Whichever mood you choose – demure to dramatic – this season’s chicest lipstick shades show it off beautifully.
Whichever mood you choose – demure to dramatic – this season’s chicest lipstick shades show it off beautifully.
A great lipstick can telegraph your attitude – and turn heads – like no other makeup move. “It’s all about the statement lip right now,” Dior makeup artist Daniel Martin says. The season’s must-wear bullets come in rich nudes, playful pinks, vampy reds, and in an array of textures: sheer, creamy, satiny and velvety matte. It’s never been easier to find a shade for your complexion and comfort level, Daniel says. Read on for tips on picking the right formula so you can confidently put on your game face.
OPAQUE NUDES
It’s not just bright colours that command attention; a creamy flesh tone can pack a powerful punch.
PICK IT To go light but lively, use your natural lip colour as a guide. “If your bottom lip is pinkish, pick a buff shade with a hint of pink,” Daniel says. If your lip tone is darker, go for a yellowy beige with warmth to it (think peach or apricot nudes). “These cancel out your natural lip hue without washing you out,” he says. Texture is everything too. Skip over mattes and try a creamy or satin finish. “A soft sheen gives this look some life,” says celebrity makeup artist Fiona Stiles.
PREP IT Light lips call attention to flaky bits, so start with your scrub.
APPLY IT Swipe colour straight from the tube, Daniel says. “Don’t be overly precise – it should look real.”
TRY Shu Uemura Tint in Balm in Nude Therapy ($42), Clinique Pop Lip Colour + Primer in Nude Pop ($35, Sephora), Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Stark Naked ($29) and Innisfree Real Fit Lipstick in Warm Apricot ($20)
SPORTY PINK
The goal: A rosy cast that looks like your own lip colour, only pumped up and prettier.
PICK IT To find your perfect shade, choose one that’s a little pinker than your natural lip tone, Daniel says. That can mean anything from petal pink to raspberry. Fuchsia also has a vibrant vibe. Just avoid the nearly neon versions. As for texture, go for one with a creamy finish that’s slightly translucent.
PREP IT Dab on your clear balm before you apply any colour. A slick base will help sheer out the pigment even more while keeping your lips hydrated and healthy.
APPLY IT Using your fingertip, press the rosy colour onto your lips. Then top with a bit more balm, Fiona says. The effect is a natural, dewy stain.
TRY Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Crush ($29), Burt’s Bees Lipstick in Fuchsia Flood ($26, Sephora), Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Backstage Bambi ($32, Sephora) and Etude House Dear My Blooming Lipstalk in PK005 ($17.90)
PHOTOGRAPHY CLAIRE BENOIST / STYLING ALMA MELENDEZ - HALLEY RESOURCES
