Scarlett Johansson. Jennifer Connelly. Katherine Heigl. Three gorgeous leading ladies who all share the same star beauty secret for looking über-glam: red lipstick. Nothing says “kiss me” like a set of ripe, ruby red lips, so why not rev up your romance by seducing him with a fresh, new lip colour? You can wear the colour big and bold, or soft and stained—it all depends on the beauty statement you want to make. And just in case you think you're one of those girls who can’t wear red, put that notion to rest ASAP. There really is a red out there for everyone; you just have to do a little hunting to find the one that best suits your skin tone.
Scarlett Johansson. Jennifer Connelly. Katherine Heigl. Three gorgeous leading ladies who all share the same star beauty secret for looking über-glam: red lipstick. Nothing says “kiss me” like a set of ripe, ruby red lips, so why not rev up your romance by seducing him with a fresh, new lip colour? You can wear the colour big and bold, or soft and stained—it all depends on the beauty statement you want to make. And just in case you think you're one of those girls who can’t wear red, put that notion to rest ASAP. There really is a red out there for everyone; you just have to do a little hunting to find the one that best suits your skin tone.
With this in mind, there are a few key rules of thumb to consider when you are shopping. If your skin has cool undertones (a pinky cast), you need a blue-red colour; if your skin has warm undertones (a peachy cast), an orange-red will look best on you. Also when it comes to red, steer clear of glosses in favour of good old-fashioned lipstick (red gloss can come off looking a little garish). A creamy, matte shade of lipstick is the way to go and the beauty of it is you can apply it, then blot it down to achieve the intensity of colour you want. And on the subject of blotting, this is also a key step to creating lip colour that stays on you, and won’t kiss off on him. To make your red virtually kiss-proof, first line lips with a neutral-coloured pencil, then apply your lipstick, blot and repeat three times to remove most creamy emollients. Finish with a dab of lip balm in the middle of lips to seal the deal, then pucker up!
Four of our favourite reds: New York Apple and Hot Tahiti Lipstick, both M.A.C. ($17); Cabaret Colorscope Lipcolour by Prescriptives ($26); and Jane Iredale PureMoist LipColour in Joy ($23).
