International Plaza & Bay Street

MAKE UP

Fall brings a change of color to the leaves, a crispness to the breeze and an increasingly muted fashion palate leading up to winter’s classic black and greys. To add a touch of drama to the soft earth tones and deep jewel colors of the season, red lips are a must. The idea of having such a stand-out smile may seem intimidating, but there’s a wide spectrum of red available for every skin tone - and commitment level!

First, the basics of sporting red lips: your rosy pout will speak for itself so remember to keep the rest of your makeup neutral. Keep eyeshadow close to your natural skin tone adding just a touch of sparkle. A chic champagne such as Urban Decay’s “Midnight Cowgirl” eyeshadow from Sephora is a pigment-rich shade that blends nicely and lasts long. Add a simple smoky black or grey eyeliner such as MAC Cosmetics’ Eye Kohl in the “Phone Number” shade and a swipe of their “Peaches” powder blush to set the stage for dramatic lipstick.

For those who are shy and can’t commit to a full-blown all-out red or who want to dial it down for day time, just toss a red gloss into your purse and you’re set! Check out Bath & Body Work’s “Fruit Pigment Juicy Lip Gloss” for a 100% natural product with vitamin to E!.

The classic red lip looks tricky but is definitely worth the effort. Begin with a shade that suits your skin tone best. Orangey-red like Sephora brand “Brilliant Shine Lip Gloss” in their Sugar Coat shade works with fair skin but for medium to dark skin tones, blue-ish red like their Sweet Berry shade is ideal. Prime lips first to reduce bleeding at the edges of the mouth that can occur with strong pigments. Find a pencil that matches your lipstick (Bare Escuentuals 100% natural liner is perfect) and fill in your entire lips. Go over them with one coat of lipstick and blot with a tissue - minimum effort with maximum style! For an even easier solution, try Sephora’s Du-Wop Lip Primer. If you want to push the glam factor just a little farther, take red gloss and add a dab in the center of your lower lip for a plump-looking pout.

Ready to really press red to the furthest end of the spectrum? Red ascends to couture levels with help from a surprising friend-black lipstick! This look definitely pushes the limits-use only if you dare! Start with a deeper red (a burgundy tone like product works well) and blot as usual. Swipe one coat of black lipstick over your burgundy. Try Chanel’s at Neiman Marcus or a more affordable version from Hot Topic. Now you have an ultra-dramatic and multi-layered lip that will put you in the spotlight this Fall!

Applying red lipstick can be simple as demonstrated but wearing the color does require a bit more technique. As a bonus, red lips make your teeth seems whiter-unless the color comes off on them. An easy trick to keep your teeth streak-free is to put your finger between your lips and pull out quickly. Any lipstick that made its way to the inside of your lips will come right off-there’s one more thing to smile about!