Regal Red, Here for Fall

As you know there's something about fall that makes me giddy like a school girl. And while the return of college football and apple pies gives much to get excited about, what really energizes me is the shift from summer makeup to fall colors. The breezy air ushers in a new, fresh look. Out go the pale lipsticks and bronzer and in comes the smoky eyes and bold lips. One of the biggest fall makeup trends is seductive, juicy red lips...yum! Just take a look at the fall campaigns from the top houses. D&G, Dior, Valentino, YSL, Cavalli, Moschino, Lavin and Ferragamo all feature gorgeous red smackers in their full glory. They range from bright and bold to wine stained and dark. Now I know what you're thinking- it looks great in the magazines but there's no way I can pull that off. Not so! This is a look that is stunning on all, you just need the right shade.

So I spent my Saturday playing around the makeup counters to find the right colors and learn the right techniques for my dear readers. Just imagine this: me in my yoga clothes totting around my gym bag, no makeup with the exception of my bold red lips at 3pm picking up toilet paper at the drug store! Quite a sight, let me tell you! So after that spectacle I'm here to dish on all the tips you need. First off, ANYONE can wear red lips, you just need to find the right shade. There's two factors you must consider: hair color and skin tone. True reds or reds with blue undertones look best on blondes while my fellow brunettes should stick with corals or also true reds. Fortunately for redheads they can do either coral or blue. Fairer ladies with pink undertones look best with blue-reds like MAC's Ruby Woo while olive complexions like me are best complimented by orangey reds (color recommendation below). It may take some trial and error at the makeup counter but trust me when you find the right color you just know. Everything seems brighter.

The key to making the look wearable is using lip liner which will help prevent against bleeding and a clown-like look. Some people use a neutral liner to outline the lips, I prefer in this case to use a red pencil. It helps define the lips and gives an extra punch. After sometime exploring I found my red color...MAC's Russian Red. Sophisticated yet vibrant this will be my number one accessory for fall. Of course like all girls I like options so as you can see from the pictures above, the lipstick can be a bright, true red when paired with MAC's Brick lip pencil (bottom picture) or the color can be darkened for a Merlot look with the Burgundy lip pencil (top picture). Just outline the lips with the pencil first and then apply lipstick. Make sure to gently smack or rub your lips together to help blend the pencil and lipstick or for longer wear you can color the entire lip area with the pencil first.

Usage tip: My favorite part of this look? The rest of your makeup should be kept as simple and natural as possible. A hint of blush, nude eyes and mascara. How fabulous is that? No need to waste time doing the smoky eye. This look is great for a polished look on the go. Also don't forget the lip pencil trick above and use the YSL Touche Eclat highlighter on the outer lip area to help curtail bleeding and keep lips flawless.

The result: Sophisticated yet seductive, ladylike yet sexy, red timeless lips!