how to: the perfect red lip.

got to love that screen shot... haha

Being as pale as I am, I avoided wearing bright lipstick for years. To me I thought red made me look like a clown, and it wasn't until the last year or so that I became brave enough to try some bold colors. Since branching out, I have fallen in love with colored lip sticks :)

So for all of you out there who have been hesitant to try a bold lip color like RED, watch the video above, or read on for some of my tips on how to be more comfortable wearing a bold lip color - because I really do believe anyone can pull of a fun color, no excuses! 

1. Find a color that compliments your skin tone. I for example, still think I look a little clownish wearing a red, red lip color. So I found a red lipstick that has some orange undertones. To me the orange compliments my skin better, and helps me feel more comfortable wearing such a bright color. 

So play around with all the different types of reds there are and figure out which one makes you feel more comfortable. Go to Sephora, Macy's, Nordstrom or any beauty department store and use their samples to play with the different shades! The hardest part is getting started, so you might have to force yourself to just wear the bright color... but once people start complimenting you in your new shade, you won't feel so silly anymore, trust me!

As mentioned in the video above, my go to red currently is from Kat Von D's Painted Love Lipstick Line in Stiletto - the perfect orange red. I know, I know... I am team Sandra Bullock... but I couldn't help myself, the color was just too good. Sorry Sandra, can we still be friends?



2. Exfoliate and Moisturize. Living in such a dry area, I am constantly trying to make sure my lips are exfoliated and moisturized! Normally I just swipe my Clarisonic over my lips when I am needing a good exfoliate, but I have also recently fallen in love with Lush's lip exfoliate in Mint Julips. They have all kinds of "flavors" like chocolate mint and a bubble gum one. Honestly they are all great, and I don't even like mint or chocolate that much, and they don't bother me at all. Some people have to try not to eat this stuff apparently... haha.

Make sure to moisturize with your favorite chap stick, or Vaseline is always a classic and a favorite of mine. Just make sure your lips are very smooth and moisturized so the color lays well on your lips.

3. Conceal your lips so the red shows up true to color.  If I am being honest, I almost never do this step. But it is recommended if you want the color to truly POP! I normally skip this step, but I have found it helps your lip color last longer, so if you are going out for a long night it might be something you want to do. You can do this by applying a creamy concealer over top your lips and then lightly brush your face powder over your lips so the concealer sets.

4.  Line your lips. Red lipstick tends to bleed, so there are a couple different things you can do to help with this. You can fill in lips with lip liner first. So find a lip liner that matches the color of your lip stick. I recently met a make up artist who suggested to me Laura Mercier Anti Feather Lip Pencil. I like the idea of this pencil because it is clear, and you can use it for all your lipstick colors instead of having a bunch of different ones, and you just put it where you don't want the color to feather or bleed.

5. Put that color on! Put your lipstick on, duh! haha If you want to be very "professional" about it, most artists apply lipstick with an application brush specifically for putting on lipstick. I am not that fancy around these parts, so I just stick to the traditional, swipe it on!

6. Touch up. Last and final step, touch it up! Usually if you have used a lip liner, or the feathering pencil, you won't have any bleeding or smudges, but since I tend to break the rules, I usually have to swipe the edges to make sure everything is nice and clean. Tissue and fingers always work :)

Still not sure red bold lips are for you?

If you are still uncomfortable going for a big bold red lipstick, or you feel you are too young to wear such a strong lip right now, I would go with Revlon's amazing line of Color Burst Lip Butter. You guys, if you don't know about these by now, you need to wake up! I can't say enough good things about them!

These lips butters offer you a punch of color, but with a more chap-stick feel. Super comfortable to wear, and a little more sheer then a lipstick. So if you aren't ready to commit fully, start with the different shades of red they offer in this line, like Candy Apple.



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30 comments

  1. I love Lip Butter too! My sister got me addicted!

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  2. You look stunning,thanks for the tips.
    www.simplysiyaam.com

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  3. I'm not a big lipstick person, but I got a bright red one in one of those monthly beauty boxes. I had to try it out right away and when I looked in the mirror-whoa bright!! I kind of forgot about it and went out to dinner with it on. That said, I haven't worn it since!

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  4. That color suits you perfectly, great tips!!

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  5. That color looks great on you, I am also super pale so I wonder if it would work for me. I'm just so nervous to wear bright lips because I have never done it before, I'm afraid that the people who see me all the time will think I look weird. So far, my Stila lip stain is as bold as I get!

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  6. That's a beautiful color on you!

    I'm also super fair, but I've been loving hot pink lips lately.

    xo, Emily
    bluedogbelle.blogspot.com

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  7. I always want to try red but It's such a bright color! You might have just given me the push.

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  8. red is gorgeous on you girl! I love the videos too, I am also a beauty junkie!

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  9. This is such a great post because the right red lipstick is hard to find! I love all of your tips for finding the right one for each person. Thanks so much for visiting & following my blog (I didn't know you could do it through Twitter either, but awesome!). I'm following you now too! Your blog is so beautiful and full of great stuff! xoxo

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  10. You are just the cutest thing! Thanks so much for the awesome tips! I need the practice! :)

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  11. You look gorgeous! Red lips are the best accessory. You look sooo pretty!

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  12. Oooh, I love red lips, and this technique seems to be working for you! Thanks for sharing!

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  13. The lush lip scrubs are so good! Love that colour on you, thanks for the tips.

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  14. I have worn some "red" colors but like you, I think you have to have the right skin tone - I've seen too many girls wear the bright (bright!) red shade and look horrible! Even the stars do it - sorry Taylor Swift... you look MUCH better with peach, flesh colored lipstick. Just sayin'.

    Fun post, Alycia! :-)

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  15. Love it! I've never had the guts to wear something that bright.

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  16. I have just gotten into red lipstick also! It is such a fun pop to any outfit :) Thanks for sharing!
    xxx

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  17. Loved the tutorial. I am a super pale gal and red lips scares me, but I love the way it looks! I’ll definitely have to give it a try sometime this week though. Thanks for sharing!

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  18. Lancome makes my favorite red (absolute rouge). I'm pale, like you, but I like reds with some blue tones to them.

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  19. Lancome makes my favorite red (absolute rouge). I'm pale, like you, but I like reds with some blue tones to them.

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  20. Love this post. I love bright colors but as a red head I am always nervious. May have to give it a try this fall!

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  21. girl, you're stunning. and I'm totally one of those people that feels like a clown with red lipstick on haha

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  22. So many great tips in here! I've been looking for the perfect red lip so this definitely helps. Never heard the concealer rule, but it totally makes sense. Oh, and I am horrible at exfoliating. Definitely needed that tip. Thank you!

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  23. i love love love this! i'm still scared to try them...maybe this will help boost my confidence a bit!

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  24. Great tips. I am so into lipstick lately and love my reds. I own two of the Revlon Lip Butters: Peach Parfait and Red Velvet. The red velvet is kind of a deep darker red but it's very pretty.

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  25. you're too cute! love that last pic :)

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  26. Oh my gosh, I love you. You are just so funny. Really, super loved the video. I'm glad you're just real and willing to talk about the black crap on your hands. Also, if I were Sandra Bullock, I'd still be your BFF. That's all.

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  27. Excellent tutorial! I just subscribed!
    Then I pinned the lip scrub to my wish list on pinterest. :)
    so, funny story. my mom gave me a little tub of vasaline to take on my honeymoon...for lubrication reasons...awkward. just another use for it I suppose. :)

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  28. oh my gosh. your video is the cutest thing ever. literally made me laugh out loud at the very end - you are awesome!

    xxo
    Mary

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  29. I so needed this! I wanted to do a red lip for my senior pics but I was too afraid! hahaa

    Thanks!

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