How to Apply Red Lipstick

Few things embody glamor as much as red lipstick. From old Hollywood stars such as Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor to modern-day icons like Anne Hathaway and Taylor Swift, a classic red lip can instantly elevate any look. You can pair it with casual outfits for a polished yet understated style or with that little black dress you’ve been saving for a special occasion. The best part? Red lipstick is a statement unto itself, so you really don’t need to add much to it. In fact, it’s better to keep the rest of your makeup simple with the best eyeshadow looks to wear with red lipstick.

Red lipstick is, without a doubt, one of the most universally flattering makeup looks. Though this bold color can be quite intimidating to a beginner, you can easily achieve the perfect red lip with the right tools and techniques.

Are you ready to level up your makeup game? Keep reading for a step-by-step guide on how to apply red lipstick perfectly.

Step 1: Choose the Right Shade

Red is a gorgeous color that looks amazing on every complexion. However, not all reds are created equal. Red lipsticks come in a wide variety of hues, shades, and tones, which can appear differently on certain skin tones. The key to a gorgeous red lip is to choose a red lipstick for your skin tone. To do this, you’ll need to identify your skin’s undertone.

If you have warm skin, choose a red lipstick with yellow, peach, or golden undertones to bring out your skin’s glow. If you have cool skin, opt for cool shades of red (think: berries or wine) that complement your skin’s blue undertone. Those with a neutral undertone can go for any red lipstick shade.

Step 2: Exfoliate Your Lips

When it comes to makeup, starting with a good base can make all the difference. If you want to achieve a flawless red lip that lasts all day long, prepping your lips is a must. Exfoliating your lips with a lip scrub will help get rid of any loose, dry skin and ensure that your red lipstick applies smoothly and looks even.

Apply an exfoliating lip scrub onto your lips, then gently massage it into your skin using small, circular motions to slough off the dead skin cells. Wipe off the product with a clean tissue before proceeding to the next step.

Step 3: Moisturize

Once your lips have been exfoliated, it’s time to move on to the second part of lip prep. Moisturizing your lips can help prevent your lipstick from flaking, creasing, and bleeding, thereby increasing the longevity of your red lipstick. This step is a must if you are using a matte lipstick, as this type of formula can dry out your lips.

Apply a lip balm onto your lips, then gently massage it into your skin. Leave it on for a few minutes, then blot off the excess product onto a clean tissue.

Step 4: Outline Your Lips With Concealer

Though this step is optional, applying concealer around the lips and mouth area helps define the shape of your lips and creates a cleaner canvas that will make your red lipstick stand out.

Use a small brush to apply concealer on the skin around your lips, carefully tracing around the lip line. Then, use a fluffy brush to buff the concealer away from your lips, until it blends seamlessly into your skin.

Step 5: Apply Lip Primer

An absolute must-have for anyone who wears lipstick regularly, a lip primer creates a smooth and even base that makes lipstick application a breeze. Not only does it allow your lipstick to glide on smoothly, but it also gives it more grip so that your lip color lasts all day long, which can help prevent bleeding and feathering. What’s more, a lip primer can make the lipstick’s color appear more vibrant, so that your lipstick looks true to color when applied on your lips.

To apply lip primer, simply swipe it directly onto your lips. If you plan on overlining your lips, do the same with the lip primer.

Pro Tip: If you don’t have a lip primer on hand, you can use an eyeshadow primer instead. (Just note that it might not do as good of a job.)

Step 6: Line Your Lips

If you’ve ever applied red lipstick straight off the tube, then you know how unforgiving it can be. Lining your lips with a lip pencil creates an outline that will make filling in your lips much easier. Moreover, it can greatly reduce bleeding and feathering throughout the day. If you want to wear red lipstick, lining your lips is a must!

Once your lips have been prepped and primed, take your lip liner of choice and begin by marking the cupid’s bow with an “X.” Then, draw a line along the center of your bottom lip and line the corners of your mouth. This technique will make it easier to draw a straight line and help ensure your lipstick looks symmetrical. Once all these points are marked, use short and light strokes to connect all the lines.

For a natural look, line your lips following your natural lip line. If you want fuller lips, draw slightly over the lip line.

Pro Tip: To ensure that your red lips turn out beautifully, always make sure to sharpen your lip pencil before lining your lips.

Step 7: Fill In

After creating the outline, you’ll want to fill in your lips with lip liner. This fortifies your lip base, which can further help prevent the red lipstick from smudging or feathering. Plus, it helps make the lip liner blend more seamlessly with your lipstick.

Completely fill in your lips, starting from the outline of your lip line and pulling it in towards the center of your lips.

Step 8: Apply Red Lipstick

There are two methods for applying red lipstick: straight from the bullet or with a lip brush.

To apply it straight from the bullet, start at the center of your lower lip and make your way to the corners. Once filled in completely, press your lips together. This will transfer some of the product to the upper lip and create a more natural-looking lip line. Then, use the pointed tip of the lipstick to carefully trace over and fill in the upper lip, starting from the center and making your way outward.

Lip brushes are great for beginners because they give you more precision and control, making it easier to apply lipstick while staying within the lines and controlling the amount of product. Dip the brush into the lipstick bullet, coating both sides of the brush. Then, use short strokes to apply it onto your lips, making sure to stay within the outline.

Step 9: Remove the Excess Product

Red lipstick is notorious for getting onto your teeth. But not to worry because you can easily prevent this by blotting your lipstick. Place a clean tissue between your upper and lower lips, then gently press them together. This will get rid of excess oils that can cause the lipstick to smudge. However, this method can also reduce the sheen of your lipstick. If you want to keep your lips glossy and shiny, simply apply another light layer of lipstick.

Alternatively, you can place your thumb inside your mouth and carefully pull it out to wipe off any lipstick that might smear onto your teeth.

Step 10: Clean up Any Mistakes

Red lipsticks can be quite unforgiving, and mistakes are bound to happen. If there are any smudges or uneven lines you want to correct, use a brush and a bit of concealer to clean up the lip line.

Depending on the look you’re going for, you can add some lip gloss for extra shine or dust a light layer of translucent setting powder to mattify your lipstick. And voilà, your perfect red lipstick look is complete!

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