As a makeup artist, who used to split her time between ‘industry’ work and makeup counters, there was one common dilemma that plagued women of every age – red lipstick. Many women would ask for a red and then out of fear, proceed to buy a deep plum or a satin coral. It is my belief that red suits everyone (yes, including you) and it is one of the most attractive shades to wear on a date.
Studies have actually shown that red is the most attractive colour for both men and women. So, here is all you need to know about how to wear red lipstick on a date.
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1.) Prep
They say you should prep your lips before wearing any shade of lipstick, but this is even more true with red. If your lips are dry and cracked, the colour will not apply smoothly. Your best bet is to invest in a lip exfoliator such as Frank Body Lip Scrub, but you can also try the dry toothbrush hack of gently brushing around your lips in a circular motion.
Next, apply a good lip balm. Look for one that has nourishing ingredients such as shea butter. You want to wait a few minutes for your balm to soak in before applying any lipstick.
2.) Choose your colour
As a general guide, it helps to look at your foundation. If it is more of a pink-beige tone, consider a red with a hint of pink. Warmer and yellow tones better suit a red with a hint of orange. If you are in doubt, try a couple of different shades to see which you prefer.
3.) Decide on your red lipstick texture
Your lipstick texture is important, particularly on a date. I personally stay away from sticky lip gloss, particularly at a restaurant when it can easily slide away from my mouth and end up somewhere near my cheeks.
If a bold red feels too much, opt for sheer or satin. These are great because they create a hydrated appearance and a soft look. I would advise on creamy textured lipsticks as well – I love wearing these with a hint of lip gloss at the centre of my lips.
While you can try a tinted lip balm, I feel these don’t create a strong enough red effect. Matte lipstick is the most demanding and so again, probably not the best for date night.
These are some of my favourite options:
Dior Couture Colour Lipstick (super hydrating and my favourite brand ever for lipsticks)
4.) Plan the rest of your makeup
Red lipstick can take the colour out of your cheeks, so my first tip is to use a healthy amount of blusher or bronzer.
For date night, I adore the classic 50’s look of beige eyeshadow with winged eyeliner. A really romantic look is to use a complimentary pink eyeshadow and pink blusher high up on your cheekbones. For smoky eyes, you can skip the eyeliner and use a brown eyeshadow along your eyelid, followed by a dark brown shadow along your lash line.
Another look is to apply a gold/bronze eye shadow on your cheeks with lots of bronzer and no eyeliner.
5.) Final touch-ups
To help keep your red lipstick in place, you can try placing a thin dusting of translucent powder over your lips. For me, however, I like just putting a bit of concealer around the outer edge of my mouth, making sure it is well blended.
Red lipliner can make a big difference. Try to find a colour that is fairly similar to your lipstick shade. When you apply, rest your elbows on a table or firm surface and use light strokes.
And there you have it, the steps required to perfectly wear red lipstick on a date. You can find out more tips by reading my post on Ten Do’s and Don’ts of Makeup to Follow.
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