by Samantha Del-Greco
Iconic, sexy and daring; red lips have been a bold fashion statement throughout the ages and today is no different. Thought to be a trend reserved for supermodels and sex symbols, it’s no wonder that we rarely see women illuminating their lips with this beautiful colour, but this Valentines Day find your inner temptress and wear the ultimate seduction tool. Here’s how to get it right…
Red Lips – The most important part of pulling off red is figuring out which shade is for you
Red lips instantly draw focus to one of the most seductive features of your face, so it’s not a makeup choice for the shy girls. Men seem to either love it or hate it but, when they love it, they really love it, so it’s worth trying! The danger with the trend lies in an error of coordination; you have to choose the shade of red that is right for your skin tone because it can either look garish or vampy if you wear the wrong one. The general rule is this:
Pale skin = orange/coral reds
Olive/tan skin = blue or pink reds
Dark skin = deep, rich reds or purple reds
It’s also important to consider how intense you would like the look to be. Lipstick will give the biggest impact, as it will have the strongest pigment, whereas gloss will be a lighter option that will give a softer look. If you decide to brave lipstick, be sure that you have a good level of moisture on your lips by applying balm before the colour. Dry red lips do not work! To maintain a plump and luscious look, keep applying balm with the colour to give a healthy sheen but try to avoid gloss, as you don’t want to make your lips look like a sticky mess!
Grace Kelly Rear Window – Grace knows best
Don’t underestimate the importance or coordinating your lips with the rest of your outfit. Your clothes should not contain any clashing colours and try to keep it simple – block colours work much better than patterns. Also, keep your makeup basic; a classic, timeless style is strong eyebrows, flawless skin and top-lid lines eyes (think 50’s icons like Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly).
Finally, here’s a list of trusted products for the best red lips. If you’re thinking of working the trend, check them out.
Red Lips Shopping list:
Carmex Lip Balm
Dior Lip Maximiser
Mac Pro Longwear Lipcolour
Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss
Red Lip Products - The best tools equal the best lips
Like this article? Come back tomorrow to check out what Maude Bourcier (Associate Editor and Stylist) loves & hates about Fashionable dress this February!
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