Lorde knows how many lipsticks it takes to create the perfect off-black—her Grammys look involved not one, but three after-midnight shades, because not even a goth pop princess dares to wear a jet-black mouth. Instead, try blending a true black lipstick like MAC Lipmix in Black over a rich cranberry red like Nars Pure Matte Lipstick in Terre de Feu. The latter is an exceptionally pretty matte Merlot on its own terms, but when cooled with a dab of Lipmix (with fingers, or with a brush for precision), it goes from a creamy purple Bordeaux to black rose [1]. Add as little or as much black as you’d like to suit your skin tone and attitude. You can actually use the black component to vamp up the tone of any other lipstick in your cache, per Kyleigh Kuhn’s suggestion. Nose ring optional.

Photos by Mathea Millman.