The secrets behind the red lipstick formulas of Grace Kelly, Madonna, Angelina Jolie and more.
“The rules for wearing red lipstick are that there are no rules, just like intells me over e-mail when I ask her to describe the ethos behind her standout makeup looks. Who am I to argue with the Blondie legend when it comes to red lipstick decorum? Her iconic on-and-off stage beauty looks, after all, were constant, indelible perfection—in part due to the fact that she never shied away from a bold red lip .
Wearing red lipstick has always meant more than just a logical color match for your wardrobe. Choosing red often intimates a chic, confident, and sexy vibe. For years science has well documented the fact that seeing the color red sends signals to the brain ideas of sexual attractiveness. Red lipstick connotes power, and has the ability to uplift your mood and make you feel alive.
“Madonna was very clear on what she needed from all of us. She wanted her features not to disappear so her face had expression, even for those fans way at the back, if the monitors were not working. Her eyebrows were very important, and therefore looked stronger than normal. She wanted her eyebrow to have an arch, she wanted her lipstick to hold up against having a head set microphone on and off throughout all the changes.
“She would be drenched from her highly active dance performances each time she came under the stage for a costume change and touchups. While clothes were being taken off her and another costume put on, I cooled her down with chilled water and mopped her face constantly with Viva paper towels. Then, at the last minute—as so much movement was happening—I would hand her the Russian Red on still perfectly defined lips.
Madonna performs on stage at Feyenoord Stadium, Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands on the Blond Ambition World Tour, 24th July 1990.“This was her signature look for the the “Blond Ambition” tour. At the end of a night’s performance, we all had to do a mad exit after packing up , and race to whichever vehicle or bus that was allotted that evening, depending on which country we were in. Fans would somehow make a race to, of course, get to Madonna, the dancers, and even any of us.