Boost Your Party Power With A Bold Lip

Follow five easy steps to create a party-perfect red lip

This is a Marie Claire Advertorial Party season is the perfect time to experiment with new make-up looks and techniques but classic Hollywood glamour – aka the red lip – is one trend that we will always resort back to.

Think gleaming skin, perfectly shaped brows and a stand out shade to bring va va voom to this year's festive celebrations. Here's our guide to creating the ultimate party lip...

Step 1: Exfoliate. It's key to creating an ultra-smooth base for your make-up and Braun Face, the go-to beauty gadget Jessica Alba swears, by will revolutionise your routine. Use the cleansing brush head to first exfoliate your face, then your lips. Next, pop on the tiny epilator head to get rid of any unwanted hairs on your upper lip and chin.

Step 2: Choose the right red. Finding the correct shade depends on your skin tone: if you have fair-skin and cool undertones, go for a red lipstick with a blue base. Warmer complexions suit orangey-red shades and darker skin tones are best suited to pink-based reds. Find the one and you've cracked the beauty code for glamour.

Step 3: Once you've found your perfect match, use a lip pencil to define the shape of your lips and give your lipstick even more staying power. Opt for one shade darker than your lipstick and add a touch of pencil to the centre of each lip to add extra depth.

Step 4: Next, load a lip brush with your chosen red. Start at the centre of your lips and work the brush outwards so there's less lipstick on the brush when you reach the outer corners to give a neat finish.

Step 5: For even coverage, sweep the brush over both lips again – this will optimise the colour. Finally, blot your lips with tissue to remove excess and press the colour into your lips. Done.