9 Unique Ways to Rock Red Lipstick

The girl that wears a red lip is a secret badass. She’s a put-together business woman by day, and a let-your-hair-down party girl at night. She runs her world and does it all while looking incredibly chic. It takes a certain level of confidence to rock a red lip, but once you do, it will transform you. Try these different varieties and see what style works for you.

 

 

1. A Neon Lip
A neon lip is fun and makes the classic idea of a red lipstick less grown-up, and less severe. It looks coolest in a soft matte, with an orangey tint. Apple a stain first, then dab-and-spread with a neon shade.
Try: MAC Neon Orange Lipstick

 

 

2. A Hard Matte Finish
This is an intense but stunning look. It’s classic and impossibly chic. If you can’t get your hands on a matte lipstick, you can make a glossy lipstick matte by blotting after application, and applying powder to your lip with a sponge applicator.
Try: Smashbox be Legendary Matte Lipstick

3. Patent/Lacquered Finish
Use a highly pigmented gloss, like a shiny crimson, to achieve this Marilyn Monroe look. To get that lacquered look, add clear lip gloss over a red lip and spread it. Use a concealer brush to a dot a light-reflecting concealer onto the little dip in the center of your upper lip, or your Cupid’s bow, and blend in an outward motion.
Try: Giorgio Armani Ecstacy Lip Lacquer In Red Chrome

4.Ombre Cherry Blossom
An ombre look is super sexy, especially in cherry blossom. Fill the outer thirds of your lips with a strong red, then applying a lighter, pink shade to the center of the mouth and blend gently outward to the shades meet. Finish with a nude gloss over the pink to add shimmer – it’s an irresistible look.
Try: Black Up Lipstick In Satin Bright Red + Givenchy Le Rose Révélateur Magic Lip Gloss

 

 

5. Use A Liner That’s Darker Than Your Filler.
Add a little edge to your red lip look by lining lips in a hue that’s slightly darker than the shade you wear on the rest of your lips. After using a shade one gradient lighter as a filler, your look has more dimension and you can rock a sexy pout like Gwen Stefani.
Try: NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil In Scarlet Red +NARS Lipstick In Jungle Red

6. Color Combine To Play With Shades Of Red
Color combinations are the key to diverse reds – you can have dozens of uniquely red combinations from just a few lipsticks by switching it up and blending. If you layer a hot pink glass on a matte red, it will achieve a romantic but edgy result – using a matte base shade that you layer with a gloss or satin finish will really make the look pop.
Try: Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Salmon Pink + Warm Red

7. Use Only A Stain.
Using just a red lip stain gives a rock n’ roll, raw look that still has a pretty and flirty edge. They glide right on, and you never have to worry about coloring outside the lines. They temporarily dye your lip, so they look natural as opposed to messy when the color fades. And they keep your lips kissable and hydrated all day.
Try: Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Vernis A Levres Glossy Stain #13 Rose Tempura

 

 

8. Dark Red-Purple Vamp Lip
To get that deep, black-cherry hue that’s all the rage, look for products with purple tones, like a chic deep berry that the Kardashians rock. Line your lips with a black-violet layer and fill with a deep purple-red lipstick. This look is best with minimal eye-makeup.
Try: Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick Starry Eyed

9. Only Use Lip Liner, Skip Filler
This is a powerful look that takes a little more time and effort, but is all worth it. Carefully line and fill in lips with a red pencil – you might need several coats to make the lips look full. Powder and blot between layers. To make it shinier, top with a gloss.
Try: Sephora Collection Rouge Gel Lip Liner In It’s Cherry