lip kande | the red lip

The red lip is in and you can pull it off. Check out the easy, 4-step process on applying red lipstick and the guide on colors for your skin type plus lots of useful tips throughout.

"Even when I am home alone I wear lipstick. I feel naked without it." -Bette Davis

Step 1: prep & prime






Add a little moisturizer (any chapstick will do the trick) and let soak in for a couple of minutes, then blot. Next, prime to erase the natural lip color and to prevent feathering - benefit's lip plump does both plus the packaging is so fun I can hardly stand it.

:: Tip: I like to highlight the flume or philtrum dimple (that groove above your lip). My favorite eye brightening kit from Pixi (now sold at Target) has a great all-purpose cream-based highlighter that is perfect or a little highlighting shadow will do.

Step 2: lining the lips

Fill in the lip with a red lip liner (nude will work too) by starting in the center and make sure your strokes become shorter and more precise the closer you get to the outer lip line. Make sure that your liner matches your lipstick.

:: Pictured: MAC's lip liner in Brick

Step 3: lip color, powder & set

After you have completely lined and filled-in your lips with liner, apply your red lipstick and powder your lips to set provide a good base for long-lasting color. Hand-me-down tip courtesy of Hollywood's, Bette Davis.

:: Pictured: Any powder will do but I am using a Clinique face powder here - actually, the best powder ever but that is for another post.

Step 4: lipstick & gloss

Reapply your red lipstick, dab on a little gloss in the middle of your bottom lip for extra appeal and you have, my dear, the much sought-after red lip.

:: Tip: to make sure you don't get lipstick on your teeth close your mouth around your pointy finger and remove slowly.

Simple guide: choosing a red lipstick

Fair skin tones

Clinique Angel Red: a blue-toned red worn by Kidman in Moulin Rouge

MAC Russian Red: Gwen Stefani's red

MAC Scarlett Empress: best for pale skin



Medium skin tones

MAC Viva Glam: the perfect red - known to be a fav of Kate Winslet's

MAC Ruby Woo: a matte, blueish-red

YSL Rouge Pure No. 131 Opium Red

MAC Red Lizard

Olive & dark skin tones

Nars Jungle Red: Gisele Bundchen is often pictured in this lipstick

Chanel Rouge Hydrabase Creme Red
Nars Fire Down Below

Red lip color for the faint of heart

Laura Mercier Truly Red: lightweight red that you can apply in layers until it suits you

Clinique Black Honey: (their #1 seller) universally flattering; looks different on everyone