From the cool-toned reds favored by Hollywood A-listers like Megan Fox and Lily Collins to the classic berry-tinted colors that have been in style since the 1960s, red lips can convey so much without saying a word. With their striking and eye-catching hue, red lips are the perfect way to add some edge to an otherwise neutral makeup look. But achieving the perfect red lip is no easy feat. To get the look, you’ll need to choose the right shade and apply the lipstick with precision. To make the process even more difficult, celebrity makeup artists use their own unique techniques and products to create their signature red lip looks. Fortunately, you can get the same incredible results without the help of a professional makeup artist. Here are some celebrity beauty hacks for creating the perfect red lip.
Choose the Right Shade
The tone of your red lipstick makes all the difference. When picking out the perfect red for your skin tone, opt for a shade that is either slightly lighter or darker than your natural lip color. This will help ensure that the lipstick doesn’t overpower your complexion. For fair skin tones, classic cool pink-based reds are a great choice. Medium skin tones can go for a slightly deeper, richer hue, and darker skin tones should opt for an orange-based red shade. For anyone starting out, drugstore brands are a great place to look as they usually have an array of colors to choose from.
When picking out the perfect red for your skin tone, opt for a shade that is either slightly lighter or darker than your natural lip color.
Prime Your Lips
Once you’ve chosen the right shade, the next step is to prep your lips for the application of your lipstick. To get a mistake-proof look, exfoliate and moisturize your lips before you start. Use a lip scrub — or make your own with sugar and honey — to gently exfoliate the lips, removing any dead skin. Follow up with a moisturizing lip balm to nourish the skin while preparing it to hold the red lip color. This step ensures that the color is even and that the lipstick won’t settle into any lines or creases.
To get a mistake-proof look, exfoliate and moisturize your lips before you start.
Line Your Lips
One of the secrets celebrity makeup artists use to create a long-lasting lip look is to line the lips. Doing this prevents the color from bleeding and smudging and gives you neater, more precise edges. Start by outlining the lip shape with a lip pencil in the same color as the lipstick. Start in the middle and work your way out, filling in in the gaps as you go. You can also use a slightly lighter color pencil to give the illusion of a fuller lip. Also, be sure to blend the pencil lines. An easy trick is to use a finger to blend the pencil with the lipstick.
One of the secrets celebrity makeup artists use to create a long-lasting lip look is to line the lips.
Accentuate with Lip Gloss
The final step to achieving the perfect red lip is to add gloss. This step not only adds a bit of shine to your look, but it also helps seal in the color. A clear lip gloss can also be used to make the lips look bigger. To make sure the color doesn’t budge, focus on concentrating the gloss on the center of your lips and near the edges to hold the red pigment in place.
The final step to achieving the perfect red lip is to add gloss.
Rock the Red Lips
Now you’re ready to rock your perfect red lip! Whether you’re going for a classic, neutral makeup look with a bold red lip, or you want something more adventurous with a daring lip shape, you now have all the insider tips and tricks to give you a star-worthy look. Of course, the lipstick won’t last all night (no matter what the ads say!) so make sure to carry a few essentials with you — like a lip liner, gloss, and a dose of confidence — to refresh and touch up your look throughout the night. Wear your red lip with pride, whatever the occasion!
