The Absolute Perfect Red-crimson Lip

Ever since I saw Jessica Chastain’s amazing lip color in Miss Sloane I have been obsessed with finding the ultimate red-crimson lipstick.

I have searched high and low for a color even close to the Miss Sloane lip, but everything I found was too something. Too red (and not all of us can pull off red lips every day) or not blue enough, or too dull, too dark, too pinky, or too lifeless.

On shoots I will just mix up the color I want or need, but in my daily life I need to have a lipstick I can grab and go.

I got super lucky a couple of weeks back when Tarte

sent me a box of makeup to use on my Luca Magazine Spring 2017shoots. The box contained the entire collection of lip paints, and in there was the absolute perfect red-crimson. For me this is the color of the season, and let me tell you why.

Red is great, but it can be overwhelming. For those of us who aren’t supermodels red isn’t always a win, and isn’t always the perfect shade. Sometimes it just feels too much. Sometimes a red lip feels like too much work.

Red can cross the line between projecting confidence and projecting sex-bomberage. One of the reasons I loved Jessica Chastain’s lip in Miss Sloane was that it at all times made you feel that she was in charge, she was powerful, she was strong, but at the same time it eluded the overtly sexy connotations of a traditional red.

Red-crimson is still a sexy color. It’s just a little more manageable. And it’s also a little unpredictable. It goes with so much more in your closet than a regular red does.

 

It looks quite pinky here, but Fly is actually deeper and less pink.
(see Jessica Chastain picture above)

It makes your teeth and the whites of your eyes look sparkling white. It compliments cool skin tones exquisitely, and it leaves your lips looking a little bitten, which is quite alluring!

For spring/summer 2017 bold lips are a major makeup trend. Red-crimson gives you a power lip, but it is a power lip that fires up the gorgeous tones in your skin, looks stunning with a tan, and once again – it goes with verything!

The Tarte red-crimson is in their new Lip Paint collection so it has a matte finish and lasts all day. The color is Fly.

Tarte cosmetics are available at Ulta, Sephora, and on the Tarte website.

Jessica Chastain's Incredible Lips In Miss Sloane

Jessica Chastain just made every lipstick you own irrelevant.

This weekend Chastain's new film, Miss Sloane, opens nationwide.
Her Oscar worthy performance will keep you on the edge of your seat as the movie twists and turns and ducks and feints. 
Miss Sloane is all intelligent dialogue, rich, delicious dialogue that happens at a wickedly fast clip, with Chastain delivering a verbal armageddon at a mile a minute.

When dialogue is so important to a film, the mouth delivering this dialogue is crucially important. Jessica Chastain's mouth in this film is mesmerizing. You can't take your eyes off it. 

Chastain' dialogue is delivered through a compelling, mesmerizing vermillion lip.

Elizabeth Sloane is a feminine, fashion forward D.C lobbyist who's power is locked up in a vermillion lip that reminds us at all times that she is in charge, at all times. It tells us that she will not be falling into any traditional traps, that she is a step ahead of the opposition. It tells us that she is not frivolous and she is not to be trifled with.

A true red would perhaps be an obvious choice for a woman in power, but true reds can add an element of sexuality to a woman, perhaps giving her an implied availablity to men. Perhaps a challenge to men, but ultimately a traditional red lip would let men sexualize her as opposed to fear her.

And this is where the genius lies. The vermillion lip combines power with blood sport. At first glance you know that she would tear an opponent to pieces and walk away with no remorse.

It's fantastic.

Miss Sloane is easily one of the best films of 2016.

Change your plans for this weekend and make sure you go see it.

Here are some great vermillion inspired lips to help you channel your inner Miss Sloane:

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Glastonberry

available online at CharlotteTilbury.com

Marc Jacobs Le Marc lipstick in Blow

available online at MarcJacobs.com

Tom Ford lipstick in Smoke Red or in Scarlet Rouge

available online at Bloomingdales.com

How To Choose The Perfect Blush For Your Skin Tone

Blush is such a gorgeous product. It breathes new life into your face and adds a little color to stop you from looking washed out.

image of Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick in Moon Beach

Choosing the right blush can feel a bit overwhelming though, so let's look at the rules of blush, and how to choose the right blush for your skin tone.

The Rules

Blush should never be confused with contour. Contour products are made up of black and grey and are designed to absorb light and create the subtle illusion of a shadow falling under the cheekbone, making the cheekbone look higher and the cheek look thinner.

Blush and bronzer are not interchangeable! Bronzer's job is to make you look like you've been out in the sun, giving you a sun-kissed glow.

Don't choose a blush that is deeper than the color you would naturally flush to. It will make your complexion look muddy and heavy. Blush is supposed to give you a little lift!

Color

The most important criteria when choosing a blush color is knowing your skin's undertone. 

Are you a cool tone - ivory/beige/pink or are you a warm tone - olive/ bronze/ebony? 

Jessica Chastain is a cool toned girl

If you are a cool tone then cooler, more blue based blushes will look best on you. If you are a warm toned girl then you need a warm based blush.

Jennifer Lopez is a warm toned girl

That nutmeg spice colored blush that looks stunning on an olive girl can look like a heavy brown smudge on a cool toned girl. If you have a cool skin tone but want to wear a more neutral blush a softer, pinky-red based buff or gentle beige-brown color can look beautiful.

The slightly blue based pink that is charming on a cool toned girl can sit up on top of an olive skin and look all wrong. If you have a warm skin tone but want a pink blush, choose a coral based pink instead of a blue based pink.

Tips

If you are using a blush with a shimmer or a sheen choose one with a gold based shimmer. 

Cream blushes help to keep your skin glowing.

Look for products that give sheer, buildable color.

Blushes I love:

Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick in Moon Beach 

Lipstick Queen Frog Prince Cream Blush
No - it's not green blush! It adapts to your personal pH and gives you your perfect cheek.

Nars Orgasm. It's been around for ages, no doubt because it's so fabulous.

Oscar De La Renta Vogue Archives

I saw this on Vogue.com and loved it.

I adore Oscar de la Renta. 

Vogue.com ran 18 images of fabulous moments in de la Renta from their archives. 

Here are 13 of my favorites

 Beyonce by Patrick Demarchelier

Penelope Cruz

Amal Alamuddin Wedding Dress Fitting

By Steven Meisel, September 2012

Grace Mahary, Imaan Hammam, and Cindy Bruna

Anne Hathaway

Kate Moss

Renee Zellweger

Jessica Chastain

Jessica Biel

Amber Valetta

Reese Witherspoon

Kirsten Dunst

.

 See 5 more Oscar de la Renta images from the Vogue archives here

Jessica Chastain for YSL Manifesto L'Eclat Eau De Toilette

One of Jessica Chastain's Oscar red carpet dresses is part of the Hollywood Costume exhibit at the Phoenix Art Museum at the moment. You don't realize quite how tiny her waist is when you see her on film or in print, but seriously, ginger girl is tiny.

Anyway, I love a ginger girl in a bold red lip, especially with a smoked out eye, so I adore these images from the 

YSL Manifesto L'Eclat campaign.

I wish they hadn't downplayed the hair color though...

Lensed by Max Vadukul and shot on location in Los Angeles

Jessica Chastain Covers Vogue Magazine

Jessica Chastain looks like a painting on the cover

of the December 2013 issue of Vogue.

Jessica Chastain Covers Vogue Magazine December 2013 issue

Shot by Annie Liebovitz for her first ever Vogue cover,

Chastain is also featured in the main fashion editorial

in a story that recreates classic paintings.

Frederic Leighton, Flaming June

The cover image is a recreation of 

Frederic Leighton's Flaming June,

with Chastain wearing a yellow Theory by Theyskens dress.