Red Lipstick for 8th Grade Formal?

Apr 6, 2012

Kayla T.

SO my 8th grade formal is coming up and my dress is white and my shoes are probably going to be black. So, I was thinking of wearing a red lip. But I don't know if that would be too much for the formal? Please help!!!

Apr 6, 2012

Laura J.

no I don't think it is :) but of course, if you want, you could use a red lipgloss (is it a bad idea..?) or just some nice fresh baby pink-ish color would look awesome too! :)

Apr 6, 2012

Rikki P.

I don't see why it would be.
Red lips are usually the go-to for formal occasions.

Apr 6, 2012

Joi K.

It depends on the shade of red I did makeup for my clients for an 8th grade formal last year and a dance that another attended and the thing to remeber is that you are still 13 -14 years old and while I think some makeup is ok you are not ready to be over the top even for a formal but you can definitely do some shades of pink that have more a darker tone to it but it needs to be a gloss. I know u may not want to hear that but you not only want to look fab that night and no doubt u will but u wanna look age appropiate trust me u have the rest of ur life to wear red lips and be over the top. :-)

Apr 7, 2012

Kayla T.

Yea, I was thinking a red like in the pics i have on my profile? So like Russian red by MAC. Because I definitely like how i look with red, but I've never worn it out in public. And I'm like the "makeup girl" in my grade so everyone's expecting something dramatic.

Apr 7, 2012

Britt A.

I would tap the red onto your lips with your finger so it looks like a stain, and top with a shiny red gloss! That way, you get to wear your red lip, but it's more versatile and you won't feel "overdone" if no one is as spruced up ;) 

Apr 7, 2012

Joi K.

Great Advice Britt B. the best of both not too much and def the color u want with still a young lady appeal Iove it ! 

Apr 7, 2012

Andrea C.

I would go with a bright fuscia or pink it's a little more youthful and soo adorable for spring!

Apr 7, 2012

Kayla T.

thanks! and the dance isnt until may so I still have time to think about it :) i was just thinking since the dress is white and my shoes will probably be black why not just go for a pop of red

Apr 7, 2012

Rikki P.

Yeah... if you're not wearing a ton of eyeshadow, blush, etc., I really don't see what the fuss is about one night of a red lipstick for a formal.Yeah, you're in eighth grade. Whoopee. It's not that big of a deal, haha. 

Apr 8, 2012

Joi K.

@Kayla T. I think the idea of the pop of color is a great one but u have to remember u want to remain a young lady and that right now at ur age going all out in a really red color is alot for 14 maybe if u were 16 or 17 then i would feel like it was more age appropiate and trust me I do understand I have been wearing makeup all my life since I was about 9 (my mom would do my makeup for recitals and plays) and I wore a little all through middle school and def in high school but it was all under my mother's guidence and that was a good thing it helped me learn what was apprpiate and when and honsetly a pop of color is any color other than a neutral so I think u will bring the unexpected if u follow Britt B. advice and def if u follow Andrea C. advice it would look gorgeous and maybe a little highlight on the cheeks for a glow when the light hit u but u would still look 14 and beautiful and not like ur trying to hard ;-)

Apr 8, 2012

Joi K.

@ Rikki P. no one is making a fuss she asked a question to an open forum for advice and this was our advice if she had said her junoir prom or senoir prom or some sort of spring formal if she were in high school we would probably feel it would be okay but she is 14 and at that age Red lips is a little over the top and not neccersary to make the statement that she is trying to make. I feel like a girl should look her age until she is of age meaning when she's a little older she can do over the top looks besides at this young of an age really red lips on a young girl looks like she's trying to hard,that she playing dress up and really doesnt know what she is doing or even sadder that she is trying to pass for an older age and I dont think that Kayla is trying to do of that I think she looks at her 8th grade formal as her prom for the moment and she wants to look flawless and make a statement and thats great I say go for it be that diva for the night but there are so many ways to acheive it without doing that and this is coming from a professional, a diva, and most important a mom ! ;-)

Apr 8, 2012

Bec L.

Why not? Wear whatever you like and makes you feel good!

Apr 8, 2012

Joi K.

?????? SHE IS ONLY 14 !!!!!! If that were your daughter,sister,niece, cousin knowing what u should know about lookin like a young lady and how this world and society works u would think twice about the advice you are giving yeah its just lip stick and it can be wiped off but it sends alot of different messages when you wear and look older than you are. That's where the problem begins where we as the older more advised that can give the advice she is asking can inform her she's asking because she's wants more than one opinon and it needs to be what you would give a family member someon that you care about you wouldnt tell your daughter wear what ever you like so why tell her that @Kayla I think the best judgement call should be that of ur own if u have never worn that color outside your house that says something and last what would your mom say thats really the main person besides yourself that matters and really has a say I just think that you can feel good about yourself and be beautiful at the same time without going so hard !!! 

Apr 9, 2012

Erica B.

Joi-That's basically like saying if a girl is "dressed like a slut" she's "asking for it" if she gets raped.
It's 2012. It's red lipstick. It's not the end of the world. Wear it, look hot, be proud, keep the rest of your makeup simple (nude shadow, maybe a non-dramatic cat-eye with black liner, a little blush), you'll look elegant, classy, & beautiful! :) More power to you, by the way! For the record, I'm 34, & red lipstick never damaged my "reputation". I wish I had the guts to wear it when I was younger, because I look fantastic in it!

Apr 9, 2012

Rikki P.

Haha, if I had a fourteen-year-old daughter, I wouldn't care if she was just wearing red lipstick for a FORMAL. ONE FORMAL. So yeah, my daughter that I care about, I'd tell her she can wear her red lipstick. ;D I wore red lipstick once or twice when I was younger than her. Then again, Germany seems to have less issues, ha. I'd have a problem if was going the tiara toddler whatever the heck that dumb show on TLC is route with foundation, eyeshadow, blush, mascara, powder, CAKE FAKE and at 4 or 5 years old, but.... one red lipstick. Wow. For a few hours. If you can "yay" a red stain AND red lip gloss (both red and double the lip product, hello), you can "yay" one lipstick.

According to society~, bright pink lips, and bright pink/purple/white eyeshadow isn't appropriate for anyone, no matter how young and old. That society~ has a name for people that wear that colour combination. Neither was the rainbow eye I wore last week. Heck, to them, what I'm wearing today in my 20s wouldn't be appropriate to society, but oh well? lol

And if you look at Kayla's blog, she wears everything else under the sun so a little red lipstick isn't much of a difference.

And the last thing I'm going to follow is this society... I'm one of the few that battle society's norms since they're a little too crazy, demoralizing, and nonsensical. "Do this and this and this because OH MY GOD THEY'LL DO THIS" Yeah, no thank you. One red lip being over the top, haaaaaaaaa.

Look, Kayla, you can try on that red lipstick and go to your mother and see if she has a problem with it. If she does, then by all means, go with something else. Otherwise, go for it and be proud about it.

Apr 9, 2012

Kayla T.

ok well so I havn't worn straight red. the darkest color i've worn is MAC impassioned which is a bright bright BRIGHT coral pink :) its just i usually don't focus my makeup on my lips i focus on my eyes. and I've never had to get so dressed up. Or had anything where i thought "hey, red lipstick would look great with this!"
but thanks everyone for your imputs! Its just usually i do wear bright pink lips since spring came and i decided to stop with the boring nudes so i wanted to do something unexpected.

Apr 9, 2012

Antonio Z.

why don't u try a red lip pencil fill in your lips and top it with a pink gloss :)

Apr 9, 2012

Joi K.

No no one said anything about she would be asking for anything by wearing any color MY POINT that u all are missing is that she is too young for that color and I am more than sure that the majority of u commenting dont have kids and hardly any responsibitlity to a younger adult to know where I am coming from with this but as a professional artist that believes in making women and young girls look thier best at all times its ,my opinon and I have a right to give it and she asked a question and I answered! sorry I dont agree with the rest of u that do and look what ever with out thinking about it and if u are going to make a point do that ! what u guys are saying as a reason to wear red makes no sense and no one cares what u did last week because u are in ur 20's and u can look what ever my issue is her age not the color pick and choose ur battles ladies Kayla is asking becasue she is unsure so that says something right there before u read my commnents read hers and yes its one night, one formal, for just a few hours but she is still 14 so that is my ONLY issue and when u do have a 14 yr old and she wants to do something that is a little too old for her at that moment remember the comments u put on here when ur mom instincts kick in and u say NO ! before she evens has a chance to show u the color ! @ Kayla if u feel good about and UR PARENTS agree do what u feel but I am sure that they feel the same way .And clearly I am not the only one that feels this way or she wouldnt have so many suggestions on other colors and ways to wear the color.@ Rikki yes I did look at her blog to see her age and pics most of which are theatrical and as SHE stated if u READ she has not worn that color out of the house so again before u comment pls read carefullly before you try and pick an arguement this isnt about u or what ur battle with society is!I WAS TALKING TO KAYLA WHO IS 14 and asking a question. :-) 

Apr 9, 2012

Carly M.

Red lipstick is honestly a pain in the rear... plus it likes to feather and stain which is no bueno when it comes to formal events (especially if you know you're going to have your picture taken). I get away with wearing only red lipgloss, but the one I use is actually opaque enough to really trick people, PLUS the staying power is AMAZING (unlike most glosses that just seem to slide right off) and it doesn't give you the messy trouble of normal red lipstick (although it does transfer a lot more on to cups so don't forget to keep it in your bag for touch ups).
The magical lipgloss in question is the L'Oreal Infallible 8HR Plumping Gloss in Plumping Red (ooooh... L'Oreal got super creative naming that one). I swear by this stuff. :) The color on this is red enough to be formal appropriate but not too red that it's not appropriate for the younger women attending formal events (i.e. it won't make you look like you're trying to appear older than you are). 

Apr 9, 2012

Maura Z.

you could try dabbing it on your bottom lip and using your finger to blend it in. Then the color will be less vibrant and dark! Because red can be used for spring but the brighter shades are better, because I feel like the more maroon or deep reds should be used for winter and fall. Spring should show off your more creative side! And maybe you could do a clear gloss or red gloss over it. I doubt it will be too bold since you have dark hair and do you have a darker skin color too? I try to wear red but it doesn't look as good as pink because I'm too pale :P