Fiery red lipstick continues to be a beauty staple among all women, regardless of what idiots say things come out of A$AP Rocky’s mouth. Rihanna, known for her love for the sexy shade, will collaborate with MAC to create RiRi (Hearts) MAC, a beauty collection that will carry everything from fake eyelashes to nail polish.

On Saturday (April 13), WWD reports that the Barbadian beauty has also created her own hue of red inspired by MAC’s fan-favorite “Ruby Woo.” Set for a May 3 release, the “Diamonds” singer’s signature is also engraved into the matte red stick, retailed at $16.

“Working with MAC, it’s difficult to get a red lipstick that beats Ruby Woo, because it works on every skin tone,”  she says about creating the collection. ”I had so many different samples to choose from and so many different colors underneath — blue, yellow, orange and pink bases. And I got to pick one that worked, and I tried it on all my friends to make sure it worked on all of our skin tones. I really got to play. There’s so much to choose from, and you can mix different textures with different colors and different greens in different eye shadows. I learned so much about the detail of makeup and what makes things look different. What makes it apply different is really important. Every little detail is important.”

This is Rihanna’s second foray into the fashion world this year. She recently unveiled her River Island collection at London Fashion Week.

Take the guess work out of creating the trendy pout and check out this easy to follow guide to nude lips!

Pink or Brown?

The first step in approaching a nearly naked lip is choosing which color you’d like to use. Pink-ish nudes tend to be brighter and harder to pull off, on the other hand brown-ish nude shades are subtle and more natural looking. If you’re undecided, grab a shade in between the two in a mid-tone pink brown like MAC Créme in Your Coffee.

Next, choose your desired finish. If you want an opaque lip, choose a creamier formula like a cremesheen. For a lighter wash of color, choose a gloss or dab on a satin finish formula.

Lipstick or Foundation?

You can use many products to create a nude lip. If you want to go the traditional route, use a lip pencil and lipstick combination. To save on costs, use your foundation or concealer with a stippling brush to mute out your kisser, then apply a gloss on top. If you’re looking for an all in one product, brush on a lip tar in Interlace by OCC.

Get Nude!

1. The first thing you should do is exfoliate your lips. Nude lips will bring out every crack and crevice if you don’t make sure to smooth them out. Rub your lips with a warm washcloth or brush them with a toothbrush.

2. Foundation and concealer will dry your lips out so be sure to apply a thick layer of lip balm and let it soak in before the next steps.

3. Apply your chosen nude color with fingers or a brush. For flawless coverage, dab a damp beauty blender on your lips with your favorite foundation. Finish with gloss for a glamorous pout, or leave your lips matte for an effortless look.

4. Apply color to your face. Make sure to have some color on your face so your new nude lips don’t make you look dead. A pop of pink on the cheek, or a sultry smokey eye is the perfect complement.

5. Highlight your cupids bow with a shimmery shadow or a powder highlight. The highlight will add much needed dimension to your lips and the illusion of a plumper pout.

This Christmas, Rihanna escorted Chris Brown to the Lakers game in LA, where she was effortlessly stunning in an all black outfit. Her pixie haircut and red lips were the perfect compliment to this chic look.

We’ve prepared a little cheat sheet on how to steal this look!

Cropped sleeveless turtleneck 

Check out this fitted, cropped, sleeveless turtleneck from American Apparel for $30. It looks identical to the top RiRi rocked courtside.

Skinny Black Knit Pants

Rihanna jeans fit her like a glove. Try out this inexpensive option from Forever 21 for $23.

High Heeled Sandals

These sexy strappy heels give Rihanna’s Manolo Blahnik Chaos Sandals a run for their money. For only $100, Steve Madden makes a pair comparable to the ones she strutted in.

Gold Collar Necklace

With the simplicity of the Unapologetic singer’s look, a statement piece of jewelry is in order. Consider this beautiful $138 Dannijo on-trend necklace for your Rihanna-inspired look.

Red Lips

Finish off your look by applying a gorgeous red lip. MAC’s Russian Red ($15) is an intense red that mimics the color Rihanna’s pout.

Check out our Vixen Guide to Red Lips to help you achieve a perfect pout a la Rihanna.

It’s time to ditch the notion that blue eyeshadow is too 80′s. Blue eyeshadow is the perfect complement to the icy, winter weather and really makes brown eyes pop! The cool hue is coming back in style with celebs like Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, Estelle and Ciara all sporting the trend. Let this guide steer you to the blue side and help you rock royal lids this winter.

NYX- IRISES 

Try out this icy, cool color from NYX for only $5. Blues really complement warm tones. Dab this shadow on the lid with a shadow brush for a fashionable look. 

Maybelline Color Tattoo – Tenacious Teal

Achieve a standout look with this creamy, silky shadow from Maybelline. Color tattoo’s are notorious for being long-wearing, pigmented and affordable. For only $6.99, grab your blue-toned gel shadow. For added intensity, layer another blue shadow on top.

Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream 20 Intense Blue

Similar to the Maybelline Color Tattoo, Make Up For Ever’s Aqua creams are long lasting cream-based shadows. If you’re looking for a highly pigmented, waterproof formula, look no further than Make Up For Ever Aqua Creams. Aqua Creams come in 22 vibrant shades for $23 each.

Tip: Use a stiff synthetic brush to create a winged shadow look that will stay all day.

MAC Electric Eel

Be bold in this striking cool-toned shadow. MAC is notorious for quality shadows, and this blendable color is no exception for $15. Electric Eel is a satin, bright blue shade with a shimmery finish. If a blue lid is too much, try swiping it in the crease for a bold accent to your look.

Tip: Pair your shadow with black cream winged liner for a Vixen-approved look.

Urban Decay 24/7 Liquid Liner – Radium

If blue eyeshadows are a bit too bold for your taste, work some blue into your routine by lining your eyes with Urban Decay’s 24/7 waterproof liquid liner in Radium. These liners are available in a rainbow of colors and give you a lot of bang for your buck ($19).

Once you apply the liner, it won’t move, making it perfect for locking that blue into place. The ultra-fine brush allows for additional control.

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil – Pacific

NYX jumbo eye pencils are great multipurpose tools at an unbeatable price. For just $4.50, get a blendable cream shadow, a colorful eye liner or a sticky eye shadow base. Allow any shadow you apply on top to dazzle by laying down a foundation of NYX jumbo pencil, or wear it alone as a liner or shadow. Try out this light blue shimmery shade for a subtle pop of color.

Make Up Forever Aqua Shadow Pencil – Matte Navy Blue

Bright colors aren’t the only way to add blue into your makeup, try out Make Up For Ever’s Aqua Shadow pencil in a matte navy blue formula. This dark blue can be smudged out for a smokey look or blended onto the lid for a subtle pop of blue. The jumbo stick allows for quick application of color and promises to be waterproof and creaseproof for $20.

MAC Hi-Def Cyan Loose Pigment

Shake this glittery loose pigment onto your lids for a chic, icy look this winter. Loose pigments can be used for a multitude of reasons for just $22. Try out this shimmery hue as a liner, a shadow or a highlight.

Vixen Tip: Use with a dampened brush or lash adhesive glue for an intense look.

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara – Royal Blue

For a unique pop of blue, give your boring black mascara a rest and opt for a royal blue. If you want a subtle hint of blue, try out this mascara on its own for $5.19. If you really want the color to pop, prep your lashes with a white primer, then swipe on a few coats of blue mascara.

We’ve all been there. Three o’clock is rolling around and our perfect morning makeup is beginning to slide off our faces. Instead of lugging your whole makeup collection to work, lighten your load and refresh your makeup with these 5 simple steps!

We all try to keep oil at bay with powder. But instead of caking on the layers, blot your face with blotting papers first. Out of papers? Rip facial tissue in half and press onto oily areas. The blotting papers absorb the oil and leave your makeup on.

Also, carry a few q-tips with you and blot the concealer underneath the eye. The cotton bud will help minimize the dreadful creases concealer tends to create and leave your concealer looking blended and fresh.

If you’re going out for happy hour after work, use your cotton swabs to smudge out your eyeliner. This will instantly give the eyes a smokey, sultry, nighttime look.

Touch up your foundation with a double duty powder. While touch-up-powders are great for a quick fix, opt for a powder with a creamier consistency that dries to a matte finish. Apply with a large powder brush for lighter coverage.

MAC Cosmetics makes a great long lasting powder that will give you an instantly perfected look and will also minimize clutter in your makeup bag.

Add some life back into your face by dabbing lipstick to the backs of your cheekbones. If you’ve ever used a cream blush, you know the beautiful, dewy finish it achieves. Recreate the glow with what’s in your lipstick tube. Take any rosy color onto fingertips and gently tap in the color, being sure to blend  thoroughly.

After you’ve applied color to your cheeks, blot your lips with a tissue and re-apply your lip color for a kissable pout.

Mascara is one of those beauty products that can’t be touched up once it’s been applied, leading to midday-lazy-lashes. Perk up your eyes by looking straight ahead and pressing lashes to your eyelid with your index finger pointed towards the nose, then look down. Hold this position for 30 seconds and release.

You’ll find your lashes will lift right up, and if you’re wearing a set of falsies, this will give them a much needed boost.

After these quick steps, the only thing left to do is to set your makeup! Spritz a charged water or finishing spray over your face to protect your makeup and refresh your face, leaving you with a dewy and awakened finish.

For a cheaper alternative to high-end spray, pour witch hazel in a travel sized bottle and mist your face when you feel the oil creeping up.

Yesterday (Dec. 5), MAC Viva Glam unveiled a new ad campaign featuring Ms. Minaj surrounded by her previous shade and the new lavender addition. Dressed in a summery yellow bathing suit and towering pink pumps the American Idol rapper floats in a pool while shining her million dollar smile.

Miss Minaj has partnered with Viva Glam before with Ricky Martin. The line features a lip conditioner by Martin, Nicki’s Barbie doll pink lipstick and now her newest lavender addition.

Mac Viva Glam advocates for  HIV/AIDS research and proceeds from the line go to research programs. The lavender shade will launch in February and we can’t wait to get out hands on a tube!-Jasmine Aspinall

Finding a red lipstick is an intimidating task. The color is bold, bright and often too scary to try. But when done right, red is a classic color that exudes fierce confidence and glamour. Here our favorite celebrities—Beyoncé, Rihanna, Jennifer Hudson, Penelope Cruz and Kim Kardashian—give us red looks to perfect at home. --April Dawn Ricchuito

Do you look better in gold or silver jewelry? If gold is your favorite accessory, you’ll want to try reds that have peach, orange, or coral tones, like the shades rocked by Penelope Cruz and Rihanna.

Tip: Apply red lip color with a brush. Apply consistently to increase intensity.
Try: MAC’s Ruby Woo, Lady Danger, or Chili; NYX’s Black Label in Cherry.

If you look best in silver, you’ll want to try cooler reds. These reds have blue tones, like the one Rihanna’s bestie Melissa is wearing.

Tip: Use a liner all over your lip to help the color stay put and keep it from bleeding.
Try: MAC’s Russian Red; NYX Black Label in Tribute to Marilyn.

Kim Kardashian, Beyoncé, and Jennifer Hudson prove that deep reds or brick reds look great on anyone.

Tip: When wearing a red lip, keep your eye makeup neutral and light.
Try: NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Forbidden Red, NYX Round Lipstick in Snow White, or Revlon Matte in Really Red.

Purple lips are the rage right now and have been spotted on celebs from Rihanna to Scarlett Johansson. It’s a pop of color that works with any look, day or night. Fair skin tones should lean towards a wine-colored purple, while medium skin tones look best in pale purple, lavender or a pinkish purple. Darker skin tones can wear any shade of purple but the darker purples look incredible. Always remember to cover any blemishes when flaunting a purple lip—this shade brings out any red in your skin tone!

Check out pretty in purple pics below– April Dawn Ricchuito

For a lip like Rihanna’s, try Lime Crime’s Airbone Unicorn. This pairs perfectly with the yellow in Rihanna’s complexion. Khloe Kardashian rocks the purple lip trend unlike any other. To get her look, check out Manic Panic Deadly Night or Makeup Forever’s #15 in Pearly Violet. Use NYX’s African Queen over it for added shine. For LeToya Luckett’s pretty purple, try MAC Pro Longwear Lip Creme in Goes and Goes. 

Keri Hilson, Solange and Estelle’s pouts are an electric purple bordering on pink. Try MAC’s Violetta, Rebel or Up the Amp.

If you want to walk on the dark side with a vampy varnish like Kat Graham or Azaleia Banks, try MAC’s Yung Rapunxel lipstick. If you aren’t quite ready to wear a bold purple lip, or want a subdued look for daytime, try a gloss that gives a subtle wash of color. Galaxy Chic by BH Cosmetics is a total steal; NARS Larger than Life lipgloss in Born This Way is a pretty lavender hue;  NYX’s African Queen looks fabulous on darker skin tones; and Clinique’s Almost Lipstick in Black Honey is the perfect sheer deep crimson.

This week, the Young Money diva unveiled her new MAC Viva Glam Nicki Lipglass in London. She mixes fab with philanthropy, as proceeds from the sales of the new gloss will be given to AIDS research and causes.

While you’re on the Nicki train, be on the look out for her new three-episode docu-series Nicki Minaj: My Truth on E!, premiering Sunday, Nov. 4 at 10:30 p.m EST.–Stacy-Ann Ellis