We’ve all had moments when you glance in the mirror after applying a lovely new lipstick and you just look seriously good. Until, that is, somebody sheepishly whispers to you that you have lipstick on your teeth or, under the cold, unforgiving lights of the Camera bathrooms you see in the mirror that what you thought was ‘the perfect red for you’ is in fact ‘the perfect red for you, for Halloween.’
Do not fear, here is the ultimate guide for perfect red lip success.
1. Pick a shade that’s right for you and make sure the finish is what you are looking for – I recommend matte for a long-lasting, velvety finish
2. Before you start your other makeup, rub on a lip-scrub, (olive oil and brown sugar is a great substitute) and apply a thick layer of lipbalm
3. When you are ready to apply the lipstick, wipe off the excess lipbalm gently with a tissue.
4. Having picked out a well-sharpened red lip-liner carefully line your lips. This is crucial if you don’t want to have to reapply at all during the night, but don’t worry too much about the exact shade, as it doesn’t matter if it’s not an exact match with your lipstick. I recommend starting at the cupids bow (centre of the top lip) and then using small careful strokes to draw a line around your mouth. Hardest part done!
5. Fill in the line with the lip-liner so you’ve got a good layer of colour all over your lips. Blot gently with a tissue.
6. Using your lipstick of choice, go over the lip-liner. For the first layer, put lipstick only on the smaller of your lips and then rub together to get an even coating on both, then reapply another layer all over.
7. For a long-lasting finish, blot and reapply, repeating up to three times for a rich, lasting colour.
8. For a velvety, trendy twist on a classic, applying a slightly darker red around the edges of your lips with your finger, blending to avoid harsh lines, will make your mouth look fuller, poutier and less ‘painted on’.
9. I now recommend using a lipstick sealer like Lipcote but if you don’t have this, believe it or not, a cotton pad with about a teaspoon of vodka soaked in will do the trick. Just dab on your lips and don’t forget the inner corners.
10. Apply a lip balm to avoid your lips drying out – and a lipgloss if you’re feeling particularly wild. Now you are ready to go!
Lipstick recommendations:
Very pale: deep wine colours provide gorgeous contrast.
e.g. Maybelline New York Color Sensational Lipcolor in Plum Perfect
Olive undertones: blue-toned cherry reds whiten teeth and compliment beautifully.
e.g. L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lipcolour in British Red
Rosy undertones: avoid highlighting any unwanted pink tones by sticking with orange-based reds.
e.g. Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in True Red
Deep skintones: vivid tangerine-laced reds provide a stunning, stand-out and flattering look.
e.g. Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede in Designer
