Choosing the correct shade of red to your seasonal colour is definitely important too

I think a red lip can go with outfits that are not "too put together" too (avoiding as Merriam said to attract attention to the small imperfect details) when it's just applied thinly, blotted and smudged a bit with a finger without crisp edges. This way the whole look has an effortless and cool vibe imho and I really like it.

I told something similar to my guy friend about his flashy car. A flashy car is cool and all that (not my thing), but when the driver pulls up to a run-down living space and is in shabby clothes, the car starts to look off and it's trying to be something it's not.  Style (to me) is holistic.

If you feel like a classic red lip doesn’t look good on you, maybe try a blurred version of a red lip. Instead of the harsh lip line, the blurred lip line looks much more natural

Merriam, I just want to say that your hair looks AMAZING. It's the PERFECT length, and the bottom-heavy curls is the cherry on top.

some people choose a “brown red “ when they need a cool red instead

I have mentioned before under your red lip video, i would never feel good in bright red. However, my daughter who 99% of the time never wears any makeup. When it's a special occasion and she has red lipstick she looks amazing. She does have larger round eyes, with a small shape, but full lips. Though my lips are naturally red,  i still don't feel good in a bright red lip.

I couldn't agree more! If the red lip creates disharmony in your look then maybe you should go for something else. Maybe having it smudged or not as sharp and vibrant would be nice, i find that making it look effortless and not too visible is the best option!

I was dying for a photo example Merriam! PS Love what you are saying tho

For me, red lipstick is a mood booster. When the world around me is of certain colors - around November - when a certain shade of red lipstick makes me happy. And now I’m wondering if she emphasizes my imperfections. I’m glad that in Sweden the preferred aesthetics give a lot of space for naturalness and imperfections)

I agree with you. So glad you’re talking about this. I follow a French YouTuber who says there’s a red lip colour that looks good on everyone. I know I could wear a blue based red but I would feel uncomfortable. I’d feel a bit tarty I think. It’s just not me and I don’t think it suits everyone. I have very soft, rounded features and it’s just a bit too much for me, I think anyway.

The disharmony theory makes a lot of sense to me, it's the reason I buy dresses yet most of the time never wear them. I feel like if I wear a dress, the standard for my hair and makeup needs to be higher. A lot of people don't get it when I say this though, but I feel like it's the same principle as what you're talking about.

Your color system is clear and intuitive, and it just makes more sense than a lot of others. I really appreciate the common-sense approach, and how you teach balance and harmony so naturally.

I think everyone can wear a red lip, but not necessarily a fire engine red, super saturated, crisply defined, very matte red. There is so much variety when it comes to tone, opacity, and finish of a red lip. I do believe that there is something out there for everyone!

Yes! Yes! Yes! I look clownish with red lip!

I find a really dark red blotted way down looks good with almost anything. I like Revlon Vampire Love.

Thanks for a good video with practical advice.  Don't forget that climate has a lot to do with how we make up!  A red lip may look good in Paris but may seem really overdone in South Florida where I live.

Completely agree. Color seasons aside- red is a lip color that shows any imperfections in application. One needs to take the time to apply it flawlessly

Yes to all of this! I think a good alternative to a "classic" red lip is a muted pink/brown with some clear lipgloss on top. Or just some clear lipgloss. A bit of neutral eyeshadow, a hint of mascara, and some gently filled-in eyebrows. And also, a hint of blush does wonders! At least for me. I am a minimal makeup girl (partly because of laziness) but also because I don't like the feeling of having makeup on, especially foundation.

- The fresh-faced look always looks effortless on me. It's a look I can actually pull off. And occasionally, I will pull out the eyeliner and the shimmer lipgloss, the most excellent powder I've got, and some colorful eyeshadows. But that's for special occasions and for the days where I actually feel like spending more than ten to fifteen minutes on my makeup :)

Yep, your video resonates... the red is so defined and precise, it requires a similar level of attention and definition on the rest of the appearance... totally agree, Merriam !