How to get the right red lips

According to Belinda Moss, a professional makeup artist and spokesperson for Softlips, one of makeup's naughtiest looks -- red lips -- is the "it" look.

But there's more than just one red out there! Moss suggests stocking up on classic red colors, including true red lipsticks for light-skinned individuals (i.e. fire engine shade); orange based, warmer tones for medium-skin hues (i.e. brick shade); and an intense bluish red shade for dark-skinned women.

Here are Belinda's tips for achieving the "right" red lips:

Conceal dry, flaky lips: Apply either concealer or liquid foundation to the outside edge of the lips to help prevent the lip color from "feathering" or "bleeding." 

Apply a lip stain to the lips: A lip stain accentuates lips with its natural ruby-tinted shade, smoothes out lip lines, and helps hold the red lipstick color in place for hours. Moss suggests applying to the bottom lip, then pressing your lips together, and waiting at least 10 seconds for the stain to set.

Line, don't outline, your lips: It is very important to match your lip liner to your lipstick -- and it is equally important to apply this liner to the entire lip, not just the edges. Using a lip liner will not only help define your lips, but it will also help set a border for both the lip balm and lipstick (see next steps).

Give lips a gloss over: Apply one coat of a product like Softlips Lip Conditioning Balm with SPF 20 or Go Smile Lip Treatment Balm to help condition your lips and protect them from sun damage. This will soften the lips without making them waxy or greasy.

Become the lady in red: Apply a shade of red that complements both your skin tone and lip liner. For maximum precision with the red lipstick, use a lip brush to apply your lipstick neatly and evenly. Your lips should look fresh for hours!

For those wanting a not-so-naughty look, Moss recommends a more subtle shade such as a metallic brownish lip tint -- a rich color that complements all skin tones and accents your wardrobe.

Now that you know how to get the "it" lips, go on and kiss those bland pale lipsticks goodbye!

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