Red lips: 5 red lipstick beauty trends

Vibrant scarlets, bold crimsons and ruby reds are the usual suspects of fall red lipstick lineups, but lips have gotten an upgrade this season with rich finishes and bold textures. “Red lips are so iconic – they’re not going away,” says Jane McKay, senior M.A.C pro makeup artist. “Red lips this season were either super-matte or really glossy – very little in between.”

So what to consider when you’re wearing red lipstick? Lip shape, skin tone and the finish that you want are key. Your lip shape determines the texture you should go for and your skin tone is the basis for the colour you pick, says McKay. “Thinner lips should stick to sheer textures to make their lips appear more full, while fuller lips can wear almost anything.” And remember the rules for colour: if you’re fair, go for blue and pink-based reds while olive or medium skin tones should layer on warmer, more orange-based reds. Really dark skins look great in berry-red tones.

There were five distinctive red lip looks that emerged for fall. Which red lipstick look is right for you?

Look #1: Neon Red

Seen at: Ralph Lauren and Jil Sander

Fire up your red lips with a matte scarlet pout. “The red this season is a stronger red – it’s definitely not a stained version. It’s bold, full-on colour,” she says. “A red lip is powerful when you find that pronounced, contoured edge,” she continues. “And that’s why I like to use a lip pencil to define the shape of the lip.”

To create this sharp red look from Jil Sander, makeup artist Peter Philips used Chanel Rouge Allure Lipstick in Enthusiasm on all the models. “I traced the shapes of the lips with a pencil, and then layered on the lipstick with a brush,” says Philips. To get the most staying power, he then layered translucent powder on top of lipstick and powder on top of lipstick, he says. This results in a saturated, long-lasting colour.

Look #2: Glossy brick red

As seen at: Gucci and Hermès

Juiced up, patent-glossy brick-hued lips shined on the runways with a very 1970s flair. Lacquered lips require a lot of attention, McKay reminds us. For a look like this, first use a lip pencil to shape the contours of the lip, and then apply the pencil all over the lip so the colour has something to stick to. “Applying lip gloss atop a pencil base will create a dimensional, glossy pucker,” she says. “I find the wax in the pencil will actually adhere to the lips longer than some lipsticks do. Therefore, you get a much more long-lasting look.”

More red lipstick trends to try this season on the next page…