Twilight fans aren’t the only ones loving the vamp visage. We’re seeing dark pouts picking up in popularity for all skin tones, especially as the fall season gets into full swing, as illustrated on the Anne Barge runway during New York Bridal Market. The berry hued lip colors looked striking against the white bridal gowns, and paired with a deep smoky eye, it was an exquisitely sultry sight.
The vogue vamp look is bold, but if done right, it has a dramatic effect:
Imperfections are more noticeable with deeper colors, so exfoliate beforehand to remove any flaky skin. Try mixing brown sugar with your favorite lip balm for a quick scrub.
Use lipstick primer before slathering on your shade. It prevents bleeding and color migration, which are much more obvious with a dark hue.
Keep strong shades from looking heavy by swiping just on your bottom lip, press lips together, and then use your finger to evenly distribute the rest.
Instead of lip liner, which runs the risk of creating a clown-like effect with dark hues, use a Q-tip dipped in translucent powder and trail around your pout to ensure your shade stays put.
Always do the finger test. Place your index finger between your lips and slide out to prevent extra color from finding its way onto your pearly whites.
Dabbling Vaseline on your teeth is a red carpet and beauty pageant secret—not only does it make your chompers shine, but this tried-and-true method helps prevent lipstick-covered smiles.
Add a touch of color to your cheeks and refrain from using too much eyeliner to keep the glam look from going goth.
Pairing a white gown, plus an amicable amount of smooching, doesn’t bode well for the bold brides. These four dark lip colors have been tested and approved to create a vogue vamp style that’s wedding-worthy.
- Almost as soon as the first leaf changed colors, I switched out my summery pink for Bare Escentuals’s Buxom Blackmail Lip Tarnish. The pretty blackberry truffle hue plumps pouts thanks to its peptide-infused formula while delivering long-lasting shine and color.
- Ideal for a decadent outdoor wedding, the creamy color of Rimmel London’s Moisture Renew Stick in Burgundy Lustre is developed with SPF 18 and reduces lip dryness by up to 65 percent. The deep pigmented color, which has the reputation for looking cakey, goes on as smooth as silk.
- The rich berry hue of Dior Rouge Dior in Hypnotic Red is like letting the Merlot linger on your lips. The elegant dark shade is exceptionally radiant, thanks to a plumping formula that’s coated with pigments, and keeps lips looking voluptuous.
- If you want a subtler look that’s still lust-worthy, opt for Urban Decay’s Lip Envy lip color in Greedy. The inky stain gives your pout a long-lasting semi-matte finish for a look that’s to die for.
Brittny Drye is a New York City-based freelance writer who meticulously spins words for a variety of sites ranging from fashion to food, while she undertakes the excruciatingly long process of penning her first novel.
Photo: Anne Barge
