I never used to be a lipstick person. I went through chapstick like it was my job, but lipstick was never my go-to facial accessory. I don’t think I had the confidence it takes to pull it off.
Also, who are we kidding! I’m a mom! Moms aren’t typically the ones spending their momey on make-up; mostly because unless we’re going to work or the rare vacation trip to Target alone, we don’t have time or need to wear it. Lipstick is a waste of time when I’m at home because in the first 5 minutes of having it on, I’ll kiss it off and my boys will be wearing it more than me.
For my birthday this past year, my sister-in-law gave me a gift certificate to Sephora. I’m not an expensive make-up person either. Not that I wouldn’t love to be, I just can’t usually justify high end make-up when I can get Revlon for much cheaper and it does the job just as well.
But one afternoon, I walked into Sephora feeling rather out of place. They could smell my fear and insecurity. The woman came to help me and asked what I was looking for. I had decided I wanted to get some red lipstick. She gave me several to try and each one I said, “Eh…I feel like it’s too much. I look like I’m trying too hard.” She said, “It looks great, you just don’t have enough confidence!”
Although I felt confident within myself, I realized my insecurities were shining through in that moment. I decided on a less bold pink color and she said, “It’s really pretty. Once you get used to wearing that, come back and get this red one!”
Well, that pink Dior color opened my eyes to a whole new world of empowerment and I haven’t looked back since.
Since getting used to color on my lips and realizing I finally do have much more confidence than I realized, I have branched out and discovered the power of red lips. In fact, I feel pretty naked without it.
“There is a shade of red for every woman.” —Audrey Hepburn
If it wasn’t for work, I’d look like this all the time…
Thanks to my job that forces me to dawn the doors of society, I have to look a little more pulled together than this during the week. I often have people say to me, “You’re a mom!!?!? But you look so together!!???”
This comment always gives me mixed feelings. While it’s a compliment to be told I look pulled together, even if I’m not, it reminds me that people have this assumption that moms are always haggard and worn looking. While we are in fact haggard and worn, we don’t always have to look that way!
Here’s a couple things people who see me and say, “But you look so together” don’t know…
I have found that dry shampoo, a cute outfit, good shoes and red lipstick cover a multitude of flaws!
“It’s really hard to walk in a single woman’s shoes. That’s why we need really special ones now and then to make the walk a little more fun.” Carrie Bradshaw
Here’s the thing. Even if I’m tired, which is basically every day, I have to get dressed. It takes me the same amount of time and effort to put on something nice as it does to wear a t-shirt. So I figure, might as well go for cute! Aside from the fact that I’d be sent home if I showed up in a t-shirt and yoga pants, it makes a difference how I feel to dress up.
Let’s face it. Work is really my only opportunity to look like a human being, so I have to take advantage of what I can!
It also takes the same time and effort to wear chapstick as it does color. I’ve discovered that regardless of how few hours of sleep I got, the pounding headache and the hectic morning that got me there, slapping on some lipstick before I walk into work changes everything about how I feel. And if nothing else, it changes how everyone thinks I feel! 😉
“Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick and pull yourself together.” Elizabeth Taylor
Make-up is sort of like jewelry for your face. I put on my make-up in the van every morning 5 minutes before walking into work. Some days, I don’t look that pulled together even with the red lips, but they always help.
Something changes inside when you have bold lips. It says to yourself and to the world, “I’m here.” And that’s a powerful statement.
“Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick.” Gwyneth Paltrow
So slap on your red lipstick ladies! Hold your head high and walk proud. You are beautiful even without jewelry on your face, but it never hurts to add a little sparkle. 🙂
Go find your best red… And Don’t forget to vote!
Three Boys and a Mom 
You are beautiful girl!
I have tried 10+ red lipsticks and I just cannot pull it off!
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Oh you’re so sweet! Thank you! It took me a long time to feel ok about it and a lot of colors to find ones I liked… Maybe you just need to find a different color… Pinks, brownish tones…? Some people do look better with neutrals… Really it’s about what makes YOU feel confident and beautiful! ☺ That’s what really matters!
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Ummm, I LOVE makeup! And the expensive stuff! And I don’t feel bad haha! I don’t have nearly as much time to doll myself up the way I once did, but when I do, I just feel so much better about myself. More human almost. I know as moms we tend not to spend so much on ourselves and give more to our kids, I sacrifice in other areas for sure, like new shoes and clothes. But makeup I just cannot give it up haha! The lipstick looks great on you! Beautiful mama! 🙂
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Oh sue, do not get me wrong! I LOVE makeup!!!! I just do now have the time or funds to properly feed that desire haha! And there’s nothing wrong with spending some money on good makeup. I did realize the difference in good lip stick and crap when I ventured into the land of sephora! We all have to have things that make us happy and make us feel good about ourselves!
Thank you for the compliment darling! You are beautiful too! 😘
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A good money saving tip, try to find the brands you like on Amazon! I LOVE Glominerals, and the place I was buying it was SO $$$! I found it all on Amazon and it’s much cheaper. The powder I use was $47 at the store I was buying it on amazon it’s $20 cheaper!
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Great tip!! I actually have a glominerals lipstick that I love!!!!! My mom bought it and didn’t like the color, and I think she got it on Amazon! 😊 Glominerals is great stuff!! And so is Amazon haha
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Another fyi, one of my favorite colors is a $2 wet n wild…. So not everything has to be super nice or pricey to be pretty! Lol, although they are usually nicer and don’t do weird lip staining like the cheap stuff haha
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So true! I actually only use the $$ mineral makeup on my skin because I tend to break out if I use cheaper stuff. I don’t typically do lipstick, but I LOVE lip gloss and I’m find with using the cheaper stuff on that!
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It’s def your color ! Looks incredible on you. The new GWEN !!
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Oh wow, Thank you so much!!!
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I work in the beauty industry and I STILL get nervous about wearing bright lipstick. But you are ROCKING it! That shade looks amazing on you. Loved this post!
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Oh you’re so sweet! Thank you! I do sometimes still feel self conscious at work because I feel like people think I am trying too hard…but hey, whatever! ☺ If you can wear it and you like it, rock it! Thanks again!!
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You look great in red lipstick! I have tried a bunch of different shades, but my skin tone just doesn’t look good with red. I have used a more bold shade of pink before though. I do have to say though that you don’t need to shower and wash your hair every day to look good. I have gotten a few compliments on my hair in the past two days and it’s crazy to me because I have not washed it in wayy too many days. Dry shampoo is the best.
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Oh I agree 100%… In fact my hair does better not being washed every day! I bet you’d look good in earthy tones of lipstick… Whatever you like and makes you feel good is what you’ll look best in though because confidence is the best accessory! ☺
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Love makeup. Even if most days I don’t really need it in my homey life, I want it. Feels more pulled together.:)
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Haha I agree with you Marisa… Sometimes it’s good to put a little on even if you’re just at home with kiddos to make yourself feel Better… But I don’t think it’s ever a requirement ☺
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Horse puckey! Did it again. Meant to add you are beautiful with and without lipstick. Wish I looked that good without. Really wish I was brave enough to share pictures.:)
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You’re so sweet and so funny… Horse puckey made me laugh. You’re beautiful… Do share some pictures sometime 😍
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I love it!! I am so glad you had that Sephora card, (I have one too that’s waiting to be used!) The saleswoman sounds like she knew what she was talking about-you just needed a little bit of confidence. A now look at you!! You can definitely rock the red!!
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Oh Thank you so much Tarynn! I bet you’d be gorgeous in red… Use that sephora card and post us a pic 😘
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This is so me!! I recently got into bold lips (I would say the past year or so) and I havent looked back. I never wore lipstick either! I live for dry shampoo!!
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Too bad we don’t live close to each other because we’d sure be a hot pair with our dry shampood heads and our bold lips! Haha 😍😘❤
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Red lipstick, sunglasses, and listerine breathe strips can conquer the world. You look awesome day 3! Wow!
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Haha I agree!!! And thank you so much! ☺
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Your great… I stay home and I look like your at home pic about 90% of the time. I think I own 1 stick but its boring… I guess I have a good excuse to get out and buy a new shade of red!
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Oh thank you!! Absolutely… Go get you some, slap it on and kiss up your baby at home! Haha, if nothing else it’d make for a cute picture having lips all over your kids! 😘
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My wife like sitting on my lap an cover me in red lipstick kisses! Sometimes for an hour! Over an over! She is much bigger than me an if I complained I’d get a black eye!! Lol
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You look awesome in red lipstick!!! FYI – I love lipstick, but feel the same as you: that it rubs off too easily. Now I use color stay and my life has changed!!! Best invention EVER!
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Amen! I find the cheap stuff is what lasts the best haha! Thank you so much!!
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