The Red Lipstick Challenge - Week One

It's been a week since I began my Red Lipstick Challenge and I have to say, thus far, nothing happened the way I expected it too. As I described in my initial blog post on the challenge, I'm not someone who wears makeup on the regular. The idea of wearing makeup every day, red lipstick in particular, is not an idea that sits well with me. However, I found the first week of the challenge to be extremely easy. I didn't feel uncomfortable at all, in fact, apart from the dryness of my lips, I felt more comfortable in my skin than I've felt in a while. Weird huh?

I honestly can't explain this phenomenon. It was as if overnight I grew into the red lip. By Day 3 I felt it had become part of me. It was the last thing I thought about before I went to sleep and the first thing I thought of when I woke up. When I came home from a long day at work, or a particularly rough day of school, I would throw my backpack on the floor give a deep sigh and check the mirror where I'd see my down turned lips covered in unmistakably bright red lacquer. Instantly my mood improved. I'd give a couple funny faces, break out into a lighthearted laugh and grab the nearest red lipstick for a touch up.

Amazing right? It's absolutely nothing like I expected. I thought I would be shying away from people's glances, but instead I find myself making more eye contact than ever before. It's like the red lipstick has given me a daily confidence boost. Most importantly it's helped with something I've struggled with for a while which is viewing myself as an adult. I think my anxiety makes me think of myself as a helpless child who is incapable of being taken seriously, which is a huge fear of mine. However, the red lip, something which in my mind is linked with womanhood, made me take a step back and think, "I'm a twenty-one year old woman not an sixteen year old child who needs mother's support. I can do this..." (whatever this happens to be) "...on my own."

In all, my first week of this challenge has gone splendidly. I'll list a couple more things I've learned from this week:

1. I discovered that I find a smudged red lip extremely attractive. Something about the messiness of red around the lips is enticing in a way I can't describe. 
2. Wearing a red lip makes an extremely terrifying speech a little less terrifying. (I gave a speech at a NACADA Conference as part of my job on Friday). 
3. Wearing a red lip stain with no other makeup on is a look!!!

Well, that's all I have for now, I really hope my experiences continue to be this positive! Until next time.

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Day Four

Day Five

Day Six

Day Seven

The Red Lipstick Challenge

I bought my first lipstick three years ago. I was an eighteen year old college freshman who had next to no experience with makeup. I remember the confusion as I searched the seemingly endless aisles of lipsticks, searching for that perfect red, the color my mother forbid me from wearing as a child. I remember the excitement when I found that gorgeous deep brick red. I came back to my house and headed straight to the bathroom to try it on. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I felt a shiver of excitement run up my spine. The power was undeniable. 

Despite how amazing that red lipstick made me feel, I couldn't bring myself to wear the color outside of my house, or even in front of my family. Instead, I cluttered my phone with red lipped selfies, hiding my bright pout behind closed doors. When I finally decided to wear it outside I could barely function. As soon as I came in contact with another person I immediately thought "I’ve made a huge mistake" (Bluth Family reference, anyone?) The longer the day went on the worse the feeling got, and then someone complimented me. I'd be lying if I said I remembered what the compliment was but it made me feel a little better. It stopped me from focusing on the brightness of my lips.

Fast forward three years, I'm a twenty one year old graduating from college in May who is still terrified of leaving the house with a red lip. The truth is, I'm terrified of the attention a red lip demands. It's a color inextricably linked with power, presence and confidence. I've learned from experience that you cannot hide when you wear a red lip. The color is too bold, its meaning is too commanding.

For that reason, I've decided to take up what I am referring to as The Red Lipstick Challenge. The challenge comes from Courtney Mirenzi's inspiring blog post "How Red Lipstick Taught Me to Be Brave". When I read first read of Courtney's 2013 challenge to wear a red lip every day for a month, I was amazed by the red lipstick's impact on her life. Her words inspired me to take on her challenge, but 2013 me wasn't ready to take on such a challenge. 2015 me, the twenty year old who has dyed her hair blue, green, teal and purple, and got her septum pierced for her birthday in an attempt to become comfortable with attention, I think she's ready.

So here I go. Tomorrow morning I will wake up, wash my face, brush my teeth and apply the first of thirty days of red lipsticks. I'm nervous but ready. Bring it on!

Let me know if you've ever done a red lipstick challenge, or if you're someone who wears a red lipstick every day and are confused as to why I'm making a big deal out of this. 

(My current collection of red lippies)