1950's was the golden age of lipstick, it was as much part of a lady’s attire than a fresh pair gloves and a nice handbag. Although times have changes and gloves have all but disappeared (to my chagrin) I still believe that lipstick sets the women apart from the girls. Anybody can wear lip gloss but beautifully painted lips take dedication, time and confidence. Lip gloss is the lazy girl’s option and for most grown women lipstick is usually far more becoming.
A few years ago I ran a little experiment to see what happens when you wear red lipstick every day for a month. The findings were interesting to say the least. Pillar-box red lips make you stand out in the crowd, give you an air of confidence (even when you are not feeling it), make people notice you in a positive way (I have never received so many compliments) and weirdly even gets you a seat in a jam packed rush hour tube – where on an average day able bodied young men step on short people and push pregnant ladies out of the way to bag the last seat.
So yes, I love lipstick and so believe in its confidence boosting abilities that I put some on before making an important phone call, crazy but it works for me, and if you give it a chance I bet it will work for you too.
If you are a new to the magical world of lipstick and want to practice before venturing out in public with your perfect pout, Mrs Colby recommends pressing a lipsticked mouth on the back of your hand and then filling the outline with a brush, well I suppose back in those days girls practised kissing on the backs of their hands so go ahead, give it a go.
Once you have a steady hand with the brush it's time to figure out if your mouth balances with the rest of your face with the knitting needle test:
Looking straight ahead hold tip of knitting needle at centre of eye making straight line to chin. Now smile. If corners of mouth just touch it, you are properly proportioned. If they go beyond, brush colour inside the natural lip margin. If they fall short widen your smile. And then match your mouth to the shape of your face:
Oval
Follow the natural lines on top, curve lower lip in at corners
Round
Avoid the little rosebud pinched cupid's bow, widen your mouth and your bow in a pair of generous winglike curves
Pear
Rouge this mouth to sufficient width to carry full lower jaw, don't make curves too full
Square
Don’t let the mouth get too squared at corners or bow, keep the outlines softly curved
Oblong
Let this mouth have full warm width and curve to soften and balannce long lines of face
Heart
Don't go wide or heavy, paint a full centre, delicate sides. if too large play down your colour
Diamond
As heart
Marquis
Rouge out to corners but not too heavy, keep a full wide bow and lower lip for greater appeal
And finally some do's and don'ts:
Do’s (by me)
1. Choose the right colour: lipstick should suit your skin tone and not clash with the colour of your outfit either. Hence when you wear black of white it’s easy, colourful clothes can be trickier but with the ample choice of shades available, by no means impossible. When in doubt, choose a lippy that flatters your skin tone and is just a shade or so darker than the natural colour of you lips.
2. I often hear women complaining that they cannot wear lipstick because their lips are so dry; in fact wearing lipstick every day protects the delicate skin and keeps lips in great condition.
3. To avoid getting lipstick on your teeth (=a very bad look and so easily avoided) pucker your lips like you were about to kiss, stick a finger in your mouth and pull it out, all the excess colour from inside your lips will stick on you finger. (Avoid doing this in front of men as they will get the wrong idea, unless of course that’s the idea you wish to give..)
4. To avoid unsightly lipstick marks on coffee cups and wine glasses, quickly (and discreetly) lick the rim of the glass before your lips touch it.
5. To make lipstick last, take a clean tissue, pull taut against lips and bite on it after you have brushed on the first layer of colour. Brush on a thin layer of powder and then apply another layer of colour. This works on most lipstick, however dry long lasting ones might end up caked.
6. Always apply lipstick on dry lips, lip balm underneath will just make it slide, run and disappear.
7. Lining the lips is optional, but if you do, use a lip pencil that matches your lipstick or if not available take a pointed brush and draw the outline with the lipstick you are usin. Darker lipliner is a definite no no!
8. Always use a mirror when (re-)applying lipstick.
9. If you hae thing lips dab a little bit of gloss to the plumpest partof the lips to give and illusion of a fuller mouth.
10. If you want to have a secret snog, make sure you are not wearing any lipstick or be prepared to get caught....
Don'ts (by Mrs C)
1. Don't let your mouth droop at the corners, it makes you look discontent
2. Don’t fold your mouth into a thin lipped tight line; it makes you look bossy and displeased
3. Don't pinch your mouth into a pursy prissy schoolmarm pucker, it makes you look supercritical and will quickly form wrinkles
4, Don’t gnaw the sides of your mouth, you'll look nervous and if you keep it up long enough you'll end up with a crooked mouth
5, Don't paint a baby-doll Cupid's bow - instead paint an open, softer, more generous bow
6. Don't paint on a thick, grotesque minstrel's mouth - it's passé, Do keep inside your lip edge
7. Don’t let a thin mouth age your face, it looks ungiving and disagreeable, Curve both upper and lower lip just a little more than your own plus dab a little bit of gloss in the fullest part of your lips to enhance the plumpness.
8. Don't leave a one sided mouth one sided - Do carry colour higher on lop-side and even out things
9. Don’t let a pouting lower lip give you a bulldog expression - rouge above the line of the upper lip and get more balance
10. Don't let a protruding upper lip give you a rabbity look - fill out lower lip, especially at corners
