A Hero, a Fire Starter and a Gossip Girl all worked the red carpet wearing beautiful flaming lips. I’ve always been a proponent of this sexy, strong lip. My favorite reds: Napoleon Perdis lipstick in Aphrodite ($22), Nouba Millebaci Long Lasting Lip Colour in #7 ($19) and M.A.C. Red ($14), one of Gwen Stefani’s signature shades. Sadly, it’s a statement that’s often dismissed. Some shrug it off saying it’s too high maintenance. I say, that’s a lame excuse. Here, 3 simple tips to get you the perfect red lip. Pucker up!

1. Smooth Bold color doesn’t sit well on chapped lips. Rid flakes with a soft exfoliating scrub like Philosophy’s or a toothbrush, moving the bristles in a circular motion.

2. Condition If you’re planning ahead, swipe on a rich emollient like Vaseline the night before. If you decide to go for it last minute, apply Chapstick before lipstick. Gloria, a BG reader who’s the queen of the bright lip, swears by Chapstick. “I always put it on first because it prevents feathering, helps lip liner go on more easily and really makes my color last. ” Thanks for emailing this great tip Gloria!

Do you have any favorite beauty tricks? I want to know. Share them with me at info@thebeautygirl.com and you may end up in a future post.

3. Seal Vampires are all the rage right now but you don’t want to look like you’ve just had a good blood sucking. After applying the color, stick your index finger halfway in your mouth and then pull out slowly as if it were a straw. This trick will prevent excess lipstick from getting on your teeth. To ensure lipstick won’t run out of the lines, apply a sealer such as Benefit’s She Laq ($30).

Tags: 61st Emmy Awards, beauty tips, Drew Barrymore, Hayden Panettiere, Leighton Meester, lipstick, red lips, Star Beauty