It seems mandatory to switch from bright lips to deeper colors when the temperature drops, but if the idea of sporting a dark lip is too intimidating—plum, burgundy, and brick red shades do tend to wash people out—here are a few secrets to help you pull it off.

1. Start with a steady base.
To bring out your lipstick's color, pat a bit of foundation on the lips or swipe on a lip primer. Remember to scrub off dead skin first, too, because flaky lips and dark lipstick make for an awful combination. Rim and fill in the lips with a lip pencil to prevent feathering and fading.

2. Get one with a budge-proof formula.
A dark lip should always look impeccable. Smears and smudges on the sides of the pout will send you to Clownsville in no time. To avoid these beauty mishaps, pick a lipstick with long-wearing formula or try our method for a smudge-proof pout.

3. Bring warmth to your complexion.
Wearing vampy lip can make look, well, like a vampire. To bring life back to your face, sweep bronzer on the forehead, cheeks, and under the jawline. Dab shimmery copper or gold eyeshadow on the lids to brighten your peepers.

PHOTO: Instagram @ilovegeorgina