Napoleon Perdis Shares With Us How To Achieve Lady Gaga's Perfect Red Lip

By Napoleon Perdis

www.napoleonperdis.com

Leave it to Gaga to rock a picture-perfect red lip. Her Ladyship has done more for the sale of lipstick than Miranda Kerr has done for the post-baby bounce back. To work your own strong lip statement – a key Summer trend BTW – remember these four essential steps.

1. NATURAL SELECTION
Finding the perfect red is the Holy Grail for many women and one of the most common questions I’m asked. The key lies in recognising which undertones work well with your complexion, and by complexion I mean your true skin tone, not what you’d like to think it is! If you’re fair, choose a red with blue undertones. If your skin is olive, try a scarlet red with a pink base. For darker tones, look for a cranberry red. One shade that’s always works well for most skin tones is a blue-based red.

2. ESSENTIAL PREP:
Before you make a strong lip statement a prep step is required: super-smooth, hydrated lips are a non-negotiable. Why put your lips in the spotlight if they’re not in perfect condition? For a quick lip fix, mix some sugar in with a little lip balm for an efficient exfoliant. Massage into the lips and then use a soft towel or a makeup wipe to gently remove. Not only will your lipstick glide on for a perfect finish but you’ll notice that the colour will cling onto the lips for longer.

3. ARTFUL APPLICATION:
Unless you’re going for a low-fi lip look, I find that you get the best results when you apply lipstick with a lip brush. [Using your fingers to press a little colour into the lips is a great way to ease into wearing a bold bright.] Load up your brush with a decent amount of lipstick and glide across the lips, being careful to stay within your natural lip line. To create a flattering, balanced shape on the top lip, I like to work from the outside in and then use a lip liner after lipstick to keep the colour contained and prevent bleeding. I read a great Jerry Seinfeld quote once that went something like this:

“Where lipstick is concerned, the most important thing is not colour but to accept God’s final word on where your lips end.” Amen!

4. THE ALL-IMPORTANT UPKEEP:
Keeping your red fresh is the burden of wearing a bold lip colour. It’s definitely the most high-maintenance shade but the latest lipstick and liquid formulations cleverly combine long-wear properties with a far more comfortable feel than formulations of old. To keep your favourite red looking fab, reapply the colour to the centre of the lips which is where it’s most likely to wear first. And try this backstage trick: pat a little eye shadow (in a shade as close to your lipstick as possible) into the centre of the lip to help hold.

Image Credit: Zimbio