THE BOLD RED LIP
The uber-fashionable bold cherry lip has always been a cult favourite with women of all ages and skin tones. And 2020 begins with a loud cheer as make-up brands are assuring us there’s a red lipstick to suit the entire spectrum of skin tones and texture preferences. The universal popularity of this classic look was very evident on the Spring 2020 fashion runways with major designers Moschino and Prada giving it a thumbs up at the Milan Fashion Week. Spring 2020 shows at the New York Fashion Week saw Dolce & Gabbana and Prabal Gurung also paying tribute to this classic red lip.
LIPS: Channel your inner diva this season with the all-time classic red lip. When sporting a red lip, remember it’s a bold look that instantly puts your pout under the spotlight so make sure to throw in a few extra minutes to ensure it looks right. For a perfect red pout, prep the lips with a lip scrub of cinnamon, sugar granules and olive oil. Not only will this slough off any dead skin but will also plump up the lips.
Once lips are prepped, then create a neutral canvas by dabbing a drop of foundation over the lips. Now draw out the lip line with a pencil lipliner and fill in the lip colour with a brush blending the lip line seamlessly. Once done, dab the lips with a paper tissue and dust some powder over the first coat to lend it staying power.
Follow this with another coat of lipstick. Check and correct mistakes if any, and adjust the texture to your liking – we prefer a soft creamy matte finish, which can be achieved by dabbing a tissue on the lipstick ever so lightly.
Before stepping out, take a bit of red lip colour on the fingertip, mix it with a hint of concealer and dab it in the centre of the lower lip to highlight the pout.
EYES: Skip eyeliner and eyeshadow altogether. As far as eyes go, shift higher as the brows are where everyone is looking on this season. Take a cue from Prabal Gurung’s look for Spring 2020 where he had paired a red pout with clean glowing skin and feathery brows. Fill in with a brow pencil the sparse brow areas but take care not to use excess brow powder or it might get smudged when you brush the brows. Now brush the eyebrows upwards in thick feather strokes lifting up the hairs. Finally, add mascara on the upper lashes to create naturally-defined lashes.
CHEEKS: Skip bronzing and contouring with this look but add a hint of blush along the cheekbones for a healthy flush.
OUTFIT: For a fresh spring update, pair this red lip with a neutral-coloured outfit such as white, beige, grey or black. Nowadays the red lip goes well not just with flowy dresses and shimmer tops but also with formal trousers or even dark-coloured denims.
Word of caution: A red lip is a dressy look so don’t pair flipflops with this kind of red lipstick! Opt for a pair of dressy heels or boots with this look.
HAIR: This dressy look demands dressy hair. So reach out for that blow dryer and choose between glamorous waves and sleek straight hair, to complete your stunning transformation.