Monica Bellucci

Sometimes we think the term "screen siren" was coined specifically to describe Monica Bellucci. The Italian icon, who looks more stunning at the age of 47 than most starlets do at half her age, is still inspiring the beauty world with her sultry style. Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana launched an entire lipstick collection this month completely inspired by (and with input from) her.

So, we guess it's fitting that Monica's essential beauty product is lip color. "I always wear lipstick. I would not feel fully dressed without it," she says. "The most attractive thing about a woman wearing a strong lip shade is the boldness and vivacity of her look and the woman wearing it must know she looks fantastic. I usually choose a lip color that expresses my mood. I love to wear an audacious, vibrant color to lift my mood and make me feel ready to take on anything, and nothing signifies dynamism and fearless beauty like a bright diva red."

That's all well and good, but as we've stated many times before, a bold lip can be so high-maintenance. Monica Bellucci to the rescue! She's got a genius tip for keeping that lippie in place: "I love to intensify the color when I apply red lipstick so that the pigment is really striking and beautiful. I usually apply a really light coat of pressed powder between coats – it really helps the color lay properly so it doesn’t slide or bleed as your day wears on. And when you get compliments about your lipstick toward the end of the day, you know it works."

Dolce & Gabbana Voluptuous Lipstick in Natural Monica and Italian Monica, $32 each, available at Saks Fifth Avenue; Le Métier De Beauté Visage de Soie Finishing Powder, $40, available at Nordstrom.

Photos: Via Dolce & Gabbana, Nordstrom; AGF s.r.l./Rex/Rex USA