apply your liquid lippie to the outside corners to ombre – im using my FAVVVVV @hudabeauty MEDUSA liquid matte #hudabeautyliquidmatte #hudabeauty 🙏🏾blend blend blend – no need for touch ups cuz the liquid matte lasts all day!

A post shared by Farah D (@farahdhukai) on Feb 21, 2017 at 7:29pm PST

All in all, I call the nude vs. red lips debate a TIE! There is a time and place for both, whether you’re feeling fierce and fabulous or going for the barely there sophisticated twinge of nude – both looks will have you looking radiant and ravishing! What’s YOUR favorite, nude or red? Let me know in the comments or on Facebook  Twitter and Instagram.

Let’s talk about it!