Makeup

8 Ways to Pull Off Red Lips Once And For All

You don't need a perfect Cupid's bow or a long list of film credits to pull off red lips. Here, how to flaunt beauty's most classic trend

by Amanda Montell

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Red lips are the little black dress of beauty -- glamorous, feminine, timeless. So timeless in fact that the use of red lipstick dates back to ancient Egypt, when Mesopotamian women would decorate their pouts in crushed semi-precious stones.

All that effort makes sense when you consider the facts. Lips are the body's most exposed erogenous zone, and even the softest brush against their sensitive nerve endings sends a wave of information to the brain telling us, that feels good.

So, like a good push-up bra, red lipstick only serves to enhance our goods. In fact (despite the rumors), men systematically prefer red lips on women. Get this -- in 2010, scientists from Manchester University showed groups of men a series of random images of women, and concluded that ladies with red lips received "the most prolonged gaze."

All things considered, you'd think red lips would be every woman's go-to look. But it takes Cleopatra-sized confidence to pull them off.

Here, your be-all-end-all guide to finding your perfect red -- the one that will give you the confidence and allure of a modern-day queen.

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products mentioned

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour

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Peter Thomas Roth Matte Lip Balm

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Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick

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CoverGirl Colorlicious Lipstick

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Lipstick Queen Bête Noire Lipstick

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Maybelline New York Color Sensational Lip Color

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Nars Lip Gloss

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Memebox 24H Magic Lip Tattoo

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Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask

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Older comments

I love red, but I'm a scaredy-cat about putting bold colors on my face. I usually stick to sheer reds, but I might branch out and try some of the ideas in this article.

by kittymarmalade Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 01:50AM Report as inappropriate

love it

by LittleBunny Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 09:45AM Report as inappropriate

I love red. Too bad Nars discontinued their Diablo Lip lacquer, it was awesome!

by Sari Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 07:54PM Report as inappropriate

Red not for me

by EricaC123 Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 06:23AM Report as inappropriate

I tried to wear red lipstick today and it totally made me look washed-out...I'd rather stick with hot pink lipstick instead.

by MizzPink Monday, December 17, 2012 at 02:13PM Report as inappropriate

I like red but i prefer pink or hot pink lipsticks.

by justmilly Monday, December 10, 2012 at 02:51PM Report as inappropriate

Red lipstick is not really for me >

by MissXu Sunday, December 9, 2012 at 06:52PM Report as inappropriate

Making sure your lips are exfoliated is so crucial to red lips or it starts to cake and looks disgusting!! A recommendation- Victoria's Secret has a sugar scrub that is less expensive than the one on this story and is delicious to use and works wonders! It's only $16 but lasts for a long time!!

by Lamexicana1 Saturday, November 10, 2012 at 07:16PM Report as inappropriate

great i love red lips

by Nicole2814 Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 11:14PM Report as inappropriate

I am not a big fan of red lips, except for certain occasions!

by yestfl Monday, October 29, 2012 at 10:39AM Report as inappropriate