Make-up Trend: Pastel Blue Eye Shadow

Aishwarya Rai

Don't fear frosty blue eye shadow, flaunt it! Apply a sheer wash of a pale, light-catching hue around your lashlines like Aishwarya, then sweep what's left on the brush over lids.

Curl lashes and apply individual lash clusters on the outter corners to make your eyes pop.

Rec: Chanel Ombre Essentielle in Lagoon

Bronzey Gold Make-up Breakdown by Aniruddha C

A golden glow for the face can be used on all skin tones. “Gold make-up is just perfect for the winter season. But remember when going for the gold look, don’t combine brighter hues; the effect should be monochromatic,” says make-up artist Aniruddha Chakladar.

For Aishwarya Rai, who has a light complexion, Aniruddha has used a foundation that is one shade darker (M.A.C Face and Body Foundation in C5) than her skin tone and followed it up with M.A.C Blot Powder/Pressed in Medium Dark. For a darker person, however, the foundation must be of their skin tone.

Aishwarya’s eye make-up has been done with a mix of shades of gold (M.A.C Pigment in Golden Lemon) all over the lid, and bronze (M.A.C Eyeshadow in Bronze) in the crease, along with shades of burgundy (M.A.C Eyeshadow in Sketch and Trax) for the outer corners. The eyes have been lined with kohl (M.A.C Eye Kohl in Powersurge) and moderate mascara (M.A.C Pro Lash in Charcoal Brown) has been used on the lashes.

Next, he applied a bronze shimmer wash (M.A.C Refined Golden Powder) to contour the face, slightly diluted with M.A.C Mixing Medium. “The diluted powder shimmer can only be used with a waterproof foundation. If your foundation is not waterproof, dust some pressed shimmer powder on your face with blush,” advises Aniruddha. Then he applied M.A.C Powder Blush in Raizin on the apples of the cheeks.

The cheekbones have been highlighted with a M.A.C Mineralize Skinfinish in New Vegas. M.A.C Lipstick in Freckletone with M.A.C Tinted Lipglass in Oh Baby finish off this gold bronzey look.

Mickey Contractor Talks Make-Up

Mickey Contractor, the make up man to stars including the lovely Aishwarya Rai, sets about busting some long cherished make up myths.

"What looks best on a woman is always in," he said. "Trends will come and go. Like for instance the bright red/pink lips and cat eye liner of the Seventies is back with a bang. There are three or four trends, which keep rotating. You have the minimalist, the liner-based look and the color centric look. These are shuffled back and forth. You need to pick up what you like and what suits you. Yellow is very hot now."

From here

....to here

Mickey, who has worked in movies from Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya to Salaam E Ishq says: "Bollywood has the tendency to go overboard. That is because we wear embellished clothes, and culturally we take great care of our hair. In the process the face tends to get ignored. We need to highlight the face with make up. You must also remember that it is for the big screen and one needs to accentuate features or they will not be seen."

Preity Zinta

Mickey feels one should not be overawed by make up. "Makeup need not be the whole nine yards. It could be just a bindi and kohl."

Mickey says: "Fluidlines come in a great range of colors, be adventurous."

While kohl qualifies as makeup, Mickey says people are getting more adventurous about color. "I tell them instead of M.A.C Fluidline in Blacktrack, why not try M.A.C Fluidline in Blue Peep? And believe me it is these little things that gives a whole new look."

The makeup artist, who counts screen siren Helen as his inspiration says: "Bollywood is huge reference point. I have brides coming up to me saying they want to look like Kajol or Rani. It helps me as I know what they have in mind."

Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai's Wedding

And talking of brides, what did he do for Ash on her wedding day? "Ash is a personal friend and I dressed her as a friend."

While Ash is a personal friend, Mickey says he has no favorite celebrity clientèle. "I have enjoyed working with everyone. It is very difficult to work in close proximity with someone you do not like."

"The relationship between makeup artist and star is a very intimate one. Bonds build over the years. Imagine, you are thrown together for fifty days on an outdoor, it is the closest one gets to having a confidant, a friend. It is a two-way thing. Even I let off steam."

Mickey's brushes and Fluidline are a staple in his train case

Ask Mickey what he cannot step out without and he says: "My set of M.A.C Brushes. I do not allow anyone to touch them. The one product that is always in my train case is M.A.C Fluidline. It works wonders."

Mickey obviously loves working in Bollywood. "I was fated to be here. I do share my opinion with the directors. With Karan Johar I can tell him what I feel about whether a scene would work or not."

Sushmita Sen

Mickey works according to the personality of the client. "A little bit of groundwork always helps. For someone like Sushmita Sen, I know she has this huge diva personality and I work with that."

Mickey has been associated with M.A.C for the past two years and will work on "customizing foreign trends to suit our needs. I am also involved in master classes where we share knowledge and information."

All fans of fluffy, furry creatures can take heart when Mickey, who loves animals and has a Labrador and parakeet says: "M.A.C products are not tested on animals."

Mickey, whose upcoming projects include Goldie Behl's Drona and Harry Baweja's Love Story 2050, has one bit of advice to give out: "Always do what suits you."

Make-up Trend: Peachy Dewy Cheeks

Cheeks look naturally rosy in colder months, so why add more pink? Instead, brighten your complexion with a golden apricot hue to produce the same warmth as bronzer, without looking unnatural.

Take the look from girly to glam like Aishwarya Rai by dabbing cream blush (it adds moisture to skin in dry months) along your cheekbones instead of swirling it in circles over the apples of the cheeks.

Rec: NARS South Beach The Multiple

Aishwarya Rai on Make-up Artist Mickey Contractor

Aishwarya Rai talks about her favorite make-up artist Mickey Contractor. It's in English, so all my readers can understand it. Leave me a comment telling me if you like it.

Make-up Artist: Mickey Contractor, His Beauty Tips & Tricks

Kajol, Rani Mukherjee, Aishwarya Rai, Tabu, Preity Zinta, Sushmita Sen. The most beautiful screen faces have been under Mickey Contractor’s brushes, all for that one stroke here and one touch there.

Director of cosmetic major M.A.C India, Mickey feels that beautiful is “anyone who is herself and has a personal style” and that “clear complexion” is a sure pre-requisite for beauty.

So what role does make-up play in creating those picture-perfect faces? “Lots actually,” he says. “Because you can’t really form a whole base on make-up but you can surely lend yourself a distinct personality, an all-new spark.”

Bare basics
Preity Zinta

Mickey believes that he is most famous for his “no make-up look”, but this, he says, “involves more effort than full make-up”. Here’s the how-to from the make-up artist himself:

• Choose a foundation that is closest to your skin color. He recommends M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid.
  
  
• The eyeshadow should be very neutral, just enough to help contour and bring out the best. He recommends M.A.C Eyeshadow in Bamboo
  
  
• No false eyelashes feature in this natural look.
  
  
• Use lots of mascara and separate your lashes well, leaving no clumps. He recommends M.A.C Zoomlash Mascara
  
  
• Blend the eyeliner well. Very fair skin can use brown liner. He recommends M.A.C Fluidline in Dipdown
  
  
• Keep the lip color natural and pale. He recommends M.A.C Mattene Lipstick in Flattering
  
  
• The blush, a shade of peach or pink (M.A.C Powder Blush in Pinch O' Peach and M.A.C Powder Blush in Fleur Power), should begin from the apple of your cheeks. Work upwards and outwards.

Sultry smokey

Kajol

Aishwarya Rai

Rani Mukherji

This dark-eyes-and-pale-mouth look is always a winner. Be it Kajol’s sexy act amongst the pyramids in Kabhie Khushi Kabhi Gham, Aishwarya Rai in Shabd or Rani Mukherjee’s sultry peepers in Chalte Chalte, the smoky look is always a stunner. Here’s the rocking explanation:

• Prepare your face with the right shade of foundation (M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid).
  
  
• Use darker colors on your eyelids and blend well (M.A.C Eyeshadows in Embark, Cranberry, Sketch, Deep Truth, Humid, Bronze, Black Tied).
  
  
• Line your lower lids with kohl and smudge it with some black eye-shadow (M.A.C Eye Kohl in Smolder, M.A.C Eyeshadow in Carbon).
  
  
• Top off with at least two coats of mascara (M.A.C Plush Lash Mascara).
  
  
• Line your lips with a liner (M.A.C Lip Pencil in Oak) and blend well with a pale shade of lipstick (M.A.C Lipstick in Sandy B), leaving no sharp lines.
  
  
• Finish with lots of gloss. He recommends M.A.C Tinted Lipglass in Oyster Girl
  
  
• Accentuate your cheekbones with a deeper shade of blush. He recommends M.A.C Blushcreme in Pleasureful
  

Old is gold

Jaya Bachchan

Remember Jaya Bachchan as the super-glam Ma of K3G? Here’s Mickey’s advice for the middle-aged divas in the making.

• Choose appropriate skin products and look after your skin regularly. From the M.A.C Skincare line he recommends M.A.C Studio Moisture Cream, which reduces the appearance of fine lines
  
  
• Always remember that less is more.
  
  
• Use make-up not as a cover, but as a highlighter of your beauty.
  
  
• Use minimum foundation as it tends to show up in the creases and folds. For older skin Mickey recommends M.A.C Studio Tech
  
  
• Eyebrows form the frame of the face and at this age, they tend to get sparse. Concentrate on them to get the look right. He recommends M.A.C Brow Finisher
  
  
• Choose colors for the shadows, liners and lipsticks that suit your personality. (M.A.C Eyeshadows in Satin Taupe, Vanilla, Era; M.A.C Lip Pencil in Spice; M.A.C Lipsticks in Taupe, Honeylove, Cherish, Sparks Can Fly)
  
  
• Keep with the make-up trends but always re-work them to complement you.

Perfect points

Aishwarya Rai

“The crux of perfecting your art of make-up lies in the finer details,” stresses Mickey. Here are some expert tips, to make all the difference:

• Choosing the right foundation is half the beauty battle won. There are tons to choose from, M.A.C Studio Mist, M.A.C Select Tint, M.A.C Face and Body, M.A.C Mineralize Satinfinish, M.A.C Select SPF15, M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid (Mickey's personal fave), M.A.C Hyper Real, M.A.C Studio Fix, M.A.C Select Moistureblend, M.A.C Studio Tech, M.A.C Full Coverage, M.A.C Studio Stick. Take your pick accordingly.
  
  
• Use an eyelash curler to open up the eyes, especially if you put kajal inside your eyes (M.A.C Eye Kohl in Smolder).
  
  
• Understanding your source of light is vital.
  
  
• You can use M.A.C Clear Lipglass on your eyelids. Try not to smudge it with liner; stick only to mascara (M.A.C Zoom Lash Mascara).
  
  
• To look dramatic, introduce some color to highlight and some glitter (M.A.C Glitter) wherever you are comfortable.

Make-up Trend: Creamy Matte Lips

Think Aishwarya Rai, her lips are never over-the-top, they're just subdued and muted. Make-up artist Aniruddha Chakladar says: “Over-the-top glossy lips are on their way out."

The new look to show off is soft and creamy. Choose an almost-nude skin tone according to your skin color and apply generously. Check out MAC's new Mattene Lipsticks.

Be creative and play up your eyes; this is the biggest advantage of subdued lips.

Rec: M.A.C Mattene Lipstick in Flattering

Weddings: The Bride's Make-up Trends

With the winter wedding season coming up around the corner, here are some make-up trends that make sure you look great if you're the bride, and want to look different, yet traditional and gorgeous.

Engagement

The first to kickstart a series of dramatic events, this is the right time for the bride to present the perfect image. This could well be the first time she meets most of the groom’s family and friends and hence the need to make a striking first impression.

A delicate lehnga is what designer Jyoti Khaitan recommends for this occasion, “though it needn’t be extremely traditional and ornate”. Leaving the zardosi for the later functions, it is best to play around with crystal and interesting embellishments.

The color story on this day, should be casual-chic, and may be non-bridal as well. Choose from lavenders, powder blues or pretty yellows. Drape the dupatta stylishly. “Since it is not compulsory to cover the head, you can be innovative with the draping, showcasing the embellishments to greatest effect.

The jewelery also need not be over the top at the engagement and the make-up is best kept subtle. “Keep the foundation light and highlight your eyes with hues that complement your outfit,” advises make-up expert Aniruddha Chakladar. (Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat)

The hair, he says, should either be straightened or curled lightly with a curling iron. “Basically, the look is extremely soft and casual,” adds Aniruddha.

Sangeet

Whatever community the couple might belong to, the sangeet soiree has become a must in almost all weddings today. A function less and a rocking party more, the bash sometimes carries on all night long. A good idea is to give the lehngas a break and opt for a sari instead. “This is the day when the bride can go unconventional with her looks. The creation she opts for should lend a festive and vibrant feel to complement the liveliness of the evening,” feels Jyoti.

Non-traditional, happy hues make an exciting color palette for this evening. “Introduce brooches and pendants in the drape of the sari itself to make for eye-catching details,” says Jyoti.

The make-up for this function also takes a dramatic turn. Keep the base light since lots of dancing and long hours under the camera flash can make it run, but attract attention by shifting focus to your eyes. (M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid)“Add color to your face by playing up your eyes. You can also try the smokey look and introduce some shimmer to it,” explains Aniruddha. (M.A.C Smokey Eye Palette). A glossy mouth (M.A.C 3D Glass in Backlit) and accentuated cheekbones (M.A.C Powder Blush in Harmony) complete the pretty picture.

According to Aniruddha, hair set in rollers and tied partially looks great. “You can also tie a colourful paranda in your hair.”

Wedding

“The look for this day is nothing but classic and traditional,” says Jyoti, who feels that short-lived trends and fads are best kept out of the D-day attire. “The bridal outfit should spell timeless appeal that never goes out of fashion. And the colours should be essentially the Pakistani/Indian bridal hues? Shades of red and orange,” adds Jyoti.

The embellishments are very intricate and ethnic, be it a wide jaal of zardosi or semi-precious rubies and sapphires crafted into the silver and gold work of the ensemble.

“Since there is already so much color on the lehnga and jewellery, it is best to give the face a balanced look,” feels Aniruddha. His advice is to highlight the features with the help of golden or bronze shades only (M.A.C Eyeshadows in: Goldmine, Gorgeous Gold, Woodwinded, Soba, Patina, Bronze, Omega, Nylon; M.A.C Powder Blush in Trace Gold; M.A.C Pro Longwear Lipcolor in Lasting Lust and Commitment)

“Neutral make-up looks best on this day, but make it bright because a dull-looking face will ruin the entire effect of the day.”

The hair on the day of the marriage should always be tied up.

“A low jooda is the best bet because it facilitates the fall of the dupatta,” adds the make-up artist.

Clint Fernandes' Make-Up Tips for the Winter

Clint Fernandes says, “Winter is easily the season to go high on make-up and put all your imaginative skills to best use.”


“For evening dos, add drama to your eyes with three different eye looks. These should be a fusion of eye color, dramatics and irreverent strokes. These stunning designs and appliques, when topped with the bronze or silver flesh shimmer, will see you start a revolution,” says Clint.


He recommends eye-shadow in a combination of rich and warm colours like black, purple and raisin.

“When you are going for heavy shadow, keep the kohl toned down. But if you want the smoky look, then go ahead with your eyeliner and kajal and mellow down the shadow. However, a touch of shimmer is a must,” adds Fernandes.


“Sunset’s warm tones of burgundy, ruby and gold are reflected in this season's lips,” says Clint.


He adds: “Winter's palette is all about cooler shades of lilac, blue and aqua, flesh-toned shimmers and mauves. This is apt for the day look. However, the colors from both palettes are such that they can be mixed and matched each time to render a new look.”

Ambika Pillai's Make-Up Tips

According to Bollywood make-up artist Ambika Pillai, it’s important to “just do your own thing and go wild”. The make-up moves she recommends:

Soft, smokey eyes accentuated by pale, glossy lips. “Besides the essential charcoal-gray, one can also use shades of midnight-blue, mehndi (henna)-green and even fuchsia to smoke out the eyes,” says Ambika.


• Pile on the glitter. Use eye-shadows in black, grey, blue or aquamarine and top with some sparkle.


Use a shimmery blush in any warm shade like amber or soft pink.


If you’re going strong on the eyes, ease up on the lips, using any soft skin tone shade, finished with generous dabs of gloss. Alternatively, play up the lips in rich burgundy or raisin if you’re going light on the eyes. She also adds, "Don’t follow these rainbow trends blindly. See what works for you and not the airbrushed model pouting from the magazine cover."


The fall-winter shows saw a lot of plum on the mouth with biggies John Galliano and Gucci followed by Rajesh Pratap Singh and Raghavendra Rathore coloring the mouths on the ramp. “The lips go brighter with orange, pink and red,” says Ambika.

For make-up expert Ambika Pillai, winter is the season when nice is out and naughty is in.“You can go really overboard with the tanned look this season to perfectly complement those earth-coloured outfits, which seem to be so much in vogue this season,” says Ambika. For the day look, you can use a cream-based foundation or a translucent powder with light blush over it. For the evening, go for a glossy foundation, add to it a bit of bronze shimmer and you’ll be all set to rock. Also apply a little blush to bring out your cheekbones, suggests Ambika.


For a day look, Ambika suggests a mild version where you can line your eyes with black, brown or blue kohl and apply light-colored eye-shadow. “The real experimentation should be for the evenings. Curl your lashes and apply heavy mascara on them. Use a dark eye-shadow and smoke out the kohl. Apply a little bit of shimmer on your eyelids, just above the eyeballs so that your eyes look nice when you move them,” explains Ambika.


“Winter sees lots of black in our wardrobes and red lips go very well with any black outfit,” says Ambika.

Make-up Trend: Individual Fake Lash Clusters

Want a gorgeous gaze like Aishwarya Rai's? You don't need a full strip of falsies. Instead, apply a one three-lash cluster to the outermost corner of each upper lashline. You'll build sexy volume only where you need it.

Add a dot of glue to the the back of one hand. Wait five seconds until it's almost dry, then dab the knot into the glue and hold in place at the lashline for 10 seconds.

Rec: Ardell Duralash Naturals

October 2007 Vogue India Beauty Scans

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank Nidhi for scanning these pages from October's Vogue India Issue. I have tried to look for this issue everywhere (including EBAY), and finally I found someone who scanned the pages out for me. Please check out Nidhi's wonderful blog, she truly is a gifted photographer. To see her skills, check out The Fashion Rookies' Jar

Now onto to the gorgeous scans, I know you can't read them in my blog, but if you click on them, they are readable. The scans include: Bipasha Basu's, Priyanka Chopra's and Preity Zinta's Make-Up and Style Favorites, Current Beauty Trend 'Hypnotic Cat Eyes', and my favorite Bollywood make-up artist Mickey Contractor's Make-Up Secrets.

(Click on image to enlarge and read.)

Bipasha Basu's Style and Make-Up Favorites
Her make-up essentials include: Dior Airflash Spray Foundation and Lancôme Le Crayon Khôl Pencil.

Priyanka Chopra's Style and Make-Up Favorites
Her make-up essentials include: M.A.C Studio Fix, Yves Saint Laurent Mascara, The Body Shop Born Lippy Lip Balm.

(Click on image to enlarge and read.)

Preity Zinta's Style and Make-Up Favorites
Her make-up essentials include: Clarins Sunscreen Cream High Protection SPF30, Diorshow Unlimited Mascara, and Lip Balm (Try M.A.C Tendertone Lip Balm SPF12)

(Click on image to enlarge and read.)

(Click on image to enlarge and read.)

(Click on image to enlarge and read.)

Current hot beauty trend is Hypnotic Eyes
These are showing up everywhere from runways to Bollywood movies. M.A.C recently released their Alexander McQueen Collection that has everything necessary for a gorgeous Cleopatra like Cat Eye. Vogue also lists their favorite products to get the look which include: M.A.C Eyeshadow in Electric Eel, M.A.C Eyeshadow in Chrome Yellow, M.A.C Eyeshadow in Bitter, M.A.C Pigment in Teal, Chambor Lapiz Shimmer, Urban Decay Matte Eyeshadow in Chronic, Lancôme Le Crayon Khôl, and M.A.C Lash in No. 7

(Click on image to enlarge and read.)

Bollywood's Make-Up Guru to the stars Mickey Contractor's Secrets
I strongly suggest you read Mickey's wonderful interview. His make-up essentials include: M.A.C Blacktrack Fluidline, M.A.C Hyacinth Eye Kohl, and M.A.C Minted Eye Kohl. Mickey's A-List Resume includes work on faces like: Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Tabu, Rani Mukherji, and Linda Evangelista.

Runway's Hottest Make-Up Trends

Fresh and Dewy Skin
Charlotte Tilbury created a sporty and playful the look at Matthew Williamson which was achieved through clever highlighting with MAC’s Silver Dust loose powder - a fine crystallized silver diamond powder buffed onto the skin to give a healthy halo effect. “Apply on the top of the cheekbones, the inner corner of the eye, down the nose and the tip of the cupids bow. All they the areas that light is drawn to, to illuminate the face.” says Lynsey. “The key is buffing and polishing with good brushes. Use a flat topped blending brush to refine the powder into almost nothing on the skin. The aim is to work it into the skin so you don’t see individual speckles, just a healthy sheen.”


Smoky Eye
This enduring eye trend was given a modern taupe makeover at Matthew Williamson using MAC’s cream Paint Pots in Quite Natural and Architecture – a concrete-colored flat muddy brown. “It’s not a messy splish-splosh-splash smoky eye, it’s about a dynamic approach, using smaller tools to create more detailed work.” explains Lynsey, “Start with an intense color in the middle of the lash line where you want the most color and then blend outwards using a very soft, long-haired blending brush for that dappled watercolor look. Keep buffing and polishing the color away so that it fades into the edges of the skin. Use the same technique for the lower lid.”


Peachy Nude Lips
For the rock‘n’roll faded-out lips sported on numerous runways, forget liners, brushes and lipstick and use your fingers. It’s important to keep the lips hydrated and nourished without giving too much shine, so use a matte conditioning lip primer rather than a balm. The primer stops the lipstick feathering and blurring and keeps it on much longer. “The thing with nude color is, unless you put concealer on first, your natural lip color comes through and distorts the color of the nude lipstick so you’ve got to knock out the red first. We did this with a soon-to-launch new MAC pro product called Lip Erase, but another easy way is to mix a smudge of concealer with lip balm and dab onto your lips using your fingers to literally remove the feature. Follow by dabbing a peach rather than a pink nude lip color on top.” Lip Erase is set for release in December and will be available at MAC freestanding stores only.


Sixties-Inspired Eyes
At Smith Spence the make-up created by Andrew Gallimore was Sixties-inspired baby doll with lots of lash but an edgy new palette. According to Lynsey, the look was achieved by contouring around the eye in a rich chocolate chestnut brown before adding a dash of neon blue color on the lid. “The technique was classic Sixties, using a brush to build a brown socket round the eye, then going over it with an aqua lid. We didn’t curl the lashes for this particular look, just built up layer upon layer of black mascara.”


Flawless Matte Skin
Dusty matte monochromatic make-up was de rigeur at Erdem giving a sophisticated and grown up look. “Achieving the perfect matte look is all about layering,” explains Lynsey, “You put all your creams and foundation on first, and then you build up and polish over the skin with an airbrushing powder like MAC’s Invisible Powder on the eyes round the face on the lip to kind of flatten everything without it looking like there’s powder on the skin. You’re trying to make the skin look velvet not take the life out of it.”


Cleopatra Eyes
Winged eyeliner is resolutely refusing to flap its wings and fly away just yet. A dramatic thick black wing sported by the girls on the runway, the feline look is here to stay. You need a steady hand, or a flat surface to rest your elbow on and a good quality liquid liner with a felt-tip-style applicator rather than a brush. Start at the inner corner of the eye as close to the lash line as possible sweeping up at an approximate 40 degree angle just before reaching the outer corner.

Make-up Trend: Red Lips

• Pick the right shade of red for your skin tone. If you're pale and pinky, go for blue-reds. If you're olive, tan or dark, warmer reds will flatter you.
  
  
• A bold red lip is an easy way to add instant glamour. Get the look by lining and filling lips with lipliner (closely matched or slightly lighter than your lipstick shade). Liner evens out the lip shape and gives a sharp edge. For go liner if you have very full lips. Tap the color onto the lips with your finger so the edge of the lip is soft

• Get clean edges by brushing on concealer after applying lipstick. It will brighten the area and make the red pop while preventing the color from bleeding.
  
  
• If you don't have beautiful full lips like Rani Mukherji. Try something more transparent, like a berry-hued gloss.

• Generally speaking, blondes look best in blue reds, redheads in berry reds, and brunettes in brick reds.
  
  
• For daytime, a more sheer version is suitable. And then for night, opt for a deeper red to punch it up.

• Women with strong jaw lines should avoid red lipstick, as it will only highlight a prominent area. Rounder faces pull the look off well.
  
  
• Makeup pros agree that the best way to apply red lipstick is with a lip brush that you dip in the product and then paint onto the mouth. The brush keeps lipstick within the lines and prevents mistakes Rec: M.A.C 318 Retractable Lip Brush
  
  
• Pick four shades you like and swipe them closely together on your inner forearm. Once you see them next to each other, the subtle differences will pop and you'll be drawn to one.
  
  
• Nothing looks worse than a bold color on chapped lips. Look for a moisturizing lipstick and use balm at night to treat your pout. Using a lip balm right before applying lipstick will dilute the rich shade. Rec: Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Cocoa