How to wear an easy red lip

I feel like the rep lip has gotten a bad reputation – too high maintenance, too bold, too much for my simple makeup routine, too hard to not mess up. But a red lip is such a glamorous, classic makeup look that just instantly brightens up my mood, and so I wanted to put together a post about how I create an easy, soft, red lip that doesn’t scream that you’re trying too hard.

Wearing a red lip is all about keeping everything else simple, and finding the best shade of red for your skin tone. Every shade of red can run orange or blue, warmer or cooler, and it’s important to find one that is going to match your skin’s undertones which run in two basic categories – warm or cool. Easiest way to figure this out? Take a look at your veins on your arm; if they are blueish, you are likely a cool skin tone, and if they are greenish, then you are a warmer skin tone. Mine run blue, so I am a cooler skin tone. You want to pick a red lip that is the opposite of your skin tone, so with cooler undertones, I pick a warmer red lip with shades of orange rather than blue (blue skin tones are typically more of that true candy apple red or maroons).

The easiest way to keep a red lip simple and just to keep the rest of your makeup neutral and easy, so that red lip isn’t trying too hard and is able to be the star of the show. There are two ways I think you can achieve this – one is a simple set of taupes and browns, and the other is a bit of simple shimmer. Finding a palette that can do both is a super buy, and so I put together a few of them that I think can give you the most for your money. I like to build a soft brown eye with depth, maybe adding a bit of shimmer or light in the center, or keep it to a simple cream shimmer that you apply with your fingers. Both of these looks will really keep things simple so your red lip does all of the work for you.

Beyond that? Keep your regular routine. For me, that looks like a sheerer foundation (I avoid anything that’s going to have a heavy makeup or matte look, as that’s just a preference for me when I want to keep the look more natural and casual, especially during the summer months) – I’m currently loving the Chanel water tint, which is one of the most unique foundations I have tried so far in formula. I go in with a fuller coverage concealer in the areas I need it most – my tried and true from Make Up For Ever is a dream for drier skin. Pair that with a very neutral blush to keep things subtle, like this one from Tower28 in Magic Hour. And finish it over with lots and lots of mascara to keep the look classic – to me, there is nothing more glamorous than a red lip with some long lashes.

My best advice is to just have fun, and push yourself out of your comfort zone. If you’re not ready for that stark red lip, try something more sheer that is buildable, so you can decide how red you want to go, like this lip stain from Glossier (warmer) or this lip soufflé from Rare Beauty (cooler). But if you’re ready to go all in, try my red lip from Patrick Ta (warmer) or this classic red (in name and shade) from Revlon – both are great for not moving under a mask. I’ve linked a few options below!

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