Statement Red Lips: A Festive Season Staple

By Khanak Mehta  

A statement red lip is a festive season classic for good reason. Not only does it magically look great on just about everyone, but the hue also carries a lot of significance in Indian culture. Often associated with Maa Durga, the auspicious shade of crimson symbolises love, commitment, strength, and bravery – making it ideal to wear when you want to honour the goddess herself during Durga Puja.

Here’s how you can ace this bold lip look – all you need is the right red and some golden advice from celebrity makeup artist Namrata Soni.  

The perfect match 

Making sure that your red lip complements your skin tone is important, but according to Namrata, the real secret lies in knowing your undertone. “If the veins on your wrist are green, it means that you’ve got a warm undertone. Shades of red with undertones of orange will look vibrant on you. If they’re bluish purple, you’ve got a cool undertone. So, any red lipstick with a blue or purple tone will look beautiful on you,” she says.

Day to night 

A lip liner is your best friend when working with bold hues like red. Not only do they help prevent the colour from feathering, but also help it last longer. After all, we all know that it can be tough to sneak in a lipstick touch-up through the day. So, even when it comes to your lipstick, it’s best to stick to products that have a matte or liquid formula. “Use an ultra-matte liquid lipstick, they last really long. And if your lips often tend to feel dry, just top it off with a red lip gloss in the centre,” suggests Namrata.

Build your base 

The most timeless makeup pairing with a red lip is matte skin and a winged eyeliner. If you want to keep the focus on your pout, a small kitten wing with a few coats of mascara is the way to go. This will accentuate your eyes just enough and keep your look effortless for daytime festivities. For the base, Namrata suggests keeping your concealer handy. “Reds have a tendency to bring out any discolouration on your skin. So, you must colour correct and conceal your face well,” she warns.