How To Choose (And Apply) Your Perfect Red Lipstick
Pout it out.
We now have a Facebook group! Here, we share beauty tips, wellness hacks and get to interact with each other (in real time)! Click here to join the Gritty Pretty Gang on Facebook.
In life, there are a few little luxuries that make us feel like we could take on the world. For some, it’s a killer pair of heels or a set of matching underwear. For us, it’s a swipe of red lipstick.
Whether it’s a pop of colour added to a simple white t-shirt and jeans combo (à la The Parisienne) or a statement lip on date night – a red lip has the ability to say whatever you want it to. Done right, a red lip is confident, effortless and sexy, all in one.
The catch? Finding your perfect red lipstick is no easy feat.
Between the multitude of tones, textures and finishes and the added pressure of perfecting the application, a red lip can be seriously intimidating. Here, we sit down with makeup artist Nicole Thompson (aka Pinkie) for her advice on how to nail red lipstick.
The Psychology Behind A Red Lip, Explained
The allure of a red lip is universal. The colour red is associated with passion, dominance and sexuality and is arguably one of the boldest colours on the wheel. What’s more? It can also make you look younger.
A study conducted by psychologists at Gettysburg College in America found that applying red lipstick increased the red-green contrast around your lips. As we age, this contrast becomes less prominent, so playing up the contrast will make you appear more spritely.
Choosing The Colour
Still in search of ‘the one’? Like most things in life, personal preference plays a huge role in what you perceive as the perfect shade of red. However, there are a few key takeaways. For starters, let’s break the shade down into tones. “There are generally four tones,” says Thompson. “There are blue-based reds (think: old Hollywood glamour), orange-based tomato reds, brown-toned reds, and burgundy-toned reds.”
Makeup isn’t meant to be formulaic, it’s about having fun. Don’t worry about picking a shade for your skin tone; choose a shade that makes you feel like you. If you are feeling lost, Thompson’s personal favourites are: “Ruby Woo by M.A.C. (it’s the perfect classic blue-toned red), Pat McGrath Labs Matte Trance Lipstick in Elson and Fenty Beauty’s Stunna Lip Paint in Uncensored.”
Our advice? If you can’t go and try on in-store (cheers, Coronavirus), opt for a virtual try on tool. The program will do all the trying on for you: our favourites come via M.A.C and Maybelline.
How To Apply
Now that you’ve found the shade of your dreams, application is the final frontier. Thompson shares her step-by-step guide to applying the perfect red lip:
Step 1: Hydrate And Smooth
“Dry lips look terrible under any lip colour,” says Thompson. “If you have dry, flaky lips, exfoliate those bad boys before you do anything else.” Exfoliating wipes are great because they are relatively gentle and mess-free. Otherwise, a face scrub or sugar polish should do the trick. Post-scrub, apply some lip balm and blot away any excess with a tissue.
Step 2: Perfect The Skin
A sharp line will make your lipstick look polished and perfected. This, surprisingly, comes down to the skin around your lips, rather than your lips themselves. To perfect and smooth the skin, Thompson likes to “apply foundation and concealer as usual, taking a small amount over the edges of the lips so you start with a blank canvas of colour.”
Step 3: Apply The Lipstick
Yes, before the lip liner. “I find popping the colour down at the initial stage helps the pencil to glide on,” she says.
Step 4: Lip Liner
The golden ingredient, lip liner, is in the same category as an eyelash curler. Read: essential. “I rely on pencil to perfect the shape of the lips,” says Thompson. “We have so much more control with a pencil.” Application-wise, she recommends starting at the cupid’s bow and working your way outwards.
Step 5: Lipstick, Layer Two
Pretty self explanatory, apply a second layer of your chosen red.
Step 6: Final Touch Ups
While it might be tempting to reach for more lipstick to perfect the edges, it will likely end up in a mess. Think of it like eyeliner – nothing good ever comes from adding more. Thompson advises using a small brush or cotton tip to rub the colour in and smooth the edges.
Now That It’s On… Here’s How To Make It Stay-Put
So, it’s 30 minutes later and you finally have the lipstick perfected. The last thing you want to happen is for it to rub off the second you take a sip of your coffee or cocktail. Thompson’s recommendation? Lip primer. “Just like you prime your eyes and face, there are primers for your lips. They’re different from balms because they will sit on the lips and act like double sided tape for the colour to adhere to.”
Also, layer it up. Similar to nail polish, the more coats you apply, the stronger the pigment of your red lip. Thompson recommends blotting between each layer to remove any excess and aiming for two or three applications.
Do you have a perfect red lipstick shade? Leave your favourite in the comments below!
The post How To Choose (And Apply) Your Perfect Red Lipstick appeared first on Gritty Pretty.
