Katie Brown on Beauty: The classics vs. the orange-red lip

Katie+Brown+on+Beauty%3A+The+classics+vs.+the+orange-red+lip

One of my favorite childhood stories that my mom likes to tell is one that involves me, lipstick, high-heels and chocolate. Who would have thought.  

It goes a little like this: for a couple of months, I would wake up in the middle of the night, put on my plastic furry Barbie high heels, and stomp into the kitchen to sneak a Kit-Kat bar. On this particular evening, I decided I would sneak into my mom’s purse, get out her tube of shimmery brown lipstick (it was the 90’s), and continue to put it all over my face. Needless to say, lipstick and I have a love affair that goes way back.  

Red lipstick is classic. A bold, precise red lip screams ultimate femininity, and is as timeless as the little black dress. I’ve been really inspired by the perfectly precise 60s makeup on the women of Mad Men lately (I’m obsessed), and it makes me want to wear a matte red lip and bold cat eye every day of my life. Unfortunately my sleeping too late habit and shaky hands don’t allow me to achieve the perfection that’s on the show, but I still dream.

However, there’s a new kid on the block – the orange-red lip. While a red lip is acceptable pretty much all year round, the orange-red usually rolls around in time for spring. Think of it as the red lip’s young, temporarily better looking daughter. Or is that creepy?

Anyways, an orange-red lip is hot, bold, and bright. It still looks classic, but has got that little bit of oomph, if ya know what I mean.

I made a recent purchase of an orange-red lipstick that has become my new favorite lip product of the moment. It’s Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipstick in the shade Red Lacquer. The formula of these is great: it goes on smoothly and feels hydrating on the lips. It is a little sheer, but bangs out quite the punch of color.

While I love the women of Mad Men, I’m gonna rock this lip like the modern 2014 woman I am.