Find your red lipstick

photograph by yogen shah
A bright scarlet mouth first caught the fancy of men and women around the world in the ’50s, courtesy of the celebrated screen icon Marilyn Monroe. Her makeup artist apparently used five layers of the shade to get that perfect pout. Referred to as the colour of passion, danger and rebellion, in the past, red hue has had a tumultuous relationship with beauty and fashion. Now, the red lipstick is a makeup staple. The right shade of red for you might seem elusive. Here are a few pointers that will help you choose: For lighter skin tones: If you have a pale complexion, a red with coral undertones work the best on you. They add a pop of colour without overpowering. If you’re the experimenting kind and decide to go for ruby red—make sure to combine it with nicely kohled eyes to balance it out.
For wheatish skin tones: From true reds to pink-cranberry shades, all work well on skin that has golden undertones. Pop and tomato reds also look gorgeous on a wheatish complexion.

For dusky skin tones: Those with a dusky skin tone should avoid bright reds and stick to deep rich reds like those with burgundy and warm brick tints.
TIP: If you still are dissatisfied with the red, combine a few tones that work well for your skin tone and you may just hit the jackpot!