Love Sick: The Right Way to Wear Lipstick on a Date
Though my lips have natural color to them and I really have no need to wear lipstick, I have always had a fondness for it and use it often. Back when I was little, when my mom was selling Avon products and had a bunch of mini sample lipsticks, I would sneak into her bathroom and steal them. They came in varying shades of red, beige, maroon, even purple, but the ones that caught my attention were the bright pinks. I would put them on and head off to school thinking I looked like a movie star.
Looking back on it later, I asked my mom why she would allow me to go to school looking like a baby prostitute with bright pink lips and she just said that she knew I liked it and didn’t see any harm in it.
Today, my favorite lipstick is still my bright pink one, but I try to use it sparingly. It’s not exactly an everyday color. In fact, many lipsticks are too vibrant to wear on a normal day and you especially want to avoid a brightly colored pouty lip on a first date.
As glamorous as movie stars look on the red carpet with their lips painted the exact same color as the rug under their feet, this look just does not translate well into the real world. Wearing these lip stains on a first date would not only startle the boy, but probably make him think you’re too high maitenece or make him wary of kissing you for fear that his lipstick would rub off onto him. Kissless at the end of the night, you’ll begin to question yourself, thinking he didn’t kiss you because he didn’t like you and will spend all night thinking what could’ve gone wrong.
I’ve found that a really good way to wear lipstick that is neither intimidating or transferable is to put it on hours before going anywhere and slowly letting it fade away. The color is usually strong enough to stick on to your lips to give them a nice shade but the look is a lot more toned down and less likely to come off on your date. For a quick fix, toilet paper is a great blotter but I hate using it because I feel like it dries out my lips. Another important thing to remember is the finger trick. After applying lipstick, put your index finger in your mouth and slowly pull it out with your lips pursed. This prevents the lipstick from coming off onto your teeth so you can avoid looking like your Crazy Aunt Rita.
Another possibility to make your lips looking inviting is to use a tinted lip balm. This will keep your lips moisturized and add a hint of color without you looking like you just joined clown school. Surprisingly, Lip Smaker’s Dr. Pepper chapstick is a really good option for this. It’s cheap, adds a hint of red to your lips, and tastes delicious.
You must be logged in to post a comment.