Hi Heidi
Gorgeous supermodel, tv presenter and mother-of-three (soon to be four!) Heidi Klum rarely puts a foot wrong when it comes to glamming it up for the red carpet. Here she is with two distinctly different makeup looks demonstrating superbly just how easy it is to change your look with a simple swipe of red lippie or a thick coating of black kohl.
It’s a common question – which do I enhance, my eyes or lips? Most of us tend to go in one direction or the other; some (like Gwen Stefani and Dita von Teese) have a clear preference and adopt the red lip as a signature statement; others may like to flirt with it for awhile and then pass it up for the smokey eye at other times. As you can see on dear Heidi, you can do both quite easily. In fact at the Fall collections the beauty could be divided into two camps – the eyes or the lips – and both were pretty much even.
Red lips signify strength, confidence and sexuality whereas dark eyes can be a bit more hard-core and rock n roll (it’s no wonder stars like Kate Moss, Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen favour the dark eyed, bare lip look). Both looks have been around forever and are loaded with history – red lipstick’s roots can be traced back to the Egyptians who used henna and pulverised insects whereas in Victorian times the ladies of the British court painted their faces white to make their powdered lips appear that much more vibrant. Thankfully now all we have to do is pick a colour from a handy bullet shaped dispenser.
Anyone can wear red lipstick – you just have to find the right shade. Generally speaking, those with pale skin suit blue-reds while olive or dark skin tones look best in orange or brown based reds. It’s just a matter of deduction. Red lippie tends to look better when worn matte rather than glossy – use a sheer tint if you prefer gloss and any age suits this look. Just remember to keep it modern with barely there eyes – use nude eyeshadow (to be really on trend wear a cream shadow not a powder), a line of black kohl and loads of mascara.
The popular smokey eye can be as intricate or simple as you wish to make it. Start with a soft kohl pencil on both upper and lower lash lines and blend into a soft line. Depending on how much room you have on the upper lid (whether or not you have hooded eyes) you can go thicker or thinner with the line. Apply black, gunmetal grey, navy eyeshadow on top and blend, blend, blend. Or just simply smudge black kohl around the eyes.
The most important thing about both looks is to wear with lashings of confidence (and if you’re going to a dinner remember to reapply the red lippie so you don’t get left with a tide mark).
Which look do you prefer? Eyes or lips? Do you wear both?
Tamsin xo
