To prevent the lipstick from smearing outside the contour of your lips, before applying it trace your lips with a pencil lip liner in the same color and tone as your lipstick. A lot of cosmetic companies are now offering sets of lipstick and lip liner in the same tones for just this purpose. The other thing you can try is to trace the outer line of your lips with a clear pencil lip liner. Its waxy structure will prevent the color from smudging and since the lip liner is clear, there is no risk of it ruining your look.
You want extra protection? Apply a small amount of concealer around the lips and it will hold the color in place.
Another clever trick is to dab a tiny amount (about the size of a pin head) of foundation with light-reflecting particles to the middle of your lower lip. The shine will bend the light and give your lips the illusion of more volume.
Keep the rest of your makeup in a more neutral tone. Two coats of black mascara in combination with well-maintained eyebrows are quite enough to balance out your passionate lips. When accentuating on the lips, refrain of using too much eye makeup or you risk looking fake.
Combine red lipstick with red nail polish and a red accessory, like a purse, belt or shoes in order to balance it and keep it from looking vulgar.
