THE BOLD LIP

For thousands of years, human beings have used make up as a tool to express themselves as well as make statements. It has been such an important factor in society that it is difficult to imagine a world without it. Women have celebrated their femininity throughout the centuries by creating a blush effect using roses, darkening their eyelids using burnt matches and using berries to stain their lips.

It is safe to say that for a long time, bold statements have existed, where people used the art to demonstrate their uniqueness in a confident display. The Egyptians, both men and women, would paint kohl, a mixture of metal, lead, copper, ash and burnt almonds, all around their eyes. The circles of kohl were meant to ward off the evil eye or dangerous spirits and certainly played a role in deflecting the harsh desert sun. The result was a bold, severe, yet beautiful statement.

The bold lip has made its mark more so in the 21^st century. In New York fashion week, spring 2014, there was a clear indication of the bold berry lip trend, with a polished matte finish. In every runway display, the lips seem to be bolder and brighter. If the lips are not bold, then another makeup element is, say a nude lip and heavy smoky eye.

Closer to our time, we’ve seen the rise of feminism, promoted by powerful female figures. Often, the clothes that these women wear and the make-up they choose allow them to self- express, or create their own niche so to speak.

Marilyn Monroe, one of the biggest icons in the 50s was known for her beauty and charm. But even she, an effortless beauty, made bold statements with her make up. Make-up artists and celebrities try to recreate her look time and time again. Marilyn wore a bold red lipstick, which she lined and contoured to create the luscious, voluminous look we all know and love.

Rihanna is one of the biggest stars in the world right now. She’s not one to follow rules, as she sets her own and creates trends we just can’t help but follow. She is known for being edgy and creative, using her fashion sense and make up as an indisputably powerful statement. Rihanna is often spotted in bright, bold lipstick. On and off the red carpet, she manages to pull off red, purple, burgundy, emerald green, black and virtually every color that could possibly exist.

How can you, too pull off the bold lip? The trick if finding the best color for your skin tone, and especially one that you love as it should make you feel confident and beautiful. Consider the tone of the lipstick, e.g. what tone of red, purple or brown would be best on you? Cool-toned lip colors have more blue in them and tend to look better on people with cool-toned complexions. Warm-toned lip colors have more yellow or orange in them, and tend to work well on those with warm-toned skin. 

Confused about whether your skin’s undertone is warm or cool? Check the veins on the inside of your wrist: if they look blue, you have cool-toned skin; if they look green, you have warm-toned skin. If you can’t tell one way or another, you have a neutral skin tone and can wear any color.

Be sure not to over-do the rest of your face. Skip the contouring, and heavy eye make up for more subtle lip colors, and let your bold lips do all the work. Instead, allow your other make up to play supporting roles. Soft gentle eyebrows, moisturized skin and a touch of mascara will be just enough; a groomed but natural look.

Next, and very importantly, you have to pair up the bold lip with an outfit that co-ordinates with the look rather than drowns it.  Now, I would assume that none of us are prep’ing for the red carpet, but typical day to day looks. The fact is, bold lipstick is not casual. However, it sure can make the most casual outfit just a tint brighter and cuter. It can make an everyday look appear more sophisticated and thought-out.

A casual white blouse, faded blue jeans and plain black heels or boots type of day would work best with a bright red lip, to sort of bring life to the outfit. Dull colors and plain, casual clothes always work well with bold lips, drawing attention to your face and highlighting your smoochers. In this case, less is more.

That is not to say that you cannot wear flashy, bright colored clothes with a bold lip. However, you need to be a bit careful such that the result is tasteful and does not make your look crowded. Take for example a yellow dress and the bright red lip. You might be worried about looking like a hot-dog with ketchup and mustard, but it can definitely turn out looking a lot more glamorous. Emma Stone is a great example. She stunned in a bright yellow gown and bright, fuchsia lip color when she showed up at the Spider-man -2 premier last year.

Most importantly, there are no rules that are set in stone! Through mixing and matching, you should be able to attain the look that you like best, and be able to express yourself using your own words, your own language and your own style. Do what feels most comfortable for you, and don’t be afraid to step out and make a statement once in a while.

Thank you for reading, loves! feel free to comment and share!