[Tutorial] Easy Tips for Wearing Red Lipstick

Ever wondered if you can pull off show-stopping red lips? Of course you can! Whether you're after a Marilyn ruby or vampish crimson, there's a color out there for everyone. Here we bring you our go-to tips for discovering your perfect red pout.

Find Your Skin Tone

If you're not sure if you're cool or warm toned, you can always study your skin in a mirror (yellow undertones indicate a warm complexion whereas the cool skinned are those dubbed the pale and interesting). However, a more fun way is to check out the veins on your inner arm. Blue? You're cool toned. Green? You're warm! Something else? You may have a problem.

Try Before You Buy

Although you may be accustomed to a sneaky testing on the back of your hand to check out a potential new lip color, you're doing it all wrong. Instead, try lipsticks out on the tip of one of your fingers; here is closest to your actual lip color and will give you a better idea of how it'll look on your smackers.

Make It Liquid

When you're rocking a red lipsticked lip, you may find one curse: it gets everywhere - your teeth, your wine glass, the collar of your white blouse and the cheek of everyone you greet. Liquid lipsticks are the ultimate answer: they go on like a lip-gloss and dry with all the intense pigment of lipstick, giving you color that doesn't budge all day.

Here's a quick guide to finding the right red for you. If your lips have a...

Blue undertone

If you lips having a blueish tinge that's not just an onset from the cold weather, stick to a pink based rouge to add warmth to your beautifully milky pallor. The bold red contrast against your cool skin will be electric.

Pink undertone

Don't be afraid to use red if your lips are rose petal pink. By adding a touch of brown to the color palette, your lips will take on a new depth. Pinky based lips also work well for the darker plum and berry tones that are super-hot for the winter months.

Brown undertone

Warm skinned gals can rock an orange based hue with panache. Complimenting your complexion and bringing sun-kissed warmth to your look, an orangey red is a bang-up-to-date take on classic pillar-box.

Red undertone

Lips that are blessed with undertones of red are an excellent base for the boldest of shades. A classic scarlet will work wonders on your smile - use lipsticks with the slightest hint of a blue base and you'll feel anything but melancholy.