Oscars 2014: Red Lips Were a Winning Beauty Trend of the Night!

The perfect beauty complement to the Oscars red carpet? A red lip, of course! For the 86th Annual Academy Awards stars like Emma Watson, Anna Kendrick, and Naomi Watts reminded all of us why the crimson lip is such a classic look -- it works on everybody, and adds a touch of Old Hollywood glamour to even the most-modern ensembles. "We wanted to make a statement with the makeup, and show a more playful side while still keeping true to her classic beauty," says Kendrick's makeup artist Sara Glick, who used Dior's Fluid Stick in Open Me ($35; dior.com starting March 15) on the star. "I wanted her to stop the show by surprising everyone with a bright lip." Mission accomplished!

If you want to follow in each stars' lead, line your lips with a nude pencil rather than searching for an exact match. Many red lip liners can appear darker than your lipstick and create the dreaded stenciled effect, but a nude pencil will blend in with your natural lip color and provide a flat base for the hue to adhere. When working with statement lipsticks, make sure to apply the color using a lip brush to create the most-precise shape possible, then clean up around the edges with a concealer that matches your skin color to hide any unexpected smudges.

Want more Academy Awards style? See all the 2014 Oscars red carpet arrivals in our gallery!