I was kind of a tomboy growing up. Didn’t really do makeup,
didn’t bother much with my hair, and almost always wore jeans and t-shirts. I
was more into music and books, and trying to look pretty usually just made me
feel awkward.
Flash forward 10 years. I still think of myself as pretty
low-maintenance, but at 26 (WOW), decided I can’t keep going through life looking like a high
schooler. I decided it was time to learn some of the basic how-to-look-good
skills I never bothered picking up as a teenager.
Starting with red lips, because they’re super glamorous, and
my eyes light up whenever I see someone wearing them. I asked my sister, Georgie,
for help with this one because she knows more about beauty and makeup than
anyone else I know. She was even a beauty intern for Vogue! Here’s her advice.
Pick the most
flattering shade
Whether you choose a red with warm or cool undertones
depends on your complexion. “Skin color is the most important, followed by hair
color and eye color,” she says.
Orange reds look
best on fair skin with pink undertones and light hair (think Kate Bosworth), or on
cocoa skin (think Zoe Saldana).
Coral reds look
best on naturally bronze or olive skin (think Kim Kardashian), or on beige skin with
light hair and light eyes (think Uma Thurman).
Brick reds look
best on beige skin with green eyes (think Sophia Bush) or fair skin with yellow undertones
(think Devon Aoki).
Deep reds look
best on golden skin with dark blonde hair (think Lauren Conrad).
Plum reds look
best on darker skin (think Iman).
Apply it right
Once you get the right color, here’s how to keep it from
bleeding all over the place or fading away in five minutes.
1. Use a nude lip liner to line your lips and fill them in
completely.
2. Swipe on the lipstick. Use a Q-tip to erase any mistakes
around the edges.
3. Pop your index finger in your mouth and make an “O” shape
while pulling it out. That’ll get rid of any excess red inside your lips so you
don’t end up with lipstick on your teeth.
Keep everything else
simple
Remember, your red lips should steal the show. So keep your
blush light, use a beige or nude eyeshadow, and if you want eyeliner, just do a
thin line at the top. (Mascara’s fine, but don’t overdo it). Clothes-wise,
Georgie says she likes sticking to neutral colors—and I agree, this looks amazing, right?--but you certainly
don’t have to.
Here's my first attempt from Friday night. I love it! Even with a crappy iPhone picture, I still look pretty good.
