How To Create the Perfect Red Lip

Nothing makes a statement quite like a red lip, but swiping on scarlet shade can feel daunting. Never fear—we’re here to help! Follow the four simple steps below and you’ll have a perfect red pout—with major staying power—in no time.

Step One: Prep Your Lips
Before you start, make sure your lips are in tip-top shape. Remove dead skin with our Gentle Exfoliator if necessary and apply a lip balm—hydrated lips will keep the color from cracking and hold it in place. Then apply our moisture-rich Lip Primer to create a base that will smooth, define, and prime your pout for long-lasting color that won’t fade or feather.

Step Two: Line Your Lips
Define your lips by using a lipliner in a red hue that most closely matches the shade of your top color—our favorites are our Classic Lipliner in Red and Lip Pencil in Cherry. Start at the center and follow your natural lip line (or slightly overline if you want your lips to appear bigger) outwards using light, feathery strokes rather than one continuous line for more control. Pull the color towards the center of your mouth and diffuse any harsh lines with a Lip Brush. 

Step Three: Fill in Your Lips
Select your lip color of choice and apply it over your liner base, covering your entire pout. Don’t have a steady hand? Use a Lip Brush for ultimate precision.

If you want a crème finish… we’d suggest our Lipstick in Pomegranate, Starlet, Vino De Amor or Currant.

If you want a matte finish… we’d suggest our Matte Luxe Lip in Poppy.

If you want a glossy finish… we’d suggest our Sheer Gloss in Caliente. 

Step Four: Set Your Lips
Clean up any mistakes using a small makeup brush and concealer, applying it around the edges of your lips to sharpen your lines. Top your entire look off with a few spritzes of our Sea Mineral Hydra Mist to set things in place—and be sure to keep your lip color close by just in case you need a touch up.