The Perfect Red Lip Exists: The Definitive Guide

Pucker up! There's no look that screams "holiday" quite like a sultry, red lip. Whether you prefer your lips matte, glossy or glittery - made famous by legendary Pat McGrath, and sadly sold out - you'll never look more put together and jolly, all at the same time. We've prepared a short step-by-step guide in achieving The Perfect Red Lip. This guide is based on achieving matte red perfection - gloss, sheen, glitter can all be added after you've mastered the basics. Read on!

The Red Lip Prep

Your lips should be completely smooth and thoroughly moisturized before applying lipstick. Since dry lip skin is so prevalent this time of the year, first you need to scrub the old skin off. You can use a wet, soft towel to brush the excess skin off after a shower and finish that off with either home-made or store-bought lip scrub.

Home-made Lip Scrub

The most famous (and simplest) is the brown sugar scrub. Mix 1 tablespoon of brown sugar and 1 squirt of honey (just enough to make a paste) and apply on your lips. Scrub, but don't eat it all off! :)

Popular Store-bought Lip Scrubs

High-End Purchase: this Ilia Lip Exfoliator is made with tiny grains of volcanic stone powder with the brand's signature organic ingredients. Affordable: Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrub promises a gentle lip scrub with a warming peppermint and sweet vanilla combined with real sugar crystals.

Moisturize

Some lips need way more than just a chapstick or vaseline to be thoroughly nourished. This is where lip masks and lip remedies come to play. One of the most popular and reliable lip saviors throughout the decades has been Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream Intensive Lip Repair Balm. However, if you'd like to try the equivalent of a sheet mask, but for your lips, try the celebrity-approved All Natural Collagen Infused Lip Mask. You'll look silly doing it, but your lips will be soft as rosebuds. While you're at it, don't forget to prep your face as well.

Perfect Red Lip Application

The lips are ready! They should be slightly dewy but neither dry nor completely moisturized. Now it's time to create a blank canvas so the lipstick glides on perfectly. Apply a small amount of your concealer straight onto your lips. You don't want to cake on a tonne - just to create a more neutral surface so the pigment of your lippie lives up to its full potential. Blot. And action!

The Perfect Red Lipstick

Choices, choices... If your lips don't naturally chafe a lot, reach for the cult classic - MAC's Ruby Woo. The shade looks great on most skin tones and will for sure make you the star of the party. Last season Rihanna's Fenty Beauty launched Stunna Lip Paint in Uncensored, which is such a stunning (pun intended) and long-lasting red you'll be able to enjoy the second helping at the holiday table without worrying how you're going to look after another piece of the pie. If you're not super-precise with the application, do use a lip-liner first to prevent any spillage. Fill the lips as best you can, then blot on a piece of tissue. Reapply the lipstick, then blot again for long lasting effect. If you made an error, don't smudge it as it will transfer everywhere. Rather, use a precise concealer brush and apply some concealer on the mistake. And that is it! Perfect red lip. Have fun, and don't forget to pack your trusted lipstick in your purse!