Supple, Luscious & Bold! Makeup Artist Editi Udofot of Edee Beau shares 4 Ways to Reinvent the Red Lip

A few days ago a couple of friends and I decided to go shopping.  Realizing I hadn’t rocked the red lip in a while I decided to get some MAC ‘Rubywoo’ lipstick. I got to the store and the lipstick was sold out!

Apparently every Shade, Ifeoma and Halima now rocks the crimson pout leaving me without one of my own. I mean I couldn’t even get the ‘normal’ version at the convenience store close to my house. Red lips are every where!  

From the blogs to ladies on the streets of Lagos almost every lipstick wearing female had the same bland version of red lip on. Has the red lip lost its ‘IT’ factor?

For the answer I decided to get some professional advice from beauty specialist, Editi Udofot. Editi is the owner of the make up store Edee Beau in London with star studded clientele  like Omotola Jalade- Ekeinde, Funke ‘Jenifa’ Akindele, ToolzO, Eku Edewor, Yvonne Okoro among others.

Editi shares 4 ways that the red lip could be re-invented giving back its ‘oomph’

The basic tools you would be needing to pull these looks together are: - MAC Lipstick in ‘Rubywoo’ - Ply Tissue - MAC lip pencil in ‘Currant’ - Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm - Urban Decay Stardust Lip gloss in ‘Andromeda’ - MAC Lip Liner in ‘Cherry’ - Tom Ford lipstick in ‘Cherry Lush’ - MAC studio finish concealer - MAC lipstick in ‘Russian red’ - MAC lipstick in ‘Lady Bug’ - Carmex Lip balm

Eku Edewor

Yvonne Okoro

The Basics

Skin Care:  Every good make-up artist understands the importance of prepping the skin properly to help conceal imperfections and ensure your makeup lasts throughout the day. Using Clinique’s 3- step skin care products, start by cleansing the face using circular movements with the Liquid Facial Soap. Then using a flat cotton wool, apply the Clarifying lotion that suits your skin needs to tone the skin and finally massage in the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion perfect for all skin types.

Preparation: Making sure your fingers are clean, use the tips to apply a dime-size amount of Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer and let it set for 15 seconds. Now your face and eyes should be prepped and primped ready for makeup.

a) Face: You could use a Bobbi Brown foundation stick buffed into the skin followed by MAC Studio Finish Concealer to cover any imperfections and blended perfectly. Ben Nye Banana Powder (my secret weapon) was used under the eye to achieve that velvety flawless highlight. MAC Translucent Powder was then used all over the face to set the foundation.

Finally a MAC Blusher in ‘Breezy’ was then applied to the cheeks and for that extra dimension and structure to the face, Sleek Contour Palette in Dark was used around the perimeters of the face, the hollows of the cheeks and the corners of the nose.

b) Eyes: As the main focus of this makeup is on the lips, it was decided to go for a subtle contoured eye look. Prime using Urban Decay Eye shadow Primer all over the entire lid and blend properly.

- Blend a flesh-toned eye shadow on the lid and up to the crease of the eye with a browner shadow blended in the crease itself to create that contoured effect. - Line around the lash and waterline with MAC Fluidline in ‘Blacktrack’, coat lashes with Diorshow Extase mascara and for that extra oomph, apply some false Edee Beau lashes. - Sculpt the brows with MAC Eyebrow Pencil in ‘Spiked’, set with MAC Eye shadow in ‘Embark’ and highlight with a MAC studio Finish Concealer.

Now that your face has been prepared, it’s time for the lipstick. The red lip has different ways of being applied but these are the ways that I love and are the most popular.

1. Two-toned lips: a two-toned lip might seem a bit ‘theatrical’ but it takes the art of lipstick wearing to a whole new level. It is basically applying two close colors of lipstick  to give the lip two varied shades.

EB Two Toned Lip

Get the Look: a) First we applied the MAC Lipstick in ‘Rubywoo’ all over the lips *Edee’s Tip: Blot lips with 1 ply tissue and re-fill or re apply to the lips. This converts the lipstick into a stain ensuring the color lasts all day. b) Next we lined the lip with a darker color MAC lip pencil in ‘Currant’ and mixed the lips together to blend. The more you blend, the deeper the gradient goes. c) Finally we applied Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm over the lips for a moist supple look.

2. Glittery Red Lip: Some things just look better with glitter.

EB Red Glitter Lips

Get The Look: a) For this hot glittery lip we first applied the MAC Lipstick in ‘Rubywoo’ all over the lips *Edee’s tip: Blot lips with 1 ply tissue and re-fill or re apply to the lips. This converts the lipstick into a stain ensuring the color lasts all day. b) Secondly we lined the lip with a darker color of MAC lip pencil in ‘Currant’ and mixed the lips together to blend it in. c) Finally we applied a generous amount of Urban Decay Stardust Lip gloss in ‘Andromeda’ in the center of the lips.

3. Pale Red Lips: This is also called the “Kissed off” lip in some circles. For this look, it was important we lined the lips with a similar lipstick color.

EB Pale Red Lips

Get the Look: a) For this look a MAC Lip Liner in ‘Cherry’ was first used to line and fill the lips. *Edee’s Tip: After using the liner, blot lips with 1 ply tissue and re-fill or re apply to the lips. This converts the liner into a stain ensuring the color lasts all day. b) Finally apply Tom Ford lipstick in ‘Cherry Lush’ with Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm over the lips for a moisturized supple look.

4. Ombre Red Lip: I have to say this is a personal favorite and can also be referred to as a two toned lip.

EB Ombre Red Lip

Get the Look: a) To achieve this look we applied MAC studio finish concealer on the bottom lip and used a darker lip liner. We used a MAC lip pencil in ‘Currant’ to outline the outside of the top lip and slightly brought the color down. b) Using a lighter shade of lipstick MAC lipstick in ‘Russian red’, we applied it in the middle of the top lip only. c) Finally we applied a lighter shade of lipstick of MAC lipstick in ‘Lady Bug’ at the middle of the bottom lip and applied Carmex Lip balm all over the lips for a moisturized and supple finish.

There you go, four ways you can let go of the usual red lip and go for something much fresher. Enjoy!

Credit Hair, Makeup & Photography: Edee Beau Assistant: Leah, Yewande & Diana Model: Habiba Other Photos: www.ghanailoveyou.tumbler.com