"We're gonna go fast and we're gonna make this gorgeous," says Gucci, who believes that even a scene-stealing full face for evening can be a five-minute thing. But before she picks up her new Lip Suede compact in Les Rouges—a palette of four ultra-flattering matte shades packed with hydrating and collagen-boosting clean ingredients like active cherry oil—she needs to create the right backdrop.
"I love this idea of super emphasized skin—really pumping up the radiance," she explains of applying Lit Up Highlight and Face Trace Contour stick before foundation to correct redness. The transparency of a fresh complexion makes even bold makeup "feel like it's breathable and it's still sexy."
A series of "tiny subtle" tricks comes next—a blend of Baby Cheeks blush in Dou Dou and Poppet on the very center of the apples, a coat of Eye Love You mascara on lashes, and a wash of Super Loaded Tinted Highlight on lids—to create subtle intensity that's right for evening. Then it's time for the real action. Dipping into the tomato red Lip Suede shade with a brush, she builds up to a bold, megawatt effect on model Julia Murray's pillowy mouth. The matte-suede finish is rich and elegant, but to switch it up, she adds a coat of clear red gloss on top for more of a Helmut Newton bombshell vibe.
Against the contrast of the vibrant red lip color, the rest of your makeup will appear to fade slightly, explains Gucci of the trompe l'oeil pro trick. In other words, she says, "you won't look like a show pony—you'll just look like a total babe."
For more red lip intel, check out Gucci's daytime red lip tutorial and ultimate checklist to getting it right!
