Forever Rouge
RED LIPSTICK IS THE SEASON’S HOTTEST TREND
Story by Karen Welcome
Gwyneth Paltrow once said, “Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin – that, and a kick-ass red lipstick.” Perhaps that is because red lipstick has always been associated with power, glamour and sex appeal. Plaid puts a spotlight on how to find the perfect red for your skin tone, and how to keep your glamourous look long-lasting.
Determining your best shade of red begins with establishing whether you have a yellow or pink undertone to your skin. An easy way to find out is to press your thumb against the underside of your wrist. Your undertone will then appear upon your thumb’s release. If you have a yellow undertone, it’s best to choose a red lipstick with a gold or an orange base (like M.A.C Lipstick in “Lady Danger”). Those with a pink undertone are better with a blue or berry base (such as Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in “Icon”).
Your shade of red should also compliment the pink tones evident in your palms, because they show up in your face as well. When testing lipstick, avoid running the colour along the back of your hand. Instead, test the colour on the pads of your fingers for a better idea of how the shade will turn up on your lips. Makeup artists often blend more than one red to get the perfect shade, so don’t be afraid to take time to experiment. Your tone of red will turn out as distinctive as your personality.
Applying your red lipstick needs as much care as its selection. Start off by gently exfoliating your lips with a toothbrush or by using a lip exfoliant (we’re hooked on Lush’s Sweet Lips Lip Scrub). This will help your colour apply evenly. You can follow up with concealer to shape your lips or head straight for your lip liner (in a matching colour to the lipstick), which will set your lipstick and keep it from bleeding. Using a tissue to blot your lips is a good way to prevent leaving lipstick marks behind on stemware.
A red lip is sure to turn heads, so light eye makeup and dark lashes provide good balance to your overall look. Finding an outfit that stands out as much as your lips is also key. Last but not least, remember that nothing ante-ups your red lipstick like a confident smile.
Want to see how our beauty editor, Robert Weir, applies the perfect red lip? Click here!
