Six Tips To Rock A Red Lip

By BR Kellie

I love a red lipstick. They're bold. Bright. A good red has the ability to transform me from a hum-drum mum to a confident, self-assured woman. Better yet? They're dead sexy. They're the perfect Valentine's Day lip - well, they are if you're not planning to pash anyone all day and night long. But if you're looking to celebrate the day, they give the perfect nod to love and all its gloriousness. 

They're also really freaking scary to wear!

They can feather. They can migrate to your teeth. They can fade in unflattering ways. 

So what's a girl to do if she wants to rock a red? On Valentine's Day or any day of the year?

First things first... you might want to make sure you're wearing the right red to suit your skin's undertone - and if you want to know how to find that out then read this handy article BR Natalie put together earlier. Of course, makeup being makeup, if you like a lippy that's got nothing to do with your undertone - go for it! At the end of the day if you're walking out the door feeling fab that's all that matters!

Now that you've got yourself a lippie you love... how do we wear it with the confidence it deserves, that it inspires?

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Start with a good prepping. 

Exfoliate your lips then apply a nourishing balm. Give the balm a bit of time to sink in then wipe off any excess.

If you've been hanging around Beauty Review for a bit then you know how we're all about the priming - and it's not just on our faces and eyes that we chant 'it's a crime not to prime'. If you want to lock in your lip colour then a good priming goes a long way. So grab a lip primer and pop that on. 

Now it's time to play with the colour!

Take a lip liner in a similar shade of red as your lipstick and line and fill your lips. The filling in part is especially essential as it will create a base of colour that will stick around even if your lipstick colour wears down.

Once that's done... pop your lippy on! Give it a good swipe and wipe.

Next? Blot. Grab a one-ply tissue, place it between your lips and press your lips together.

Think you're done? Not quite! You'll want to go in again with another layer of red, just to ensure the colour is really pressed into your lippy loos. 

Then take a touch of translucent powder and dust it over your lips to really lock that colour down.

First finally? Do the finger test. Pop your index finger in your mouth, close your lips round it then pull it out. This removes the lipstick that's likely to take up residence on your teeth. Then do that glorious mouth grimace in the mirror to make sure there's no lippy on your gnashers. 

Second and most important finally? Strut your stuff! Rocking a red lip can feel a little daunting but it's a case of fake it 'til you make it. Take a deep breath, smile and make out like wearing a bold colour is no big deal and before you know it, it won't be!

So will you be embracing red lips this Valentine's Day? Do you rock red on the regular? What are your tricks and tips? Chat away!