In the highly anticipated series finale of The Summer I Turned Pretty, the debate over Team Conrad versus Team Jeremiah temporarily ceded the spotlight to a single, powerful beauty choice: Belly Conklin’s bold red lipstick. This wasn’t merely a decorative touch; it was a potent symbol of her profound evolution from an innocent, beach-loving girl into a self-possessed young woman ready to define her own future. The intense blue-red hue, which survived a whirlwind night of emotional twists and turns, served as a chic, Parisian-inspired statement, signaling to the audience that Belly was stepping into her own power. While fans speculated endlessly over the exact brand and shade, the show’s lead makeup artist confirmed the exclusive details behind this pivotal beauty moment, revealing the classic product and technique used to achieve its long-lasting, sophisticated finish.
The Significance of the Crimson Statement
The decision to feature a dramatic red lip in the series finale marked a critical inflection point for Belly’s character arc. Throughout the series, her makeup palette has traditionally mirrored her youthful, sun-drenched environment: natural, rosy, and effortlessly beachy. The sudden introduction of a high-impact crimson, as she prepares for a pivotal night, acts as a visual shorthand for her maturity and newfound confidence. It symbolizes her transition from being a girl perpetually caught between two loves to a young woman making decisive choices about her heart and her life.
In the world of beauty and fashion, a red lip is the ultimate signifier of female empowerment and classic sophistication. For Belly, applying this shade was a deliberate, quiet act of self-possession. It’s a non-verbal declaration that she is no longer waiting for others to define her. The shade itself—a classic blue-red—is notoriously bold, reflecting a boldness of character that Belly has grown into, signaling that she is ready to face the emotional drama ahead with a fresh, adult sense of self.
Unmasking the Iconic Shade
Immediately following the episode’s release, fans and beauty editors alike engaged in intense speculation over the exact lipstick worn by actress Lola Tung, who plays Belly. A brief, tantalizing shot of her applying the product showed a sleek, black bullet, leading some to initially guess a deep garnet shade from Nars. This confusion highlighted the power of “TV magic” and the lengths to which fans will go to replicate a character’s pivotal style moment.
However, the show’s Makeup Department Head, Tara Sall, provided the exclusive, definitive answer. The iconic, long-wearing lip was achieved using a classic, beloved product: MAC Lipstick in Russian Red. This shade is revered in the beauty community for its vibrant, true blue-red pigment, which offers a timeless and universally flattering finish. The choice of Russian Red is particularly notable, as it is a distinctly classic, almost cinematic colour that perfectly underscores the weight and finality of the finale’s events. It solidifies the look as one rooted in classic, high-impact beauty standards rather than fleeting contemporary trends.
The Art of a Long-Wearing, Parisian Finish
Achieving the perfect, high-impact red lip—especially one that needs to endure boozy drinks, emotional conversations, and late-night drama, as Belly’s did—requires specific artistry. The lead makeup artist, Tara Sall, employed a technique designed not only for longevity but also to give the lip a softly blurred, sophisticated quality often associated with effortless Parisian style.
The process began with the direct application of the MAC Russian Red lipstick, ensuring full, saturated coverage. To lock the colour in place and achieve a matte, slightly diffused edge, Sall used a classic professional trick: setting the colour with a translucent veil setting powder. This technique removes any excess shine and dramatically increases the wear time, making the lipstick essentially bulletproof for a full night of filming. This method allowed the rich colour to maintain its striking intensity while avoiding the harsh, overly defined lines that can sometimes make a bold lip feel dated. The final result was a perfect balance: a lip that was undeniably powerful yet possessed an enviable, lived-in quality, embodying the effortless chic of a young woman who knows exactly what she wants.
From Teen Gloss to Woman’s Power Hue
Belly’s switch to a defining red lip serves as a capstone on her aesthetic and personal journey throughout the entire series. In earlier seasons, her beauty looks were defined by minimal skin products, glossy lips, and a focus on sun-kissed health, reflecting her status as a high schooler on summer break. The red lip, by contrast, is a grown-up hue; it is not about blending in or achieving a “barely-there” look, but about commanding attention and expressing inner strength.
This cosmetic evolution perfectly mirrors the complexity of her emotional growth. She is no longer the girl confused by the brothers’ affections; she is a character actively navigating her future and accepting the consequences of her choices. The bold lip is her metaphorical shield—a final layer of armour that signifies her newfound emotional resilience. For viewers, this beauty choice provides aspirational inspiration, demonstrating that a change in lipstick can be just as potent and meaningful as any major plot twist, making this specific makeup moment one of the most memorable and stylistically significant of the entire series.
