3 Ways to Wear a Red Lip

TREND

Dec 6

The classic lip shade is also the most intimidating one. But, yes, you can wear red. Celebrity makeup artist Ashlee Glazer shares the how-to!

Red lips are always in style, but many women are convinced they can’t wear them. “Red lips are intimidating to many because of the stark contrast to the skin,” says celebrity makeup artist and Pretty Local advisor Ashlee Glazer. “Plus, it tends to be more high maintenance than an everyday color. Many associate it with costume or playing dress up.” Still, she says, there is a red for everyone. By choosing the right tone and texture, you can find a red lip look that’s within your comfort zone. Here, Glazer tells us how.

Find the Right Shade

It takes some trial and error. “Try different red shades on with a bare face—a clean, natural look,” says Glazer. “The one that looks the best will make you feel well-dressed, even with nothing else on.”

Play with different undertones (warm reds, cool, and neutral) and consider the rest of your makeup. “If you lean towards golds, browns, and coppers, you may like a warmer red on your skin such as NARS Power Matte High Intensity Lip Pencil in Born To Be Wild, $30, a brick red.” If your makeup is more neutral and you wear more greys, blacks, or sheer glossy colors, try a blue-based red, she says. Glazer likes Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Hydrating Lipstick in Red Carpet Red, $35.

Now Play With Texture

The texture, whether a sheer gloss or a full-on opaque matte, can help ease you in if you’re not confident just yet, or take it up a notch if you’re a red lipstick pro. Here are three textures for your specific red comfort zone.

Beginner: Sheer Gloss

“To gently ease into the glamourous world of red lipstick, start with a glossy, juicy red,” says Glazer. Gloss feels non-commital compared to lipsticks, she adds. The sheer factor makes the color less bold. Plus, you can swipe it on without worrying about a precise application. Try Glossier Glassy High-Shine Lip Gloss in Red, $18.

Intermediate: Stain

A stain requires more commitment than gloss, and Glazer says with new formula innovations, you can control the intensity, creating a “lollipop level” of red color, or you can build up to a bold color payoff. Glazer likes Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Tint Jelly Blush + Lip Stain in Chili, $24. “It’s sheer and buildable, long-wearing, and can be used on the cheeks so you are rocking a harmonious look and won’t feel too dramatic in your red era.” Glazer says you can DIY a stain, too: Use your finger to press a red lipstick onto your lips.

Advanced: Matte

If you’re ready to step it up a notch (or ten), go for something creamy and matte—a velvety texture, says Glazer. “Make sure your lips are well hydrated and exfoliated beforehand so the color glides right on.” For a precise look, “use a lip liner in a matching or slightly darker shade to contour, and always tidy up around the lip for a clean edge with a brush or Q-tip dipped in concealer or foundation,” she says. Try Laura Mercier Caviar Smoothing Matte Lipstick in Scarlet Velvet, $45.

The Finishing Touch

What do you do with the rest of your face? “That’s a personal preference,” says Glazer. You can pair your red lip with a smoky eye, a sparkly one, a clean eye, or with winged liner; then add peach blush, matching blush, or no blush at all, she says. Her only rule: Mix up the textures. Use powder on your skin with a glossy lip so it’s soft and smooth, she says. “For matte and bold lips, add some glow to the skin and eyes; this draws attention to the lips and will keep it interesting and balanced.”