1 week Ago By Ranyechi Udemezue
Red lipstick has been a make-up staple for thousands of years. Used as a marker of power by Ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian monarchs, a vivid signifier of sexuality in Ancient Greece, and a symbol of the fight for women’s rights in early 20th-century Britain , the shade is woven through beauty history. In 2025, it’s all about the red lip theory, which suggests that you can have an invisible base yet still look elegant and “done” simply by adding a potent slash of lipstick.
Elizabeth Debicki is clearly a subscriber to the notion: the star of The Crown attended the Olivier Awards in London on Sunday night, where she accessorised her Grecian Dior gown with fresh skin and a vibrant red lip. The work of make-up artist Kelly Cornwell , Debicki’s beauty look was fresh and dewy – perfect for spring. Cornwell prepped her client’s skin with the Dior Capture Le Serum, Capture Skin Cream and Capture Eye Cream, before smoothing out her complexion with the Forever Glow Veil Primer and Forever Hydra Nude and Skin Perfect Foundations.
A layer of the Forever Nude Bronze was dusted over Debicki’s cheekbones, along with a swipe of the Forever Glow Luminizer in Pink Strobe, to create a natural, shimmery effect. The star of the show was that bold red lip, achieved using Dior’s Rouge Dior Contour in the shade 999 and Lipstick Colour Velvet, also in the shade 999. This method can easily be replicated with your favourite make-up at home – just don’t forget to experiment with varying shades of red, until you – like Elizabeth – find your perfect match.
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