Marilyn Monroe, her flying white dress, and striking red lipstick––the picture is etched in everyone’s memory, and the red lip is quite hard to miss. A red lipstick like that is the ultimate MVP in your makeup kit––a single swipe is enough to lift up the most casual looks. A red lipstick like that, is also a little scary to pull off, cause so much can go wrong within that one swipe. Fret not! We’ve got you and your pout covered. Here’s how you can wear Marilyn Monroe’s iconic red lip and look like a diva yourself!

Step 1: Start with a red lip liner – While this makeup product feels a little dated and unnecessary, when it comes to keeping a striking lip like Marilyn Monroe’s in place, it’s a true Godsend. Use a red lip liner of a similar shade to define the outline of your pout. This also stops your lipstick from bleeding and falling outside the lines with time.

Step 2: Fill in with a lip brush – Use a lip brush to pick up the colour and apply it to your lips, instead of applying it straight from the bullet. This gives you more control over how much colour gets on your lips and allows you to be more precise. Monroe uses a matte formula.

Step 3: Blot your lips – Place a tissue over your ready pout, and brush on some translucent setting powder. This will keep your lipstick in place, no matter what.

Step 4: Teeth check – Red lips on your white teeth is always an embarrassing nightmare waiting to happen. A simple hack? Stick your clean thumb or index finger into your mouth and quickly suck on it. This removes any excess lip colour that might transfer on to your teeth.

Pro Tip – Red lips, especially Monroe’s iconic hue is quite eye-catching enough. We recommend keeping the rest of your makeup simple–a kitten eyeliner and a touch of blush will tie in the entire look.