Tips from Carmindy on How to Rock A Bright Lip

It's no secret that the key to rocking a bold lipstick shade is confidence, but until recently I couldn't bring myself to do it and I don't think it was confidence that I was lacking. Instead, it was lack of what I like to call lipstick knowledge.  I'm a gloss girl.  I spoke with Celebrity Makeup Artist, Carmindy and got some tips on how to pull off a bright lip with pride like Jessica Alba. 1. How should you prepare your lips for a bold or bright colored lipstick?

First buff them with a little white sugar and a washcloth. Then add a bit of balm and do the rest of your makeup first. Then by the time you apply your lip color they will be nice and moist and ready to go.

2. When wearing a bold color how should you wear the rest of your makeup?

Keep it simple and let the lips be the star of the show. Cheeks should have a simple pink flush and eyes should be neutral with black mascara.

3. What's the key to making color on your lips last?

You can line the lips first with a matching lip liner and then fill them in with the liner. Then apply lipstick and don't gloss. Let the bold color do all the work as gloss on top would be overkill.

4. Would you say wearing bold lip color is high maintenance?

It only is if you don't prep and apply it correctly from the start. You can just add a bit in the center of the lips throughout the night if it wears off.

5. What type of person can rock this lip look?

Anybody can with a positive confident attitude!

How to Rock A Sexy, Dark Lip

There's a trend from New York Fashion Week that I've been dying to try and have been recently sporting it on my cross country travels – the dark lip.  No, it's not goth, it's sexy.  But yes, it can look bad if you don't wear it right.  I've been wearing a deep plum that compliments my skin tone (think OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark for your nails).  Below are tips from DailyMakeover on how to make the dark lip work for you and stay put.

• Exfoliate your lips. It is important to remove any excess dead skin from your lips for a smooth surface. Try Smashbox Cosmetics Emulsion Lip Exfoliant.

• Prime lips. This step is very important, so please do not skip! You need to add a small amount of moisture to your lips before applying a dark lip color so the color does not look dry or cracked. The key is keeping the matte look without the greasy residue of some lip balms. A multi-purpose primer, like Natural Born Cosmetics Lip Fix Matte Neutralizer, does the trick! This product, primes, adds a bit of moisture, fills in little lines, and neutralizes lip color for a perfect canvas to apply a deep color...

• Choose a dark lip color. Try Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics--one drop of their Lip Tar goes a long, long way! For blue-red shades, try NSFW or Stalker. If you prefer warmer reds, try Harlot. For the perfect deep-burgundy shade, try Strumpet or Vintage. Another favorite of mine is Yves St. Laurent Rouge Volupté Perle in Mesmerizing Purple.

• Apply lip color with a lip brush. To apply gloss with a brush, squeeze a drop of product onto the brush and apply color starting from the outer corners of the lip inwards towards the bow of your lips and fill in. You can go slightly outside of your natural lip line but be careful not to go too high. A similar technique is used for applying lipstick from the tube. Instead of applying directly to lips, swipe your lip brush with the product and apply using the same technique.

Now that you have your lips in tact make sure you keep the rest of your face flawless!  Remember the lip is the focal point.

Conquer the Bright Lip

Bold, bright lips are in. Even though I’m a huge beauty geek, I’ve never felt confident enough to try rocking the look.  My eyes are my best asset anyway so I tend to always play them up. Bright lips can be intimidating, but if you follow these simple steps from makeup artist Victoria Stiles as told to DailyMakeover, you can easily create a bombshell lip that will last the night away--and the morning after!

• Be bold and choose a color that is matte in texture. Matte lasts longer than satin, cream, frost, or shimmer formulas. One of my all time favorite red shades is MAC's Ruby Woo Lipstick. If you are nervous about wearing red, this may be a great choice because it has a subtle pink undertone. For warmer skin tones, try a shade with a slight orange undertone such as Nars' Heat Wave.
• Instead of using a traditional lip brush, stain lips with your choice of color by applying the lipstick with your fingertip. Simply rub the top of your index finger on the color and press into the heart and pout area of your lip, avoid a sweeping motion.
• To ensure your lip color lasts, avoid placing gloss on top. Gloss makes it easier for the lipstick to transfer on to your wine glass, or your date.
• If a straight stain is what you seek, try CoverGirl's Outlast Lipstain. It's not your traditional lipstick as it looks and operates more like a magic marker, making it very easy to use. Simply apply one coat to your lips for a softer appearance or two for a bolder look. When applying two coats, be sure to let the first coat dry completely before applying the second.