Celebs have the genius of makeup artists (and good genes) to achieve those coveted red carpet lips that make us green with envy. So we asked some experts how we can turn our pouts into perfection in true star style.
Scarlett Johansson
Scar-Jo always has us blushing with her rosy red mouth, a look that many of us wish to emulate but don’t know if we can pull it off. Dale Dorning, international hair and makeup artist, believes anyone can actually wear red. “Cool skin tones and pale milky tones are generally suited to blue-based reds,” he says. “Olive tones are better suited to brick reds. Although I am a big fan of red heads in blue-based 50s-style reds, too.”
“Firstly, apply a light-textured light reflective concealer along the outline of the lips to eliminate any uneven tones – use a very small amount as it’s essential that it appears very natural,” says Maria Gabriel Ertas, Head Creative Artist for Make Up Store Australia.”Then fill in your lips with a lip primer to allow longevity and prevent the lipstick from moving or bleeding.”
The best way to apply a red lipstick is with your fingers. “On a clean, moisturised lip, use your ring finger to dab on the red lipstick, turning your finger to fit into your lip shape. This actually melts the lipstick onto your lip, saves you time and will last longer. Now that you have a base, edge and polish off the shape of the lip perfectly with a matching red lip liner,” says Dorning. Blot the lip colour with a tissue and re-apply – layering is the key to long-lasting colour.
Angelina Jolie
Angelina’s trademark is undoubtedly her eye-catching lips. While without injectables most of us don’t have a hope of sporting her plumped pout, there are a few tricks to fatten us up in one of the only areas of our bodies most of us would be pleased to find some extra baggage. For the best nude lip, foundation out your lip slightly first so your own lip colour is not coming through or competing with the nude shade of lip colour that you choose.
Nicole Thompson, M.A.C’s senior makeup artist, warns that less is more with this look.
“Nothing looks worse than a lipstick that is super matte and nude and applied thickly to the lips to look like liquid paper! You want it to look as natural as possible – whenever we are envious of Angelina we are noticing her fabulous lips, not her makeup!”
She says opt for a nude lipstick with a slight shine and build up light layers with a lip brush. Pop a nude gloss over the top that has a slight hint of pink or peach running through it. This will have you looking summery and fresh instead of wintery and pale.
Gigi Hadid
Gigi always achieves a perfectly balanced, subtle hue on her lips that enhances her looks but doesn’t steal the show. To achieve, draw lip liner just slightly over the edge to create a fuller mouth; if you go inside the lip line you are cutting yourself short. Also use gloss just into the centre of the mouth. As this is the bigger and more forward part of the mouth, light will hit there first and give a great reflection to make your lips appear more plump.
Thompson says opt for a natural-coloured lip pencil. “Outline and then lightly feather the colour into your lips, leaving the centre of your lips lighter – this creates a 3D effect so your lips appear fuller,” she says. “Get your lips looking full and juicy by slicking on a gloss with some plumping properties.” A sheer lip gloss with a high shine finish or some multi-dimensional colour will have lips looking lush and well conditioned.
Rihanna
A hot trend paying homage to the 80s punk look is black eyeliner worn with hot pink fuchsia lips. The queen of edgy is pop princess Rihanna, who gets this look down to a tee. Unlike other fluoro trends – like lycra – when it comes to shades of pink for the lips, the bolder, the better.
Try a hot fuschia lip with well-defined brows, as recommended by M.A.C senior makeup artist Neil Young. “Strong brows work superbly with the sensuality of a bright lip,” says Young. “To make a pink pout the focal point of your look, do your lips first and then balance the rest of your makeup around them.”
“To apply this hot lip, first define lips with a red or deep pink lip liner,” says celebrity make up artist Troy Jensen. “Then apply your fuschia lipstick and blot, then re-apply. You can keep it matte or for high-voltage shine add a punchy fuschia lipgloss.”
