Red Alert! Big girls go red.

Finding the right Red is a lot like finding the right mate. The wrong one will have you looking like a fool... but the right one.. will compliment you. 

Red is the boldest color we love to fish for and the quickest idea that we tend to toss back. I'm sure you have, as I have in the past, wrecked the hell out of the nerves of some Makeup Lady at your favorite counter. Trying on, removing and retrying many Reds just to let go and go back to your old faithful shades.

I'll help you out with these tips to narrow it down to the right one.

Meet the envy of all reds:

Ruby Woo by MAC Cosmetics

The beauty of this lipstick is that it's super matte; we call that 'retro matte' in texture, which means it stays put and will wear on your lips until the cops come knockin' = dry.

• Exfoliate your lips gently with a soft toothbrush
• Line the lips with a lip pencil that's close to your skin tone to give it boundaries without over powering the color.
• PLAY WITH COLOR: you can always tweak the color with a deep red or currant liner.
• Apply Ruby Woo directly to your lips to keep it true to color. *Using a lip balm or lip conditioner on the lip first can promote feathering (going outside the lip line) or lighten the color to more of a pinky red. You don't want that. Just warm it up by rubbing on the back of your hand before applying.
• Leaving it matte is how it stays put for hours on end but it you must add gloss apply it carefully to the center of the lip avoiding the lip line.
• Don't be afraid to dust a little translucent powder lightly over your mouth piece to set the it.

 *I love to use a slightly lighter concealer to go around the outside of the lip and clean it up to perfection. Nothing s better than a clean red lip. For concealer, I prefer a liquid that dries matte.
**Master manipulator: For more of a stained lip, use your forefinger to apply and press the color into your lips. Just dab a little and it will go a long way. For long wear leave it like this, or add a touch of gloss or lip conditioner for shine.

Ready to play with more reds? Here's a few tips:

If you're a virgin to reds, take it easy with a sheer red or a red gloss with gold or pink flecks. Also good for fair skin.
Do you look better in gold accessories or silver? If gold, try warm, peachy, orange, coraly reds.
Look better in silver? Try cool (blue) reds.
Deeper complexions with warmer under tones can wear deeper condensed color and can go either way. Cool or Warm.

Remember this rule: there are no rules and the best part is that you can ditch a bad red, conceal your stained lips and re-do, quicker than you can ditch a bad ex.