A red lip is perfect for the festive season, but finding the right shade for your skin tone can be a challenge. Here’s how to choose the perfect red lipstick this Christmas
Choosing the right red lipstick for the festive season can be a daunting task, given the plethora of shades and textures available. But fear not, makeup artist Saffron Hughes from FalseEyelashes.co.uk is here to help you navigate through this sea of lipsticks.
She suggests determining your skin tone first. “If you burn easily in the sun or if your veins appear blue or purple, you likely have a cooler skin tone. On the other hand, green veins indicate a warmer skin tone,” she explains.
For those with dark skin, she recommends comparing your face to a white sheet of paper. “Red or purple undertones suggest a cooler skin tone, while gold or yellow undertones indicate a warmer skin tone.”
Once you’ve figured out your skin tone, it’s time to find your perfect red. “Cool tones should go for blue-based or pink-based reds like raspberry, while warmer tones should opt for pillar box reds with gold or peachy undertones,” advises Saffron.
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Our pick of the best red lipsticks for all skin tones
For cool undertones:
Too Faced Lip Injection Demi-Matte Liquid Lipstick in shade Big Lip Energy, £24
MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lip colour in shade Dance with Me, £25
ELF Pout Clout Lip Plumping Pen in shade Berry, £8
For warm undertones:
NYX Professional Makeup Soft Matte Lip Cream in shade Amsterdam, £7
Charlotte Tilbury KISSING Lipstick in shade Love Bite, £28
ELF O FACE Satin Lipstick in shade Loud AF, £9
How to paint the perfect red
Step one: Prep the lips
“This is a vital step most people miss out on. However, for Christmas day, take the time out to prep the lips by exfoliating your lips properly, so your lipstick lasts all day and doesn’t flake off,” says Saffron. “To do this, mix 1 tbsp of coconut oil with 2 tsp sugar and massage the mixture in.”
Step two: Line the lips
“Lip liners are essential for creating the perfect red lip as they prevent smudging and can make your lips look fuller. To properly apply a lip liner, mark an X on your cupid’s bow to create definition, then overline the bottom lip slightly. Draw upwards from the corners of your lips to connect to the X and to the line on the bottom lip you created,” Saffron suggests.
Step three: Fill the lip in
Saffron recommends using a flat lip brush to apply the colour if you have one. If you don’t, simply use the sharper tip of the lipstick bullet colour slightly over and then inside the lipstick liner edges.
Step four: Clean up and define
“To fine-tune your lip shape or to fix any lip colour mistakes, finish by going around your lips with an angled brush dipped into a creamy concealer—just make sure the concealer is blended into your foundation well so it doesn’t look like an odd bright outline around your lips,” Saffron advises.
