The power of red lips

Stand out at work
It`s no mistake that traffic lights, fire trucks, and other stop-in-your-tracks symbols are coloured red. `Our brains are hardwired to notice and pay attention to the colour, says Andrew Elliot, Ph.D., a psychologist at the University of Rochester, New York. Wear the hue on your lips (reds with coral undertones are great for the office) and you could attract your boss`s eye. Of course, getting noticed on the job is important...but it has to be for the right reasons, says Adele Scheele, a career coach in Los Angeles. So skip the crimson when you show up late, but swipe it on when you`ve just done a stellar job on a project.
Grab a guy`s attention
Studies show that the mere sight of red - and red alone - can increase a man`s blood pressure, respiration, and pulse rate, making him feel more excited physically. The reason is tied to evolution.`Human and some nonhuman males respond to red similarly. Male primates, for instance, have a strong reaction to females when they redden around the time of ovulation, says Elliot. In one of his studies, men who judged photos of women wearing different-coloured shirts rated those in red as more attractive and sexually desirable. Putting red on your lips, especially one with a hint of pink, should elicit the same subliminal response. Just remember: The shade helps you appear sexy. You`re on your own when it comes to showing him how smart, fun, and cool you are.
Beat out the competition
Need to convince a landlord that, of all the renters vying for her posh apartment, you`d make the best tenant? Trying out for a reality-TV show? Hell-bent on winning that karaoke contest? Get your red on. A study conducted at Durham University in England found that Olympians wearing red uniforms and competing in tae kwon do, wrestling, and boxing (all sports that require a ref to determine the winner) won more matches than those in other-coloured duds. `It proves that red has a psychological effect on those judging you - one that can sway the outcome, says Smith. Granted, crimson lips won`t make up for a crappy performance, but if you bring your A-game, red (specifically, deep, berry tones) can give you the edge you need to come out on top.
Text courtesy: Kate Sandoval, Cosmopolitan