Vibrant retro reds. Blinding pinks. Glosses so shiny you can see your reflection. If you love experimenting with lip color and consider Nicki Minaj your makeup hero, how about taking a minute to consider what guys think of the latest addition to your makeup bag before you whip out that gloppy wand of vanilla-scented gloss? We asked Men’s Health Senior Contributing Editor Matt Bean for the male perspective on the varying shades of lipstick.
Classic red
That’s a look-at-me color. An I-want-attention kind of color. If you’re at a bar with the girls looking to meet people, it can work as a beacon of sorts. If you’re on a date with your husband, it says that you’re really kicking it up a notch. On the other hand, you can’t kiss a girl with bright red lips or you end up looking like a clown.
Hot pink
It doesn’t have the classic romance of a bright red. It’s more punk, rock star, adventurous. It reminds me of “Jem and the Holograms”—in a good way. It says you’re not afraid of a little bit of rock ‘n’ roll. I would expect the girl to listen to good music and not just hang out at Ann Taylor.
Dark Purple/burgundy
This says she’s not afraid to take risks. It tells me that she’s edgy and could be challenging in a good way. Not that she has a dark side, but that’s she’s. . . different. On the right woman, dark color is intriguing.
Neutral
When you wear the lipstick that’s the same color as your skin, you look like a corpse, like you’ve been out in the cold too long. It’s disconcerting. Also, neutral lip gloss looks like a glazed donut.
Bright Orange
It makes me think… “Wanna Fanta?’” And also that she’s got a spicy personality and is probably a lot of fun. Very confident. Not afraid to try something that’s different.
Metallic
It’s a teenage thing, so if you’re “Sex in the City” age, you can come off a little trashy. Glitter should stay in the strip club. Practically, those sparkles end up everywhere.