With our purses pinched tighter than ever it's time to work with the classics when it comes to fashion and beauty. I spoke to Natalie Bennett, a successful London-based make-up artist about the LBD of the beauty world - the Classic Red Lip.
The red lip can be added to any outfit to create a stylish and sophisticated look. While in the past the red lip has been connected with street corners and happy endings a well suited colour can transform an entire outfit and works well with all skin tones.
The red lip has been used throughout fashion forever and is seen every season in varying styles.
With Natalie’s help I will explain how to create your red lip look.
Select your colour
First thing you need to do is select your red – if you have pale skin you want to use a red with pink or blue undertones. Orange tones suit an olive complexion while darker skin tones can use a range of colours – the contrast is always fabulous!
The key to the perfect red lip is finding a colour that you feel confident and comfortable with – teamed with simple make-up this will make your lips POP!
Prepare your lips
To prepare your lips and get rid of any dead skin that can cause your lips to look flakey and patchy create a simple sugar scrub. This can be made in an egg cup at home – a tea spoon of sugar and some water will do the job – just make sure the sugar doesn’t have time to dissolve!
You can also buy a sugar scrub from most beauty brands including Lush and The Body Shop. Rub the sugar scrub gently on your lips in circular motions then wipe away the sugar granules left over.
This has prepared your lips for moisture. Lucas Pawpaw Ointment is a favourite amongst make-up artists but you can also use Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream or for a cheaper option use Carmex. Once your lips are moisturised you can begin adding colour.
Line your lips
Use a lip liner the same colour as your chosen lipstick and follow the natural line of your lips. Once you have created this border fill in the whole lip with lip liner as this will improve longevity of the colour – make sure you go right to the edges of your lips!
As I am very pale skinned we used a red pencil with pink undertones – ‘1B1 Feisty’ by Illamasqua.
Colour your lips
Using your lipstick of choice carefully fill the lip with colour – don’t be afraid to mix shades if you have a lip brush and palette of different tones! We used the Bobbi Brown 20th Century Anniversary Lip Palette and mixed the perfect red.
After applying this first layer of lipstick, take some tissue and gentle blot your lips – dab tissue to remove excess colour.
Once you have blotted go in again with your lipstick colour and add another layer to create an intense, long lasting colour!
Perfect the look
Using a thin brush work around the edge of the lip with concealer, blend this outwards to neaten and define creating the ultimate lip shape. Remember to wipe the brush as you go so you do not smear the colour on to your skin.
Make it last
A nifty trick of the trade to make your lipstick last even longer is to take a piece of tissue and strip it away so you just have one ply/one sheer. Lay this over your lips and use a brush to dab translucent loose powder on to the tissue. Tiny particles of powder will filter through to your lips and this will help to really lock in that colour!
Added extras
If you want to add a bit of shine to your fabulous red lip add clear gloss to the centre of your lips. This will accentuate the shape of your lips and even make them look bigger. Pow! We used MAC Lip Glass in Clear.
TRADE TIP!
A cardinal sin of lip colour in the make-up world is, surprisingly, rubbing your lips together after applying colour! Although this was how we all learnt to apply lippy all this actually does is ruin the shape you have created and can cause the colour to spread and bleed.
There you have it – the ULTIMATE red lip! Cheaper than a new handbag and just as fabulous!
Find out more about Natalie Bennett and her work here: www.natalie-bennett.co.uk
Find out more about Jemima Daisy here: jemimadaisy.blogspot.com
Want to suggest a make-up tutorial? Contact emailjemimadaisy@gmail.com
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