Swathing your lips with color offers the greatest thrill makeup has to offer and when combined with the look of red lipstick - let the fun begin! Vibrant red lips will create a focal point on your face, so if you love your lips - paint them red.

Application Tips

Applying lipstick can truly be an art form. When you are working with red lipstick, the application is particularly important. Red is a strong color and when applied to your face it will draw the eye to that spot. When everyone is looking at your lips, you want to be sure everything is in its proper place.

Start with a lip liner that closely matches your natural lip color - not the color of your lipstick. If the liner color is too dark it will look harsh; your liner is merely a base to hold the color on your lips. Line the lips first and then fill them in with the lip liner. Apply the lipstick next, ideally with a lip brush for a more accurate even surface. Then, blot the lips and cover with face powder. This will help the color to last longer. Reapply the lipstick and then blot again. Lastly, check the look in the mirror with a big smile!

To prevent your lipstick from bleeding - a horrendous affect with red lipstick - place your face powder around the lips after applying your lip color. For additional protection, apply the powder with an extra lip brush to ensure that it holds into the little winkles around the lips.

The Looks of Red

There is certainly a time and place for red lipstick. Consider it for the following situations:

Expanding Your Lip Line
Red is a particularly good color choice for lining outside of your natural lip line. Simply line with the lip liner pencil in a natural lip color around the outside of the normal edge of your lips and fill in with the red lip color. The brightness of the red will cause your lips to comfortably look larger and fill in the additional area you have drawn.

Black & White Photography
Whether it is a family or wedding picture, when photographed in black and white, add red lipstick for the right about of contrast to your lips and face. Just make sure that the darker lips are matched with makeup around the eyes to balance out your face.

Hollywood Screen Play
Nothing says movie star quicker than the flash of red lips. Add some Hollywood drama to your look with the addition of red lips.

Evening Looks
Keep some red lipstick in your purse for those times you have to make a quick change from daytime to evening looks. Nothing with freshen up your face and appearance quicker than a smudge of red lip color - even rub a small amount into your cheeks to wake up your face.

Marilyn Style
Flash back to the original glamour queen and create your own Marilyn style. Add some long eye lashes and shimmer eye shadow to your red lipstick and off you go. For that extra touch, create a beauty mark just above your lips with a spot of black eyeliner.

Geisha Girl
Red lipstick is the staple product of the Geisha look. Start with white theatrical face makeup over your entire face. Rub a little red blush into the apples of the cheeks. Use a black eyebrow pencil to give your eyebrows a thin arched appearance and line the entire eye with liquid liner adding a line extension going up at the outer edge and going down at the inner edge of you add. Finish the look with the classic red lip color.

Skin Tones
A strong red is best for olive skin, while the medium tone Caucasian woman should wear a more delicate red color. Ebony skin looks best with a brownish red and the ivory skin tones should save red lipstick for only those special occasions calling for some extra drama.

Tips for Red Lipstick

Cream or matte lip color is best for a strong red shade.
A true red is better bought straight from the store instead of trying to mix your own.
Darker shades are suitable on larger lips as the deep reds have a tendency to make lips look thinner.
Ultimately red lipstick is optimum for a younger woman, but not too young. The bright red color is too dramatic for teens and tends to make an older women look more aged.
When mixing your own lip colors, use red as an addition to brighten up your combination. Just add in small amounts.
If red is your favorite lipstick - but it doesn't work with your skin type, tone it down with a neutral color and create your own personalized lip covering.
Add a little shimmer to your red lipstick to combat the tendency that red has to make your lips look smaller.
Even if red lip color is definitely not your shade, keep a small tube around to seal your love notes with a kiss of red.