Do's and don'ts of red lips
By Andrea Claire for Yahoo! Southeast Asia
Intimated by the boisterous bold pigment? Don’t be:Everyone can wear red. You can pull it off – you just need to know what shade of red is good for your skin tone.
Not all reds are created equal
Brick reds and reds with a blue undertones suit all skin tones. All you need is the courage to pull off the screen siren-esque intensities.
Orange reds are tougher to wear as they do not flatter yellow under-toned skin. Orange reds also enhance yellow stains on teeth (if you have them). Who can pull this one off? If you have dark skin, red hair or milky white skin, this is a great red for you.
Purple reds reigns for skin with yellow undertones, so choose a shade that's resembles a Merlot wine.
Tips when applying red lipstick
1. To apply red lips, use a lip liner first and a lip brush for accuracy. Starting with your lip liner, anchor your pinkie mid-chin, trace the bow of your lip using the side of the lip liner tip so the line is not too harsh (that’s the "v" shape located at the top/middle of your lip)
2. Work your liner in small, delicate upward strokes towards the lip bow
3. Trace the middle of your bottom lip and work upwards towards the corners (hope your pinkie is still anchored)
4. Fill in your entire lip with the liner. This adds more depth to your lipstick as well as helps it last longer
5. Apply lipstick. For the seasoned lipstick users: Apply straight from the tube; for the newbies: use a lip brush for more control.
Do not apply lipstick with your mouth wide open. Stretching your lips too much when applying lipstick can leave you looking like the Joker.
Do make a natural smile with lips slightly parted to help with your lipstick application.
Andrea Claire is a top hair and makeup artist who’s worked with several international celebrities. Check out her blog at http://www.andreaclaire.onsugar.com
