"Every woman needs a perfect true-red lipstick," says Grace Lee, lead makeup artist for Maybelline New York Canada. It's the little black dress of your cosmetics bag: classic, elegant and versatile.

Perfect pairing: Let the lipstick do all the talking. Keep the rest of your makeup simple, with defined lashes, or classic, with a feline flick of eyeliner. Lee recommends a bronze eyeshadow if your lids are begging for a dusting.

Finish and texture: Steer clear of shimmer; reflection should come from the moisture in the lipstick formula.

Technique: Red is a high-maintenance hue, so start by smoothing bare lips with a scrub. Though you can never go wrong with a defined pout, today's crimson lips don't require clinical precision. Starting at the centre of the mouth, apply lipstick with a brush, then blend it out, keeping the edges soft. Lee suggests blotting the colour with a tissue to set.


Lips: Jaclyn Locke, Swatches: Joe Kim

Find your match! (From left): L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lipstick in Red Passion, $11, lorealparis.ca. Maybelline New York Colour Sensational Lip Colour in Red Revival, $10, maybelline.ca. Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Red Carpet Red, $38, charlottetilbury.com.


Narces Fall 2015 at Toronto Fashion Week; courtesy Maybelline New York

Beauty Inspiration: Lauren Bacall meets Dita Von Teese

"Narces is very old Hollywood, so I wanted to create a look that matched that glamorous vibe," says Lee. By applying concealer to the lips as a primer, you get the true cranberry colour of the lip liner and lipstick. For a rich matte texture, Lee blotted the lips with a tissue to remove excess moisture.

Looking to try a different lip hue? Check out our tips for:
Tasteful nudes
Regal purples

This article originally appeared in the September 2015 issue of Canadian Living.

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