The best thing about your wedding day is that it is YOUR day. It is a day where you can be unapologetically you. Some people worry about being traditional or not showing their true selves, especially when it comes to wedding makeup. While we absolutely appreciate a nice natural look, one trend we are really into is a bold lip! And nothing says bold like a good red lip. Here are some tips from the talented Laura Garcia of Tahoe Unveiled makeup artist La Di Da Beauty.
Not all red lipsticks are created equal.
Choosing a red lipstick isn’t as easy as just grabbing the first one you see. There are a few things to take into consideration such as color, texture and duration (i.e. long-wear vs a traditional lipstick). When choosing a color, there are different undertones to every red, so you need to find the one that goes best with your skin tone and personal aesthetic.
If you don’t know where to start, the general “rule” is that fairer skin tones should lean towards true reds and avoid red lipsticks with orange undertones, medium skin tones should steer more towards the warm, orange under-tone red lipsticks, and darker skin tones should choose a deeper red including wine-colored hues of red.
Also a tip from ladies in the industry: avoid deep reds if you have thin lips. They tend to make your lips appear smaller. If you have full lips, you can go with a bright red or deep red, and for something fun, you can choose a deeper red lip liner to create some contrast and a more ombre effect.
Just remember, these are only general rules, and rules are meant to be broken! It may take some trial and error to find the right shade of red for you, so be patient, and make sure you give it a test drive before your big day.
Preparation is key!
You’ll want to make sure you have smooth, baby soft lips before applying your red lipstick of choice. Make sure to give them some much-needed TLC. Use a lip conditioner with Vitamin E to help combat cracks and creases. You should also exfoliate your lips the night before to remove any flakes or excess skin. One easy way to do that is to simply take a wet toothbrush with warm water and brush lips with a gentle back-and-forth motion. Also you may consider using a few whitening strips before you go red because red lipstick tends to draw attention to yellow-stained teeth from coffee, tea, or other dark beverages or tobacco.
Just Throw on you Lipstick and Go – NOT!
Another tip for wearing red lipstick is to apply a little concealer around the border of your mouth to prevent the lipstick from bleeding. When you’re ready to apply to the lipstick, precision is important. Whether you’re using lip liner and lipstick duo, applying with a brush, or applying straight from the tube, red lipstick should never be applied carelessly or hastily. Also keep in mind that while a lip liner is not required, it does help to lock the color in and can help to create dimension. Then once you’ve finished applying your lipstick, you’ll want take this quick step to avoid getting lipstick on your teeth. Simply put your finger in your mouth, purse your lips around it, and then slowly pull it out to remove excess color.
What About the Rest of Your Makeup?
When wearing red lipstick, a common suggestion is to tone down the rest of your makeup. Keep it simple with go a bit lighter on your eyeshadow. Subtle light brown or taupe eyeshadows tend to pair better than grays or purples. If you feel you need a little more pop to your eyes, do a fun, retro-inspired top eyeliner. Lastly, to bring everything together, smudge a lit bit of your lipstick onto the apples of your cheeks, and blend it with your fingers.
For more makeup tips and tricks, make sure to follow La Di Da Beauty on Facebook and Instagram.