I’ve long worshipped at the alter of the red lip, the first makeup item I bought, at the age of fourteen, was Revlon lipstick in a classic red shade. And I think there’s something to wearing a striking red lip that keeps women from all walks of like coming back to the classic look.
Donning a red lipstick shade is like a statement: I will not shrink into the background, I am bold and demand to be recognized. There’s something very beautiful about a cosmetic or clothing item that not only makes you look beautiful but, more importantly, makes you feel beautiful; and this confidence shines from within. And when you feel beautiful inside and out, the opinions of others, whether they be complimentary or critical, are irrelevant. Such confidence nullifies any external judgments or pressures that women have to contend with each day from peers, authority figures, media, and society at large. In this way, wearing red lipstick harkens back to
the days when fierce female warriors donned warpaint to fend off predators; red lipstick is modern form of warpaint meant to deflect the challenges of the day that women face.
I think there is also something to be said for how dynamic red lips are. Red lipstick can communicate various messages and play a key role many differing aesthetics; depending on the specific tone of the red lippie used it can create an image of old Hollywood glam, gothic inspired, modern and minimalist, lavish twenties-era flapper girl, grunge-inspired glamour, an
unapologetically punk pout, retro eighties sleekness, or even to add a dash of color to a natural neutral look. These are just some of the ways I personally have utilized the versatile red lip feature. That’s what I especially love about red lipstick, it can say so much and be so much, it’s
not limited or pigeon-holed. Because of this ability, red lips can appeal to and favor women of many differing walks of life in a vast array of situations and with varying needs. And I’ve yet to see a woman red lips don’t adorn beautifully, so, in a way, red lipstick is a universal detail that brings together women of various diverse backgrounds.
I think this also serves as a physical representation of how dynamic and adaptable any one woman can be; throughout our day we serve many conflicting roles for different audiences with different intentions, we face enormous adversity in our daily lives, and have to conquer challenges on a regular basis. Wearing red lipstick is a statement: we are strong, bold, shamelessly outspoken, dynamic, have exponential potential, and are more powerful that many know.