I don’t know about you, but my summer holidays are very nearly in full swing. Well, truth be told I’m still busy working, but they’re all I can think about. Hence why I’ve been scurrying around booking music festival tickets, arranging parties, buying frocks… finding myself a man. You know, the usual. Naturally this also means I’ve been thinking about how I might wear my hair and make-up to said soir ées. Do I go an eye? A lip? A brow…?

I suppose you too have been scouring every media outlet and street style blog for inspiration too, no? Any ideas? Nevertheless, whatever your look of choice - or looks, for that matter - may be, I dare say you’ll be needing a tip or two on how to best pull them off.

Masterclass # 1: The Lip.
A red lip is by no means passé, it’s a classic, quite frankly, and guaranteed to get you noticed regardless of the current trends or changes in season. Now, you don’t have to subscribe to red, of course; tangerine, fuchsia, grape or brick can be just as effective. Honestly, it’s all in the way you wear it (with conviction), so long as it’s perfectly applied.

Step 1: Consider the rest of your look first, prior to applying ‘The Lip’; don’t make it an after thought. Your face will look disconnected at best, heavy and overdone, otherwise. Opt for a swipe of sheer pearlescent cream shadow over your eyes and copious coats of mascara (such as Bobbi Brown’s new Extreme Party Mascara). Perhaps even a few false eyelashes on the outer corners of your eyes, if you’re feeling adventurous. Why not, I say. Try Shu Uemura or MAC’s range of easy-to-apply peeper primers. And be sure to choose a blush that will complement, not compete, with ‘The Lip’. Try a flush of hot pink – scantly applied, mind you – with a bright red (such as Giorgio Armani’s new Rouge d’Armani Colour Ecstasy, Lancôme’s Colour Fever Matte in Red Rose or Estee Lauder’s limited edition Signature Gold Fluted).
Step 2: Remove all traces of balm from your lips. Dry, albeit nourished, lips are the ideal base on which to begin. Remnants of moisture will feather the edges and discourage the colour from remaining stay-fast.
Step 3: With a steady hand, trace your lip line with a large lip pencil, then fill in your entire lips. Try Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil - the large nib makes life easy, let me tell you.
Step 4: Using a lip brush (such as MAC’s retractable lip brush), paint your lips with your chosen colour, blot with tissue then reapply. As a precaution have a cotton tip, foundation brush or square-edged sponge on standby, otherwise trace the perimeter again with your lip pencil for a precise shape.
Step 5: Pack in your purse the following: your lipstick, lip pencil, extra tissues for blotting and a cotton tip or two for repairing mistakes.
Best of luck.