Tutorial: Red Lip

I'm aware this might be off season (though isn't a red lip supposed to be timeless and classic?), but I was inspired by Lara Pulver as Irene Adler in Sherlock (not attaching photo for NSFW reasons), and decided it was high time we had a red lip tutorial here at Messy Wands. 

As we all know, red is the queen of all lip colors, and there's nothing like one to turn heads your way. Unfortunately, red can also be a pain-in-the-butt high maintenance diva. Here are some tricks I picked up over the years reading blogs, watching tutorials, and just applying it on myself that hopefully will lessen your headache over wearing red, or inspire you to start doing so yourself!

Dolce and Gabbana Lipstick in Iconic

1. Prep. I put on a huge dose of balm 15 minutes before I start applying my lipstick. This is because I want to make sure the balm dries down before I begin application (very important to prevent feathering). Prep work is essential because chances are you wouldn't be able to reapply lip balm throughout the day and you want to be sure your lips are well moisturized. A cracked red lip look is not an attractive one.

2. Conceal the surrounding lip area. In my book, this step is the most important of all. Concealing eliminates any redness and accentuates the shape and color of your lips. I usually drag some of the concealer onto the lips to avoid harsh lines after lipstick application. It also locks in the balm applied in Step 1.  

I used Le Metiér 'Dualistic' Lip Pencil in Rose

3. Line your lips with a lipliner. Another feathering prevention measure. I prefer using creamier formulas so the skin around my lips will not dry out. Note: Remember to line the entire lip line! Many women forget the sides of the mouth, which looks rather odd when they speak.

4. Fill in the color. I do it with my mouth barely open so I know I have my whole (exposed) lip covered. This way I also make sure the red will not stain my teeth.

And done! If you have a really steady hand you can consider going over the surrounding areas with concealer again, just to make the line super crisp. Another trick I've tried that really prolongs my lip color is to blot the first layer with a tissue, put a fine layer of powder over it, and then apply the lipstick again. That way it couldn't budge even if it tried.

With red lips, remember to always bring your lipstick and liner with you for touch ups, especially after meals. A travel mirror is essential for teeth inspections (trust me, you can't always wait till there is a washroom handy). As an aside, I heard applying a thin layer of Vaseline on your teeth will prevent accidental staining, but I cannot say if it actually works since I've never tried it. The idea of eating Vaseline is somewhat unappealing to me.

I hope this tutorial is of some help to you. Do you like wearing red? If you have other useful tips and tricks, please do share them with the rest of us!