9 TRICKS FOR THE PERFECT RED LIPS

Red lipstick – are you confident enough to wear it? A dash of courage, a dollop of attitude and some tricks can help!

Confidence and attitude are a must-have to sport a scarlet pout. So prepare yourself. Wear it because you like it. Don’t think what others have to say. Some years back a friend had shared that she tried on red lipstick when she was travelling. During the vacation she didn’t meet the people she encounters on a daily basis and therefore didn’t think of being judged by others. Having worn the bold shade for a while she got used to it herself and therefore, it was easier for her to start wearing it with ease regularly. Try the trick. It may help.

Apart from the confidence and attitude you need certain makeup tricks to nail this look. After all the confidence will only arise when you master the art of makeup. So here are some expert makeup tips on how to sport a perfect ruby pout:

1) Exfoliate your lips and follow up with a lip balm to ensure that your lips are not cracked. Try Bliss Fabulips Sugar Lip Scrub or Forest Essentials Cane Sugar Lip Scrub. I loved the Bubblegum Lip Scrub from Lush but unfortunately the brand has shut down in India. However, if you are travelling abroad do remember to pick it up. And as for lip balms – trust me, just stick to the ones by Burt’s Bees.

2) Brilliant white teeth framed within ruby lips make a striking combination. Therefore, choose a red hue that makes your teeth appear whiter. Red lipsticks with a blue undertone will make your teeth look whiter than shades with a yellow undertone. However, while this is a general guideline to go by, I personally have started to believe that this formula may not always work. You just have to go by the hit and trial method to find the colour that suits you best. I have also realised that your preferences can change. For the longest time I loved M.A.C’s Ruby Woo, then I discovered my love for Chanel’s Lotus Rouge and currently I am smitten by Bobbi Brown’s Burnt Red. If you check out the shades you will see that the undertone guideline has no relevance to my choices. Not being too helpful here, am I? Or perhaps I am just encouraging you to experiment? Seriously, how damaging can this be? Just have some fun with makeup!

3) Apply a lip primer to help your lip colour last longer. This is something that I have been hearing for many years but never really paid heed to as I had honestly never given it a try. I recommended it but was not really convinced – just thought it is a bit of a waste. However, I tried this by chance. I was looking for a gold lipstick but couldn’t find the shade that I wanted. Then a store advisor in Inglot suggested I use a primer and then top it up with a pigment. The trick not only ended my search for the gold lipstick but made me realise that actually the lip colour lasted much longer. I gave it a shot when I tried on red lipstick and the colour lasted through the day. Mind you no bleeding, no lips drying – just like they claim in the commercials. I swear.

4) Always line your lips with a lip liner before applying the lipstick as red lipsticks tend to bleed. Lining the lips prior to applying the lipstick prevents the colour from spreading. I have tried, tested and hereby attest this.

5) To line your lips perfectly, draw a vertical line through the center of your lips, then draw “V” along the cupid’s bow and a short horizontal line along the lower lip line. Next, start drawing upwards from the outer corner to the cupid’s bow and for the lower lip from the outer corner to the middle of the lips. This is a masterstroke that I learnt from makeup artist Sam Walker during my makeup course from University of Arts London.

6) Use a lip brush to apply the lipstick. The brush helps in an even application. Again, for the longest time I didn’t give this tip much importance because I simply believed that it isn’t that important. But wearing lipstick with a brush completely changes the finish of the makeup. So I stand corrected.

7) Press a tissue paper on the lips to take off excess colour. Reapply wherever you notice gaps.

8) Nothing looks more unsightly than lipstick stain on your teeth. To prevent that wrap a tissue around your finger, put it into your mouth and pull it out.

9) Red lips make a strong look, therefore to keep the focus on your pout and pearlies, you should keep the rest of your makeup minimal. Or should you? Some years back I would have said play it safe and keep the rest of the look simple. But I have realised over the years that the easier you are with makeup the better it sits with you. So just do what you like. I like to wear it with smokey eyes. Both smokey eyes and red lips are strong looks but what the heck! I like it, I wear it.