Great Beauty: Kissable Red Lips for Valentine's Day
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Great Beauty: Kissable Red Lips for Valentine's Day

This award season has been chock-full of super-glamorous looks -- everything from winged eyeshadow to lush, intricate chignons. But, without a doubt, the hottest trend to hit the red carpet is Old Hollywood-style red lips. And this is not a sheer, subtle moment -- we're talking bold, bright, all-eyes-on-me red. Show-stopping red. Such a stark contrast to last season's pale pastels and bronzy nudes! This year, the red carpet has been chock-full of super-glamorous looks -- everything from winged eyeshadow to lush, intricate chignons. But, without a doubt, the hottest trend to hit the red carpet is Old Hollywood-style red lips. And this is not a sheer, subtle moment -- we're talking bold, bright, all-eyes-on-me red. Show-stopping red. Such a stark contrast to last season's pale pastels and bronzy nudes! From Gabrielle Union to Zoe Saldana, here are our favorite celebs rocking both this season's vampy scarlet pucker and last season's subtle, sweet lip. Let us know which look you like best in the comments section.

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Essence.com
Feb, 13, 2012
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Crimson Kisses

YaYa DaCosta looked impossibly sexy in a creamy red lip paired with a dark teal smoky eye.

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2 of 40

Perfect Match

Tamera Mowry was all smiles as she boldly flaunted this season’s hottest trend: matching your makeup to your clothes. Her red lip and red dress are a perfect pair.

3 of 40

Up the Ante

We’ve seen Estelle wear crimson colored lips quite often, and here she turns it up a notch in a bright red shade and lush lashes.

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Cult Crimson

A cult classic among beauty junkies, MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo is a matte scarlet shade that looks gorgeous on virtually every skin tone under the sun.


$14.50, available at MAC.

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Turning Heads

Chanel Iman turned heads in a high-shine, sexy red lip.

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Fierce and Fabulous

LeToya Luckett went all the way glam in an silky red lipstick and look-at-me-now lashes. So fierce.

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The Shining

Tatyana Ali adds a shot of sexy to her look by layering a high-shine clear gloss over her red lipstick.

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Kiss Bliss

Rimmel London’s Moisture Renew Lipcolor is a creamy, rich color that puts the bliss in your kiss.



$6, available at Ulta.

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9 of 40

The Glamorous Life

Kerry Washington dons a quintessentially glamorous red carpet look — major lashes, defined brows, and a luscious red lip.

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10 of 40

Giving Lip

Jessica White puts her bright red pucker on center stage by keeping the rest of her makeup low-key.

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11 of 40

Lip Service

Tichina Arnold edges up her sexy cornrowed style by adding a fab, raspberry-hued lipstain.

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12 of 40

Hot in Here

Black Opal’s True Color Lipstick has been around for years, and the new formula and packaging has made us love this classic color even more.


$7.25, available at Black Opal Beauty.

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13 of 40

Red Alert

Zoe Saldana glows in cherry red lips that perfectly match her flouncy gown.

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14 of 40

High Shine

Beyonce stepped out in a glossy, ripe red pout which give her such a radiant essence.

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15 of 40

Sunny Delight

Sanaa Lathan took on the red lip trend in a perfect, crimson color with tons of shine.

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16 of 40

Red Alert

We adore the high-shine finish of Rimmel London’s Stay Glossy in Treasure Hunt. This lip gloss is sprinkled with a touch of shimmer, too.


$14.50, available at Ulta.

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17 of 40

Sophisticated Lady

Jill Scott is impossibly sophisticated in this pompadour chignon and flawlessly electric red lips.

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18 of 40

Red Alert

Style maven June Ambrose knew just what lip color would set off her bright orange jacket and turq turban— red, of course.

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19 of 40

Haute Hipster

Zoe Kravitz gives her downtown vibe a boost of sophistication with her matte red lip.

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20 of 40

Cranberry Beret

Smashbox DoubleTake Lip Color in Cranberry is a double-sided wand that comes with a lip pencil and a creamy lip crayon… each in a universally flattering crimson hue.



$22, available at Sephora.

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21 of 40

Class Act

With her sleek bob, glossy scarlet mouth and LBD, Taraji P. Henson is class personified.

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22 of 40

American Woman

Garcelle Beauvais sports a classic American look by pairing her reddish-brown lips with black and white polka dots.

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23 of 40

Frankly Scarlet

Tracee Ellis Ross amps up her silver cocktail dress and upswept curls with a shock of scarlet gloss.

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24 of 40

Welcome Matte

Revlon Matte Lipstick in Really Red leaves lips feeling velvet-soft and moisturized.



$6, available at Target.

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25 of 40

Matchy Matchy

Red hair, red lips, red blazer — nobody works this haute hue better than RiRi!

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26 of 40

Stawberry Beret

Rashida Jones punctuates her fresh, summery, almost-bare makeup look with a slick of strawberry-red lipgloss.

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27 of 40

Red Handed

Mya sasses up a basic, black-and-white ensemble with brazen red lipstick.

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28 of 40

Bite Me

Lush, bold, and sexy, Nars Lipstick in First Bite is the perfect red lipstick for brown skin.



$24, available at NARS.

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29 of 40

Sheer Elegance

As First Lady Michelle Obama proves, sheer red lips are just as statement-making as a bold, opaque hue.

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30 of 40

Well Red

Meagan Good draws attention to her lush, full lips with a flawlessly lined, brick red lipstick.

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31 of 40

Welcome Matte

Messy updo, bare shoulders, matte scarlet lips — Katerina Graham is simply irresistible.

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32 of 40

All Hail the Queen

Rock a red lip like royalty in the CoverGirl Queen Collection Lip Color in the shade Paint the Town. With an ultra moisturizing feel and high pigment power, you’ll have the sexiest lips of the night.



$7, available at CoverGirl.

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33 of 40

So Classic

Garcelle Beauvais sports a classic look with simple waves, a white oxford and reddish-brown lips.

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34 of 40

Lip Service

Joy Bryant dazzles in an elegant black gown and matte, true red lipstick.

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35 of 40

Retro Chic

With her crimped platinum ’do and bright red-orange lips, Keri Hilson looks like a cross between Marilyn Monroe and an ’80s mall chick. It works!

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36 of 40

Stay Glossy

Black Opal’s Patent Lips in the shade Red Intensity gives the most gloriously glossy, shiny red lip you’ve ever seen. Seriously.


$6.75, available at Black Opal Beauty.

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37 of 40

Model Behavior

With her platinum bangs and bright crimson pucker, Selita Ebanks definitely knows how to make an entrance!

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38 of 40

Pretty in Persimmon

With her bold persimmon lips and mile-long lashes, Kelly Rowland works an Old Hollywood movie star vibe!

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39 of 40

Pop Life

Orangey-red lipstick adds a sexy pop of color to Janelle Monae’s austere ensemble.

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40 of 40

Hot Like Fire

Stila’s Long Wear Liquid Lipcolor in the shade Fiery has become a beauty-lover’s staple. It glides on with a matte, creamy finish that stays put hour after hour.


$22, available at Stila Cosmetics.

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