Red Lipstick Tips:

To figure out what red is right for YOU is to consider your skin tone first.  If you are fair, burn easily, and find that you look best in silver jewelry like Nicole Kidman, then you have cool undertones. If you tan without burning and look great in gold jewelry like Jennifer Anniston, then you have warm undertones. When selecting your perfect shade of red you should look for one that complements the undertones in your skin.

Blue based reds look best on skin with cool undertones like mine.  

The easiest way to see the base of your lipstick is to swipe a swatch on your inner arm and then smear it a bit. If the red looks more pink when smeared it has a blue base and will complement your fair skin perfectly. Blue bases also make your teeth look whiter: bonus! If you have medium skin will yellow undertones, you can rock a true fire-engine red. This red will stay true and strong (wont look pink) when you smear it. Olive complexions do best in a blood or brick red, which will appear more orange when smeared on your inner arm.

3 Extra Tips

One way to dip your toe into this trend is with a red lip gloss or sheer lipstick formula.

If you want to go all night long without worrying about your look dab on a lip stain underneath your lipstick for extra staying power.

If you’re rocking a red lip, take it easy on the rest of your makeup. A simple neutral shadow, sheer wash of blush and mascara are sufficient. The focus should be on your beautiful, sophisticated lips.

What are your favorite red lipstick tricks? Have a favorite shade? Share in the comments!

Xoxo,

Miss T

Source: Allure

TREND: Bright-Eyed Beauty
SEEN AT: Christian Dior, Michael Kors and Versace
Go for a flash of color with violet or turquoise eyeshadows for a super fresh look this spring. It’s a really fun and easy way to add color without looking like you are trying too hard.  Get more bang for your buck with an eyeshadow palette—this way you can create lots of different looks without having to make more product purchases. Pastels were all the rage; my favorite looks were powerful in purple or playful in a shimmering turquoise shade. This makeup trend is super easy to do yourself, but if it feels too bold, play it down and just line your lower lash line. Add a little water to a brow or eyeliner brush before dipping it in your eyeshadow you and are on your way to some subtle, yet very sexy color. 

Source: style.com

Source: Allure

TREND: Powerful Pouts
SEEN AT: Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Dior and Prada
Lips received a jolt of electricity this season with the makeup trend focusing on variations of red. At Prada, models popped with a high-shine, blood-orange mouth that oozed sex and innocence while the models at Dolce & Gabbana seduced in a rich red lipstick created by makeup artist Pat McGrath using 3 of D&G’s lipsticks.  Go D&G style by creating your own shade of a sexy red to seduce in or if you prefer lips with a citrus twist try 3 Custom Color Specialists Lip Gloss in Mango.

Flickr User: P/\UL

We can’t wake up tomorrow morning and look like Brigitte Bardot,but with the right eyeliner, lipstick and hair products and a few beauty tips you can add a little French sex appeal to your look.

THE EYES: Grab your black eyeliner girls; you’ll be lost without it!
Starting at the inside corner of the eye, trace the eyeliner right along your upper lash line and when you are at the end of the eye, move the line upwards to create a classic cat eye.  It helps me when I gently pull my lid out to create a straight lash line. For a thicker line, go back and add another line next to the first one. Then, line under the eye, connecting the outer corners with the liner on the top lid. Strangely enough, it is easier for me to use gel eyeliner  with an angled brush as opposed to an eyeliner pen, but use whatever is easiest for you! I LOVE this brush because you can line your upper eye with the angled one and your lower line with the rounded one. Word from the wise: if you have smaller eyes, I suggest keeping the line thin, not thick; otherwise your eyes will appear small. Then go to town with your favorite black mascara.

THE HAIR: Bardot’s gorgeous, messy curls give new meaning to the phrase locks of love.
Use a hair volumizer to add some Bardot-worthy fullness and body to hair. Then with a curling iron (a large barrel is best) create sexy curls that scream coquette. You can use any curling iron you like, but the thicker the barrel the better the curls in my opinion because it will create bigger, fuller curls.

THE LIPS: Bardot’s lips garner as much envy as Angelina Jolie’s pout. Finish off your minx look with a pinkish nude lipstick.

TREND: DARK LIPS – This trend intimidated me at first, but once I found a shade that worked for me (I went with a dark berry lip gloss) I didn’t like leaving the house without my mouth on. My boyfriend isn’t a huge fan of the look, but all my gal pals love the look! Boys, what do they know about makeup trends anyways…

ADVICE: Go with a lip gloss or lipstick shade that looks good on you (not on the models) and what you feel comfortable wearing. Starting with a lip gloss helped me ease into my new, provocative pout, but my eyes have been wandering towards the lipstick section when I’m at the beauty counter. Don’t put on any blush when you wear dark lips.

TREND: FLUSHED PINK—Yes! Anyone who knows me knows I’m all about blush…bright pink blush! So I want word to get around that bright cheeks are in style! We saw this on the runways at Anna Sui, DKNY, Stella McCartney and Marc by Marc Jacobs.
ADVICE: The look on the catwalk was pink blush high on the cheekbones instead of on the apples for a more chic flush.  Make sure you blend the blush!

TREND: WAVES –Since the makeup on the runways made such a bold statement on its own, tousled hair kept the whole look from becoming overdone. I’m partial to this trend because I have naturally messy/wavy hair, but I love it because it keeps me looking casual, never like I’m trying to look good even though  I am!
ADVICE: Whether you want to give your natural waves a boost or you want to go from straight to sassy just wrap sections of your hair (about an inch) around a large-barrel curling iron and hold for about 30 seconds then release. Repeat all over, then once curls have cooled lightly brush through them.

flickr user: tammy manet

Strength was the common makeup trend strutting down the fall 2009 runways. Versace, Prada, and Michael Kors  all previewed strong bold eyes with natural lips; while YSL and Lanvin showed off fresh faces with strong red lips. Follow these easy how-to apply fall makeup tips and show off your own beauty strength.

How-To Apply Makeup Tip #1– Bold Eyes

I think it’s best to start with an eyeshadow primer when doing a strong or smoky eye. It not only helps eyeshadow go on smoothly, but it helps your eyeshadow stay on longer. Next, use a highlighter on your brow bone- a little shimmer really makes your eyes pop. The key to a smoky eye is to layer, layer and then layer more. Layer blue, plum, green, or gold eye shadow into a darker gray or black shadow to really make your eyes pop. A great makeup trick is to first apply pencil eyeliner along your lash line, smudge and then apply liquid liner on top. If liquid liner isn’t your thing just wet an angled brush with water and dip it into one of the accent colors instead- the wetness intensifies the eyeshadow color and helps keep it on your eyelid.

How-To Apply Makeup Tip #2– Bold Lips

Any woman can wear red lipstick; it just needs to have the right undertones. Fair skin and light hair = yellow or orange undertones. Olive skin and dark hair = blue undertones.

Start by applying foundation over bare lips, line lips, apply color, set with powder and finally apply another coat of lip color. This will give you the nice matte finish seen on the fall runway. Need a little shine? Add a coat of clear or shimmer gloss. It’s my belief that confidence is all it really takes to pull off a bold red lip. I suggest taking baby steps if you’ve never worn red lipstick before but want to start. Wear red lipstick around the house for a week before you make your public debut. Still not comfortable wearing red? Adopt an alter ego when you put on red lipstick. Pretend your January Jones’ character in AMC’s Mad Men. She’s GORGEOUS!

Who are your other favorite red lipped celebrities? Let me know.