1. GET INSPIRED.

Pick a lipstick muse (mine is always RiRi) and set her as your phone’s background photo.

2. BE BRAVE.

Think you can’t wear a dark lip because you’ve lived a life of colourless balm? Wrong. No amount of prior lipstick-wearing is a prerequisite for this trend, but if you’re truly hesitant, go with makeup artist Diana Carreiro’s advice: Wear a sheer colour to start and then gradually darken the shade until you’re comfortable. Hey, you’ve got to start somewhere.

READ MORE: 8 lipsticks ELLE Canada editors swear by

3. EMBRACE THE PAST.

Vincent Longo’s fall collection of lip lacquers reference the brooding hues of the ’90s but have 21st-century anti-aging benefits and face-flattering undertones. (Plus, they have names like Daria, Angela and Felicity that warm the heart of this ’90s child.)

4. APPLY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT.

For a flawless finish, Carreiro advises using a toothbrush to gently exfoliate lips and then applying a hydrating lip balm. She suggests a moisturizing matte formula to prevent lipstick from bleeding, but if you go with a creamy one, line lips with a clear or matching liner and then apply lipstick and blot lightly.

See our top 7 picks for a bold lip below!

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