Rouge, Royal or Ruby? Shades of Monet® teaches you how to go Really Red the Right Way!

Although many women (and there are a lot of us!) who shy away from it because we are inclined to believe otherwise, we at Shades of Monet® Cosmetics assure you: the red lip is not reserved or restricted to a selected, special group of women. Timeless and tempting all at once, any and every woman can and ought to rock the red lip! The only secret: when going red, do pay attention to the rubies, royals and rouges; the right shade will make red ravishing, and the wrong one… well, we know how that goes! The red lip, done the right way, is as classique as it is chic; it always has and always will make a bold and beautiful statement, in any season, and at any time, A.M or P.M.

Doing a shade test when it comes to red lip color is determinant of a result that is either ravishingly red or just red alert! Red lips are not meant to be repelling, so to work the look it is important to choose a shade of red that will complement your skin tone. If there is one thing that Monet Colbert continuously stresses of her brand, it is that Shades of Monet® Cosmetics is reflective of “the shades of everyone’s lives”. And let’s be real: we all have different shades, which is why Monet herself emphasizes the importance of finding the shade right for you. For women with darker skin, her advice is to "use berry tones and mix them up by adding plum colours to achieve the perfect shade" and to "pass up on all orange and yellow based reds". Blue or purple based reds such as raspberry or blood red are flattering on darker complexions, while bright, flaming red lipstick works in favour of women with fair and olive toned skin. Thus women who are fairer, and have pink toned skin should opt for cherry red, while medium toned, olive skinned women are better suited for fire engine red lip colors.

The great thing about the red lip look is that it is easy to create and re-create numerous ways, so as to fit a specific occasion or just a specific mood. To create a naturally blended red lip, Monet recommends using a flesh toned liner to line and then fill in moisturized lips. Using a lip brush, take a warm cherry shade of red, apply to the center of the lip area, and reapply once again. For the famous Marilyn Monroe red, go for a bright cherry red to line lips and fill them in. Reapply the color two or three times, and finish by carefully coating lips with a high shine gloss. Finally, for a vampy or grunge look, outline lips with a darker toned lip pencil, and then apply a brunt red lip color to the center of lips. A lipstick that is matte in texture is best for this look, as it gives a deathly look.

As a beauty staple that never goes out of style, the red lip can clearly be worked a number of different ways. To work it well however, there are certain things to pay mind to. Though a common finishing ingredient in some of the greatest evening looks, know that the red lip also works wonders in the daytime. When choosing a formula, a general rule of thumb is that a glossy red lip is casual, while a classic matte lip is dramatic and better suited for eveningwear. If your desire is a sheer finish, go for a liquid stain, and if on the other end, it is the classic bold, opt instead for hydrating cream or matte formulas. The red lip done right will draw attention as a point of focus. Making a mistake in shade choice however can give the appearance of sallow skin and yellow teeth, and leave you with a look gone horribly wrong. Because the red lip is the perfect finishing touch, it is important that one keeps makeup simple. Go for a neutral face, wear a sheer blush, and minimize eye makeup to get a high-fashion look day and night.

Remember, whether you do it with raspberry, ruby, or plain old rouge, revamp, redefine, and recreate the red lip your way! No matter your skin tone, you can rock red! So, go ahead: dramatize your desired red lip look with your Shades of Monet®.