One of the fastest, easiest ways to get a rich red lip is with a lip stain that comes in pen or marker form. (Try COVERGIRL Outlast Lipstain in Wild Berry Wink, $7.99). To get the look, simply line your lips with the pen and fill them in. Draw on another coat and keep it hydrated with an occasional touch of colored lip balm. (Tip: You can manipulate your base shade of red from deep red to coral by adding different amounts of lip balm.)
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Glowing flush
The key to this option, which looks like your lips are radiating color from within, is to skip the liner. Instead, dot color in the middle of your lips and blend outward with your fingers, says makeup artist Dwight O'Neal. You can do this with a stain, a lipstick, or both. O'Neal likes to apply the stain first (like a primer), then do a second dab-and-spread with lipstick, then a third with a tinted lip gloss or colored lip balm over it to help your color last. (Try COVERGIRL NatureLuxe Gloss Balm in Anemone, $6.)
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Hollywood belle
To create the perfect classic red lip, line your lips and fill them in completely with a red lip pencil. (Try COVERGIRL LipPerfection Lipliner in Passion, $6.99). Then apply a bold, moisturizing red lipstick (such as COVERGIRL Queen Collection Lipcolor in Paint the Town, $6.99). Blend the color with a lip brush for a more precise shape. To make the lip look fuller and "pop," use a brush to dot a light-reflecting concealer in your cupid's bow (the dented part in the top of your upper lip) and blend outward. You can also do this on both sides of the bottom of your lip. Then dot a bit of lip balm or gloss on the center of your lips.
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Supervamp
Even if you're not a "True Blood" fan or a "Twihard," dark, vampy lips are an edgy way to spin a classic red -- and they look great with blue eyes. To get that blood hue, you'll need a bit of purple in your red. Line lips with a black-violet liner and do not fill in. Then apply a deep berry red lipstick (such as COVERGIRL LipPerfection Lipcolor in Tempt, $6.99). Blend the area where the two colors meet well with a lip brush. Next: Subdued romance
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Matte magic
Bold, matte color looks sophisticated, but it can also highlight dry lips. To wear it well, apply eye cream to freshly exfoliated lips (use your toothbrush or a lip exfoliant), says makeup artist Bobbi Brown. This gives you a nice, hydrated surface to work with. Then use a lip brush to line and fill in your lips with a bright red, slightly creamy, matte-finish lipstick (try MAC Mattene Lipstick in Eden Rouge, $14.50). If needed, apply a coat of matte-finish lip balm (such as Peter Thomas Roth Matte Lip Balm, $11) to keep the color from flaking throughout the day.
A girl in my high school French class used to blow me away with her amazing makeup. It was always so perfect and pulled together (at 16!) that I assumed she spent at least an hour getting ready in the morning. Then, one day when I asked her to teach me some of the tricks, she looked at me like I was nuts. Turns out that all she did was put on a bright red lipstick.
That was the precise moment that I learned the power of a red lip.
A good red lip can make your whole face look "done" -- even when it's the only makeup you're wearing. Even better, a red lip can also distract from imperfections -- like that rogue zit near your nose or those unruly brows that desperately need to be shaped. And it's always a winner at parties -- particularly at holiday time.
Now, I know that wearing red lipstick can be daunting but, for all of you skeptics out there, here's some news that may change your mind: A red lip doesn't have to be the classic Hollywood version -- you know, the one that bleeds, flakes, fades and stays anywhere but on our lips? These days there are so many ways to wear a red lip that you can find one that suits you. Read on and you'll see.
