Makeup technology then was a far cry from what is available today. Yet when many modern women wear red lipstick, they look harsh, garish or clownish instead of as sensual as they really should. Add on red blusher done too heavy handedly and they look like a bunch of clowns. What are they doing wrong.

How can you wear red makeup and look all the more gorgeous for it?

By the way, when I talk about red makeup, I mean red lipstick and blusher. Some women can even get away with coral eyeshadow and look even more stunning for it. I remember a Venetian Miss Universe who looked absolutely amazing wearing a red gown and red makeup. Even the eyeshadow was coral.

Actually, red lips are considered beautiful across cultures, throughout history. Geishas painted tiny bright red lips on their faces. Victorian beauties blushed beautifully and looked so pretty with their red lips, made redder by biting them before they meet the guys they fancy. Who can forget Snow White. Hair as black as ebony, skin as white as snow and lips as red as blood, hence her name, Snow White. The invention of red lipstick lets any woman have those classic red lips if she dares.

Should you wear fire-engine red lipstick?

There are a few tricks to note when you put on really red lips. The golden rule is to highlight either the eyes or the lips. Not both at the same time. When you wear bold red lipstick and heavy eyeliner, with dark, smoky eye makeup and false eyelashes, with a low cut minidress, you would look more slutty than attractive. The trick is to play up one feature. In this intance the lips.

If you go for a bold mouth, play down the eyes with lighter, more natural eye makeup.

Another thing to note is the shade of red you use. If you have warm skin tones, go for coral red lipstick or any orange-red lipstick. A coral or orange red blush would look wonderful on you too, provided you apply it with a very light hand. Today's sheer colors let you use colors that look very strong in the palette but appear like a transparent flush on your skin for a very flattering result.

If you have cool skin tones, go for a true red lipstick or any red lipstick with blue undertones. These are your best reds. Choose a similar shade for your blush. Cool eyeshadow colors would include lilac or silver as the main eyeshadow color with dark gray for deepening the crease. Warm eyeshadow colors that go well with red lipstick (coral or orange red for warm skin tones) include bronze, peach and dark brown.

Now go a indulge yourself in that sexy red pout.

Not sure whether you have warm coloring or cool coloring?