Scarlet woman: how to find the perfect lippie
Make-up artists share their pro tips with Katie Wright to help you choose the best rouge
Red lipstick is back. Not just on our lips but on the SS21 catwalks, from bright matte pouts at Hermès and Balmain, to dark red wine hues at Rodarte and Valentino. Here, our experts run down what you need to consider when deciding on the hue for you…
Skin tone
“Understanding the undertone of your skin is key to choosing the best red for you,” Chanel make-up artist Zoe Taylor says. Specifically, you need to work out whether you have cool or warm undertones. Cool undertones mean “you have more blue veins in your skin, you tend to burn easily in the sun, and you tend to suit pinkier shades,” says Sascha Jackson, Stila UK lead pro make-up artist. “You would be better off to go for what’s called a blue-based red. That’s reds with an almost berry or pinkish tone.”
Those with warmer undertones “tend to suit more corals and oranges,” Jackson continues. “Especially if you’re olive skinned, you tend to suit orange-based red lipsticks – those reds with a slight burnt orange to them.”
Teeth
“When testing out reds, you’ll notice how they seem to change the colour of your teeth,” says Taylor, so if you want your pearly whites to shine, you’re better steering clear of orangey reds. “I find the blue-based reds tend to make your teeth look a lot whiter,” Jackson says. “So that’s one thing to note for the coffee drinkers!”
Hair colour
“Understanding the undertones of your hair is also very important. This, once again, comes down to whether your hair is cool or warm in colour,” Taylor says. “Cool colours are going to suit raspberry reds and warm colours will suit more tangerine reds.”
Texture
While matte lips ruled the runways this season, Jackson says, “Go with the textures that make you feel comfortable and that you know you’re comfortable wearing.”
Red shades to suit all skin tones 1. MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo, £17.50
An absolute cult classic, Ruby Woo is a blue-toned red with a matte finish.
2. Avon Anew Revival Serum Lipstick in Revitalising Rouge, £8
New from Avon, this blue-toned red is highly pigmented with a satin shine.
3. Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso, £17
This matte liquid lipstick suits both warm and cool undertones.
4. All Tigers Matte Lipstick 886 Orange Red, £21.80, Superdrug
A rich orange-red, this matte liquid lipstick suits warmer undertones.
5. Chanel Rouge Coco Bloom in Blossom, £33
This delivers bright orangey-red pigment and a high shine finish.