Stars have started showing up to events with lips as vivid as the carpet they’re walking down, and this eye-catching look isn’t just for formal occasions. Pucker up with a pout that demands attention in deep and dramatic shades of red. Bobbie Thomas, TODAY style editor and author of “the Buzz” for In Touch weekly, shows you how.
Finding the right shadeThere’s no doubt about it — red lips are the must-have makeup trend of the moment. But for those who are worried that a bold lip will make you look more like Bozo the Clown than Christina Aguilera, I’m here to tell you there’s a red out there for every woman. It’s just about finding a shade that suits your skin tone. For the most natural look, determine if you have warm or cool coloring, and then stick with a shade that matches your undertones. Women with a more golden complexion (warm) will want to look for a shade of red with an orange or brown base. If you have a hard-to-tan, fair complexion with rosy undertones (cool), you should seek out a blue or purple-based red.
Bobbie’s Buzz: Reds with a strong brown or purple base can be easier to wear, and softer on the skin. But remember, a true red can be truly stunning. Red Sinner from Poppy King’s Lipstick Queen collection has developed a cult-like following among beauty buffs (barneys.com), while classic reds from designer cosmetic lines are favorites of stars. Both Nicole Kidman and Gwenyth Paltrow love Chanel's Coco Red, and Gwen Stefani and Catherine Zeta Jones pucker up with shades from Dior and MAC. And to top off the trend, Target and L’Oreal Paris have teamed up to create Target Red by L’Oréal Paris, a signature red available at Target stores nationwide starting this month.
Prep before you pucker upBright red look-at-me lips are bound to draw attention, so before you go for the bold, you want to make sure your pout is perfect. After all, there’s nothing worse than putting on dark lipstick and seeing wrinkles and little lines peeking through! A multi-purpose moisturizer like Boscia’s Jujube Salve Stick (boscia.net) or Laura Mercier’s Lip Silk (lauramercier.com) will prep and condition dry lips, prevent lipstick feathering and smooth fines lines.
Before you paint your pout, you may want to neutralize the rosiness of your lips and start with a skin-colored surface. A primer like Trish McEvoy’s Flawless Lip (saks.com) will help your red appear as true-to-color as possible. And the last thing you want your red lipstick to do is bleed! Make sure lipstick stays in place with a different kind of liner. DuWop has a colorless Reverse Lipliner that is meant to go on the skin just outside of the lips before you apply color (duwop.com), while Repelle’s Skin Shield Wand creates an invisible barrier between lips and skin (walgreens.com).
Bobbie’s Buzz: A dramatic or smokey eye can compete with a bright red pout. Balance out a bold lip with clean and subtle shimmers like gold, bone or light taupe, and soft grays instead of black.