Go Deep: Vamp Lips

Lips the color of night. Deep, dark, and sexy. She is mysterious. The woman who wears darker makeup is not afraid of being daring. She revels in it. You can never tell exactly what she's up to. With her dark eyes and dark lips, she's as mischievous as a black cat. She watches her prey from a distance and attacks when the moment is right only to disappear back into the shadows. Her face is that of an angel with tiny glimmers of light who decided to take a walk on the darkside. She's a black magic woman, and she's got you under her spell.

I've always been curious to try deeper hues on my lips. Colors that look like dark chocolate or Merlot seem so enticing. Until now I was a bit hesitant, because I didn't know if they would work for me. I associated really dark makeup with goth or a dominatrix-type woman. Not that I wouldn't mind walking around wearing a black patent leather corset and carrying a whip, but I wasn't sure that dark lips were right for me. Well, don't knock it 'til you try it. I've finally discovered some hues that are rich and sultry without being too unapproachable.


Spicy Chocolate
They are as a sweet as fudge brownies fresh from the oven and piping hot with sex appeal. These reddish browns have a warmth that complements any complexion. Go for colors like this gorgeous one from Tropez called Choclate Mousse (top) or Hestia by NYX (bottom). Both are the tone of a polished cherry wood with a dash of paprika. Spicy! These browns have shine and are extremely moisturizing, so your mouth won't dry out. I like to imagine that Foxy Brown would be kicking ass and wearing this color on her lips.



Red Wine
It's so easy to fall drunk in love with these colors. They can be as dark as a blackberry or as light as a glass of Pinot Noir. Homegirl by Kat Von D (top) is a vampy dark hue that glides on your lips with ease. It looks like velvet once you have it on. Cherry Bomb by Wet N Wild(middle) is my go-to when I want to look like a femme fatale. It has more of a matte finish and the color lasts for hours. No need to reapply throughout the day or night. Last but certainly not least there's Rebel by MAC(bottom). I've nicknamed this color Purple Majesty because I think Prince would like it. Gorgeous, majestic, and an attention-grabber.

Before you go smearing any of these lipsticks all over your mouth, keep a few things in mind. Don't rush. Pay close attention to the shape of your lips when applying dark colors. Use a lip liner when possible to prevent the color from bleeding. Always keep makeup remover nearby to clean up any mistakes. Use a dab of illuminator whether it's powder or cream to highlight your pretty cupid's bow. Keep the rest of your face simple with just a little mascara and blush. If you're daring enough to wear dark lips, you should go all the way and pair that with a Phoenix Eye concocted by my girl Angel of KisforKinky. See how she created the look here. Put these two together and that's one fierce kitty. Watch out, boys!


Vamp Lips is part 2 of 6 in our KisforKinky x Model Liberation 'She' collaboration. Makeup by me, photographs by Angel Jordan.