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How to wear this season’s bright red lip

Your face will look instantly more polished

Sarah Jones
Wednesday 26 April 2017 22:00 BST
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At Mary Katrantzou a bright red lip instantly brightened model's skin
At Mary Katrantzou a bright red lip instantly brightened model's skin

The beauty equivalent of a little black dress, a classic red pout is the ultimate statement but this season it’s back with a bang.

Colour took centre stage on the runways for spring/summer as the iconic look got a serious update with ultra-pigmented hues.

Some were matte, some were glossy, but they all packed a serious punch.

From Mary Katrantzou, Trussardi, Valentino and Simone Rocha, bright matte crimson took over model’s lips for an instant skin-brightening effect. While Kenzo opted to pair its glossy version with matching bright blush and 80s slicked back hair.

At the more intense end of the rouge-scale, a throng of designers saw orange-reds make a strong comeback too.

Take Jason Wu’s fluorescent hue for instance, which saw a mix of red lipsticks topped off with super-pigmented orange paint for a fresh, raver girl vibe. A steadfast fan of the classic red lip, it seems even the most diehard devotees are making the switch to an electric pout.

Despite its iconic allure, many women feel as though reds are too harsh, unflattering and that they will instantly settle unwittingly into nooks and crannies.

But, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Sure, donning a bold lip requires a little dutch courage but wear it with authority and your face will look instantly more polished.

The trick here is to keep the rest of your look simple so take a fresh, minimalistic approach to make-up elsewhere on the face. Simply groom your brows, cover any blemishes and swipe a slick of frightfully stylish lippie across your chops.

Jason Wu ditched classic red for an electric pout
Jason Wu ditched classic red for an electric pout (Getty Images)

As a rule, there are certain shades that will compliment your skintone better than others but don’t be afraid to experiment.

But, just in case you are looking for a little guidance - fair complexions suit bright red with blue undertones while medium and darker skin work well with orange-based brick reds.

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