Make Those Lips Kissably RED!

Hi guys! Today's post will be all about red, sexy siren lips. As I stated in one of my Thursday Confessions, I don't really like do the whole bright red lipstick.  (Which reminds me, I missed last weeks confession so this Thursday will have 6 fun facts about me!) I never felt it complemented my face. I have rather large lips, a total jumbo sized cupid's bow. When I use bright, deep colors, all of the focus goes on my plump mouth. It overpowers the rest of my makeup as well as giving my skin a paler appearance and deepening the color of my girl next door freckles. Plus, red lipstick fades quickly and if you don't constantly reapply, your lips take on a orangey, faded old school teacher look. YuCk! Maybe all of that is in my imagination but not anymore. I have found the absolute perfect way to achieve a sexy, kissable siren red lip without it taking over my entire face.

Remember Pinky & the Brain? Everyday they were trying to take over the world. Except in this case, red lipstick was trying to take over my face! But I kept experimenting with different type of red lipsticks, gloss, stain, pigment, matt, shimmer, cream, etc. All gave the same overpowering, Pinky & the Brain effect. Then, I decided to do just a little more playing around to see if I could find a way to pull off this amazingly sexy lip style. If you have issues wearing a red lip but really want to sport this trendy, divalicious look, follow the steps below for a more wearable look.

* Remember, this is a list of products I used. As with any makeup style, use what you have! *

• e.l.f. Corrective Concealer Quad: (Dark Neutral color 4 & Pink color 3)
• e.l.f. Eyelid Primer: Sheer
• e.l.f. Studio Translucent Powder with large powder brush (I used a really fluffy kabuki, purchased from Ulta although I can no longer see the brand or number)
• Cranky Girlz Red Blush lip liner
• Juicy Lips: Red with a lipstick brush (this is a cream lipstick)
• e.l.f. Hypershine Gloss: Vixen

Create a wearable, siren red lip!

1. Use your finger when apply the Dark Neutral shade of the Corrective Concealer because the warmth will soften the concealer for a smoother application. If you are not using the e.l.f. quad, chose a concealer that matches your skin tone. Any type will work.
2. Apply the neutral colored concealer all over your lips and extend out 1/4 of an inch around your lips. Be sure to very gently blend out any visible lines by patting the edges around the concealer.
3. Brush on a very light coat of translucent powder to the area where you placed the concealer. This will lock in the concealer and fill in any lines around your mouth. Now your mouth should resemble a pale, skin toned palette.
4. Apply a few dots of the eyelid primer to your lips and with your index finger, pat it into the area. I wanted a more neutral lip to start the application with as well as trying to maximize the length of time my siren red lipstick stayed in place without touch-ups. Hey, if an eyelid primer can give a lasting eyeshadow application without smearing or creasing and brighten up the pigments of the color, just think what it can do to your lips!
5. Line your lips with a red lip liner. If you have full lips like me, line a little on the inside of your actual lip edge to give your lips a smaller appearance. The concealer and powder will hide the part of your lips you do not line and color.
6. Once again using your finger (I hope you are wiping off your finger after each use and not combining a bunch of products), to fill in the area below your lip liner with the pink corrective concealer like you would a cream gloss or lipstick! There are 2 reasons I added this step but you can skip it if you feel it is too much product. The pink color gives a similar background color to the red and will not alter the shade you are applying. The primer plus powder will lighten your vibrant red. Also, this pink concealer only adds to the stay factor and reduces reapplying time.
7. With a lipstick brush, apply your bright red lip color all over, beginning at the lip liner edge. Do not add a little and then rub your lips together. Instead, use the brush to apply the color and blot once on a tissue.
8. Top your lips with a shiny long-lasting red lip gloss. I used a shiny red from e.l.f in Hypershine Gloss Vixen.

Now you have a perfect, lasting red lip. Instead of taking both the liner, lipstick and gloss in my purse, I only carried around the gloss. Because of the concealers, powders & primers we used, the actual red lipstick will have very little fading. But for touch ups, the red gloss will bring back the brilliant red.

Keep in mind eating and kissing will rub off almost any lipstick application. But don't let that stop you, glossy red lips are meant to be kissed! Til next time....<3 Missie <3