It’s Halloween and time to embrace your dark side. Sexy ­smoky eyes and glossy red lips are classic looks that never go out of fashion. Actress Eva Green, right, has made this look her own and the former Bond Girl’s ­dramatic, gothic look is very much in vogue ­right now.

A smoky eye ­with a nude lip or vermilion red lips with a natural face are both looks that I love. Everyone can wear red lipstick, it’s just a question of the right shade.

To make it easy, I’ve broken ­it down into ­categories to help you choose the perfect shade for you.
For dark beige and bronzed skin: Deep cool reds with ­burgundy tones. Try Fashion Fair Finishing Lipstick in Rhapsody in Red, £16.35, www.boots.com.

For ivory and light beige: A cool, true red (for very pale skin try red with a pink tint) – Marks & Spencer ­Perfection Super Gloss Lipstick SPF 20 in Bright Rose, £7.50.

For pale skin and red hair: Terracotta reds or brick reds – ­Perfection Sheer Shine Lipstick in Rouge, £5, www.marks andspencer.com.

For medium skin, mid brown hair: Cool berry reds or raspberry – ­No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick Siren, £10, ­www.boots.com.

Fair skin, blonde to brown hair: ­Blue-red lipsticks such as ­Lancome Le Rouge ­Absolue ­134 Idole, £19.50, www.houseoffraser.co.uk.

Celebrities and beauty addicts alike are going positively gaga for the newest trend to hit the cosmetics market. Jesse J, Rihanna and Beyoncé have all been spotted sporting fabulous looks by Violent Lips and Glitzy Lips.

Launched in the US in April this year, the lip fad that is exploding internationally is finally available here in SA.

Violent Lips lets you get seriously glamorous on your lips with a range of colours, designs and patterns. Go wild with some animal prints or funky patterns, or show your pride with rainbow lips. The effect is easy to achieve and is removed without any fuss using baby oil. What we love about the product is that it glams your pout while nourishing your lips with its vitamin-enhanced formula. We also love that it contains no animal products.

Glitzy Lips is an infallible foil lip appliqué that you can use anywhere you need a little extra glitz. Expressing your inner glam goddess won’t be difficult with this product.

Applied with a skin-safe and easy-to-use adhesive, these designs are guaranteed not to fade for at least 8 hours.

The ranges are available at selected salons or online at www.maskscara.co.za.