Rock the red-lipped look

<!-- @page { margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } --> Red lipstick is a style staple. The classic red-lipped pout is coveted by woman everywhere and it was brought back into the spotlight this weekend at the Golden Globes, thanks in no small part to the beauty icon that is Angelina Jolie. Not only did she opt for the smouldering pout but she perfectly coordinated her red lipstick with a slash of red in her dress, creating the ultimate to-die-for look. But, red lipstick isn’t just for the red carpet—us mere mortals are more than capable of pulling off this classic style, and with a bit of preparation (and of course, the right red) you really can’t go wrong.

The first thing you need to do is prepare your lips to ensure they’re properly plumped up and moisturised, because cracked lips will do this look no favours. Make sure to give them a regular slick of lip balm or Vaseline throughout the day if they could do with a moisture-boost, and ideally opt for lip balms that contain SPF for added benefit. If your lips could do with a bit of extra TLC, why not exfoliate them? You could do it the old-fashioned way with a dry toothbrush or for something a bit more luxurious you could invest in LP Skin Therapy’s Refining Lip Exfoliator, a great way to polish and exfoliate your lips to keep them kissably soft and smooth.

Then, the lipstick itself. Choosing red lipstick can often be difficult as it’s more about skin tone than colour preference, but with so many different shades of red to choose from you’re bound to find something to suit. Some have orangey tones whilst others will have a blue-ish tinge to suit different complexions, and if you need a bit of help just head to a makeup counter at your local department store to try a few out. From there you’re good to go—just make sure to line your lips with lip-liner to prevent colour bleed and ensure long-lasting colour, and voila! You’re red carpet-ready with the perfect red-lipped look. You’ll put Angelina to shame…