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Here’s a fresh take on the classic red lip, making it more relaxed and easy to wear. This version is soft and diffused, with blurred edges that make it more approachable than the traditional bold, defined red lip, yet still bright enough to stand out.
It’s a fantastic option if you struggle to perfect your lip line. Just smudge the edges a bit, and suddenly, it doesn’t matter as much if you can’t see or line your bottom lip precisely.
I’ve used the amazing Joli Rouge Velvet in Spicy Chilli from Clarins, a striking orange-red that’s modern and bold without making your teeth look unnaturally yellow.
These lipsticks are richly pigmented and offer a lovely velvety matte finish. Once you start patting them, the creamy texture turns almost powdery and soft, avoiding the usual drawbacks of applying powder to your lips.
Remember the Chanel Poudres a Levres from their Neapolis collection, with its balm and powder layered on top? It was fun to try, though I rarely used it afterwards. In contrast, this new method gives a more dramatic, purposely imperfect finish. It’s like controlled chaos, quick to achieve but gives off a laid-back vibe.
How to do it? It’s simple, really. Start by lining your lips with a good lip liner, like Max Factor’s Red Rush, and then gently blend it with your fingertip. Apply the lipstick directly from the tube—using a brush can be too precise. If you’re a bit clumsy, though, a brush might help. The key is soft, even smudging, ideally with your middle finger for better control, though I often use my ring finger.
And that’s it—a gentle feathering of the edges, creating a soft look. The texture of the Joli Rouge Velvet lipstick is perfect for this effect and stands out among many matte reds. Blurred lipstick edges might not be groundbreaking, but in today’s world of ultra-polished makeup, this softer approach feels refreshing.
You might wonder why bother with lip-liner if you’re just going to blend it. Well, if your vision or hand isn’t perfectly steady, that initial line acts as a guide to keep your lipstick in check, much like being pointed in the right direction when playing a game.
You can find Spicy Chilli at Escentual for £19.35. There’s also a makeup tutorial video featuring this lipstick that you might want to check out.