A bold red lip is an easy way to feel gorgeous and glamorous in a snap, but so many women steer clear of crimson pouts because they’re afraid of the intense colour, smudging or bleeding. Take courage: with the right colour and proper application techniques, a bold, red lip can instantly transform.

ChickAdvisor’s Cathy Morrison models this hot look today.

To make sure your lips are soft, gently exfoliate with Philosophy Kiss Me Exfoliating Lip Scrub (1) or a homemade blend of olive oil and white sugar. Slather on lip balm and allow to soak in as you apply your other makeup. Your lips will be smooth and moisturized by the time you finish.

Blot off any excess balm, then prime your lips with your regular cream concealer or a lip primer like MAC Prep + Prime Lip (2) to help the lip colour adhere and create a nice canvas to work with.

To prevent your lip colour from bleeding, apply Cargo Reverse Lip Liner (3) just outside your natural lip line. Pat with your ring finger to blend. This will provide a clean lip line, prevent your lipstick from moving and also give a natural highlight to the lips and make it appear a bit fuller.

Choose a lip liner that is similar to your lipstick (pictured: Chanel Le Lèvres (4) and NYX Lip Pencil (5)). Start by lining all around the lips and work your way in to fill in the rest of your lips.

Carefully go over your lips with the lip colour of your choice, making sure you don’t go beyond the lip line. We used a mix of Chanel Rouge Coco in 'Cambon' (6) and Maybelline Color Sensational in 'Are You Red-dy' (7). Apply directly from the tube or use a lip brush (8).

Blot lips with tissue. If you have oily skin or your lipstick tends to smudge, use a fluffy brush and dust some transparent powder (9) over the tissue to lock it in place. Apply a second coat of lipstick.
 
If you accidently went over your lip line or if your lipstick has smudged, take a small angle brush and go over the area with some concealer to erase any mistakes. Reapply your lipstick as needed.

Cathy models Before & After

Our Tip: Picking the right colour

There are two main types of reds: Cool (Blue-based) – for rosy, pink complexions, and Warm (Yellow/Orange Base) – for golden, tan skin tones.

If you want to create a bolder look, go for a shade that’s opposite your skin tone. Your best bet is to experiment at the makeup counter. You’ll instantly be able to tell which red is ‘your’ red. Remember to keep the rest of your makeup muted to let your lips speak for themselves!

What do you think of this look?

by Mandy Fok