Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and one easy way to spice up your outfit is with a red lip. Red is the color of passion, the color of love, and tomorrow, the most popular color around. If you aren’t reaching for the LBD you may go for that dynamite red frock – either way a bold, red lip can really set it off. Finding the perfect color is tricky, but honestly, getting it to stay on is even harder.
Find a shade that is best for you. This can be tricky, it is a combination of your skin tone and the pigments under your skin. My advice would be to pick a celeb you are close in color with and take a cue from the hues their stylists picked:
- Kate Bosworth | Fair | Matte red lipstick that slightly errs on this side of orange
- Lauren Conrad | Beige | A dark, deep red with gold undertones
- Chloรซ Sevigny | Golden | A bright, deep matte coral to match warm skin colors
- Jenna Dewan Tatum | Bronze | A pink/red combination really makes the undertones stand out
Consider the lighting. If it is day time and especially if you know you are going to be outdoors, pick a softer or sheerer shade. For evening, date night, or a night on the town go bolder so your features stand out.
Avoid deep reds if you have thin lips. They tend to make lips look smaller, lighten it up and head towards peachier skies.
Don’t use red lip liner. If it doesn’t match your lipstick perfectly (and odds are it won’t), you’ll end up with a two-tone effect, and not in a nice, subtle ombre way. If you insist on using liner find a shade close to your natural lip color and use it to outline your lips.
Don’t play up your eyes. To get to red lipstick perfection you want to pair the bold hue to be paired with subtle, light makeup – a little mascara and tan shadow will do.
Coordinate your look. If you skip the blush and instead dot a little smudge of the lipstick on the apples of your cheek and blend it will bring together the whole package.
Prevent “bleeding.” Apply a little concealer around the border of your mouth. Make sure it is not too noticeable and it will really help your sexy red pout not look like clown makeup by the end of dinner.
Avoid getting lipstick on your teeth. After applying, put your finger in your mouth, purse your lips around it, then slowly pull it out to remove excess color. Strange but it really does work!
Don’t toss a red lipstick in a shade that doesn’t work. If a ton of money on a shade you later decides really does not work (and you can not return it at Sephora) you can top it with a gold gloss to warm and soften it, or add a pink gloss to take it to the bluer side.
What do you have planned for Valentine’s Day?
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Stacy says
Among these ones Kate is my favorite)
xo
http://tastyrumors.blogspot.com/
Paulina says
Really helped me! Ive always been a bit afraid of trying it but I finally will!
xx Paulina Check out my blog at
http://www.sunniesandplanes.blogspot.com
Kelly says
You absolutely should!
Clever Girl Reviews says
I just did a red lip post too! Tis the season! I like to do a demi-cat eye, really thin with a soft off-white shimmer shade to brighten up the eye area. Subtle contour with equally subtle blush. It’s kinda like a modern fresh take on Marilyn Monroe!
http://www.clevergirlreviews.com
Kelly says
What a great combo!
Marina A (Affluence Avenue) says
Love the post and the site. xo
http://www.affluenceavenue.com
Kelly says
Thanks Marina!
sonia de macedo says
That’s a great tip re the lip liner. I lost mine a few weeks back and haven’t gotten around to getting one so applying lipstick, yeah, hot mess! Hahaha! Will have to try a neutral one out!
SDMxx
Kelly says
You should Sonia, it is great!
Jessica says
I am still trying to find the perfect red lipstick. This post is extremely helpful.
Tracy @ Sunny Days and Starry Nights
Kelly says
I am glad Tracy, good luck!
Tanya Jean says
How perfect! Love these tips! I’m always a fan of a red lip ๐
xo TJ
http://www.hislittlelady.com
Kelly says
Thanks TJ, me too!
mariafelicia says
i like red lips
Kelly says
Thanks, me too!
Erica Thompson says
I love a bright lip! and I love your your skin tone colors too. who wouldnt want their skin to be described as bronze or golden?
Kelly says
Bronzed is what I shoot for every day!
Sophia M says
Thank you for your tips!!! I really love red lipstick ๐
xoxo Sophia
http://styleofsophia.blogspot.it
Kelly says
You are very welcome, Sophia!
STYLE-SQUARED says
Absolutely love it, I am a sucker for perfect red lips ๐
http://style-squared.blogspot.ca/
https://m.facebook.com/StyleSquaredByZM
Kelly says
Me too, thanks girls!
Autumn Klair says
I love red lips and these tips are great! Thanks for the advice and inspiration ๐
Kelly says
Absolutely, thanks Autumn!
Brittany conners says
Red lips are my favorite . I always use the concealer trick and the gloss trick to change up the tone but have never heard of the trick to avoiding red teeth. I will have to try it !
Kelly says
It is so easy and it makes such a big difference!
ElleSees.blogspot.com says
i never wore red lips when i was younger, but have been embracing it the last few years.
Kelly says
They are so fun!
Amy Breckenridge says
these are all such great tips! i think my skin tone is closest to lauren’s so i will need to give some of those shades a try. ๐
Kelly says
You should, I can not wait to see it!
Kristin Thompson says
Love this I’ve been really wanting to get more into lipstick! I’m really loving darker looks, more on the burgundy side, Lauren Conrad is my favorite here!!
Kristin
Crumbs & Curls
Kelly says
I agree, she is so pretty and this color works perfectly on her!
Michael says
The first time I read your tip about the teeth thing I was like, umm, she’s lost it. I tried it a few times, it absolutely works ๐ BF and I are going to dinner. Nothing more, nothing less. Any plans for you?
Kelly says
I am so glad you tried it and didn’t just write it off! And tomorrow I have a really romantic train ride by my self to Boston to see family ๐
Sarah C says
Good tip about the concealer. Have been wanting to try this, but too chicken to do it ๐
Kelly says
You should, Sarah, and then let me know how it works!