How To Find Your Perfect Red Lipstick

FINDING THE RIGHT SHADE OF RED LIPSTICK

Knowing your skin’s undertone is a good starting point when looking for your signature red lipstick (you can figure out your undertone by looking at the colour of your veins). Generally, warm undertones should suit orange reds, while cool undertones will likely suit cool and blue reds. However, our Head of Education Niamh Butler doesn’t see these rules as being set in stone. “More than focusing on your undertones, I’d suggest thinking about your overall look – and if you wear blusher, this can serve as a good guide. If you’re shopping for a red lipstick in one of our stores, wear your go-to makeup and discover what works best with that – you want a red lip to complement, not overpower.”

Makeup artist and ex-Space NK alumni Katie Jane Hughes suggests buying a red you love, no matter how dark, and mixing it with your favourite nude. “Wearing it like this at first and then building up and changing the ratio of colour as you go is a slow and steady way into the look,” she says.

PREPPING YOUR LIPS FOR A RED LIPSTICK

If there’s one thing you’ll want for sporting a red lipstick, it’s happy, healthy, and hydrated lips. “Every lipstick looks better on a moisturised lip!” says our Hair and Fragrance Trainer Violetta Anissimova. “Apply a lip mask before you do the rest of your makeup, wiping off any excess before applying your red. Tatcha The Kissu Lip Mask, £27.00 is great for this.”

As well as helping a red shade last longer and look more put together, lip liner doubles as a tool for successfully applying your lipstick. “It’s such a helpful guide if you’re not very confident with a red lip,” says Violetta. “But, practice makes perfect. Do it when you have some time and learn what works best with your lip line, as nobody’s lips are perfectly symmetrical.”

“Liner doesn’t have to look sharp,” she adds. “You can blur it out slightly with your finger if you want a softer look. If you are aiming for a sharpened effect, use your concealer on a brush to sharpen and define the edges. And if you like to overline your lips, do it on the centre of your upper lip for a natural look.”

CHOOSING THE RIGHT TEXTURE AND FINISH

A red lipstick has become so much more than traditional bullet lipsticks. From liquid formulas to rich-in-colour lip balms and even tinted lip oils, the world really is your oyster when it comes to creating your ideal red lip. “A bullet lipstick is great as it gives you control in terms of colour depth,” says our Training Coordinator Ashlee Severin. “You can press in the colour with your fingertips for a blushed effect, or layer it lightly or strongly directly from the bullet.”

Ultimately, there are endless ways you can attempt a red lip. Still not entirely ready for colour that packs a punch? “Go with a sheer formula, such as Hourglass Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm in Thrill 165, £36.00,” says Ashlee. “And if you would like a little more definition, you can use a red lip liner and then go in with your favourite clear balm. Gently mixing them together creates an elegant ombre effect.”

MAKING YOUR RED LIPSTICK LAST

Like any lipstick or lip formula, the longevity of a red lipstick will mainly depend on your lifestyle and what you get up on the day or evening you’re rocking a red lip. Niamh believes it’s best to start over rather than simply reapplying. “If you’re out for drinks or a meal and you’ve gone for a matte finish, wipe off any excess left on your lips and reapply it, but applying a little bit of lip balm beforehand. The key is to use thin layers for longevity and intensity,” she says.

For a relatively low-maintenance routine, a liquid matte lipstick could be your saviour. Rather than reapplying it after a meal or drinks, try using a bullet lipstick or lip balm instead – it’ll create a beautifully natural, and still very defined, effect.