Beauty Newbie: A Learner's Guide To Lipstick

Happy New Year’s Eve! As I wrote in my last entry, I had decided to celebrate the holidays with festive new red lips. With so many different shades of red, I was grateful for help from Sara Biria, Sephora Pro Beauty Team member.

I was positive I would need to stick with gloss since my lips get unrelentingly dry in the winter. But Sara reminded me of a makeup accessory I had discovered with foundation: primer. She suggested using Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15, since my chapped lips needed a moisturizing boost. When I applied it, I became immediately hooked to its sweet texture and scent.

Sara said, “It’s absolutely necessary that your lips are hydrated when wearing red lipstick. First of all, it will be much smoother. And secondly, if your lips are dry, the color won’t last at all. The pigment will adhere better with a hydrated base.”

Sara told me another essential for red lipstick is using lip liner. Any lip liner works, even one in a neutral shade, because red is such a strong color. A good starting point for beginners (like me!) is using it to trace the “cupid’s bow” in the middle of the top lip, which is where Sara started. She continued lining my lips and then filled them in about halfway (so the red lipstick wouldn’t bleed).

Next, Sara added the red. She chose Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella and applied it directly on my lips, using a lip brush at the end to fill in the details. “Application is all about tools because red lipstick can get a little messy,” she said. (I learned she was right when I tried to read my red-smudged notes later.)

Sara divulged a secret tip she got from a Nars rep: After applying red lipstick, if you’re not finishing off with gloss, put some translucent powder on your fingers and brush it on the lips softly. Then blot. It will seal in the color!

I’m posting my finished look, but there’s still more to come next time. (Too many details for one post!) In the meantime, I’m trying to gain the courage to recreate the look for tonight, and if I do, I’ll be sure to take pictures to show you all.

How will you be dressing up your look tonight?

-Bo Young Lee