Just got around to reading the January issues of Allure and Vogue, and one thing stands out – Red Lips are here. A lot of women tend to shy away from red lips, but glossy siren-red lipstick is only one option. Red lips can be natural looking, a quick perk-up, or dramatic. We’ll consider a few options in upcoming articles, but let’s start with the basics – a no-frills, pretty red.
First step, make sure to moisturize your lips first. This is no time to have dry, flaky lips. Try dabbing a little bit of a moisturizing eye cream on your lips – it will smooth them out and plump up any lines. Make sure to get the corners of your lips as well – any lipstick won’t look it’s best if you are dry around the mouth.
Second, a lip brush helps when trying to be precise with red lipstick (otherwise, it looks messy fast…) You may want to practice a few times to get comfortable with a lip brush before you head out for the night. The nice thing about a lip brush is that you can control how much lipstick goes on and in what spots. If you apply thin coats, you can layer until you have the color/consistency you want. Another benefit of thin layers is that you can take it down a notch if you goof – and it’s easier to remove if you stray outside your lip line.
Third, you may want to dab some concealer/foundation around your mouth to put the focus on your lips. If you have highlighter on hand, gently tap some around your cupid’s bow to give a youthful glow to your mouth. To make your lips look fuller, tap a tiny amount in the middle of your lower lip.
Below is a picture of a basic red lip – the lipstick is Liptini’s Bloody Mary Straight Up Lipstick, which is a classic, universally flattering red. This is one coat with a neutral lip liner on the top of the lip for definition. It’s a great red lip for everyday that can be glammed up for a party, and layered for a more dramatic red, which we will be showing in the upcoming days.
Enjoy trying out a few shades to see what works for you – and don’t be afraid of the red lip!
Liptini Bloody Mary Lip Color
in this month’s Shape Magazine, I was pretty excited. It comes recommended as a must have product from Morgan Arritola, a member of the U.S. Cross-Country Ski Team - a woman who understands cold windy weather. It locks in moisturizer, plus it has an SPF of 23, which is great for SPF touch ups on the go. If there is anything that can prevent raw, icky skin this winter, I’m on board!
