Make your lips a standout feature with lipstick that demands attention. “As long as you do the necessary prep work, you can wear more or less any colour you choose,” says L’Oreal Paris SA make-up artist Sylvie Hurford. Because pigments in lipsticks tend to reflect and highlight any discolouration or redness in the skin, the simple solution is to prepare your skin with foundation or tinted moisturiser beforehand so you have a clean canvas to work on.
Brights are big
Summer sees us reaching for fruitier, punchier colours. From orange to fuchsia, vivid hues will brighten your look. “You don’t have to be a teenager to wear bright lip shades,” says Linda O’Connell, from Maybelline NY. “The way to wear it successfully is to think of lipstick as a fashion accessory: play it up while you tone down your eye colours with nude tones, fill in your brow to balance the look and add a touch of bronzer on the cheeks.”
The red lip
Red lipstick is a classic. A confident crimson pout is a signal to the world that you’re in charge – strong, yet graceful. Every woman should have one in her make-up arsenal, as unlike trendier tones, reds never go out of style.
Make-up artists assure us there’s a red for everyone. Women with warm, olive complexions can wear fire-engine red, cooler, fair tones should go for cherry red, and dark-skinned women for crimson shades.
Here’s how to create the perfect red mouth:
- Outline lips with a sharp red lip pencil (matching colour is crucial), and fill in the entire mouth to stop bleeding and feathering. (Very moist, glossy formulas tend to shift, so go for matt textures.)
- If your pencil slips, soak a cotton bud in liquid foundation, or concealer, and run it over the smudge.
- Apply red lipstick either directly from the tube or with a lip brush.
- For extra long wear, opt for drier formulations as they last longer.
- To keep lipstick off your teeth, hold your index finger horizontally between lips and teeth and bite down.
“Why not emulate our sisters in New York and Paris who wear red lips as often as they wear heels, and always look incredible,” suggests O’Connell.
Natural look
This is perfect for mature lips. As you get older, your lips get thinner and your lip line starts to wrinkle, making your lipstick “bleed” and feather – this means you could end up with an untidy edge to your lips. Lip liner helps make your lipstick application last longer, make lips appear fuller, and stops it from bleeding.
It’s important to keep lips hydrated and smooth as dry lips will appear wrinkled and cracked. “NYX’s Black Label Lipstick has a hydrating, long-lasting formula, keeping your lips smooth and perfect throughout the day,” says NYX make-up’s Kim-lin Capes from NYX Cosmetics. “Steer clear of metallic lip colours as these will highlight your facial lines. For a natural look, use NYX Black Label Lipstick in Nutmeg (for darker skin tones) and NYX Black Label Lipstick in Bling (for fairer tones).”
Top tips
- Avoid lip colours that are dark red or berry if you have small lips as this will only make them look smaller. Lipsticks in lighter shades or gloss finishes will make lips appear fuller.
- Once you’ve applied your lipstick, DO NOT rub your lips together.
- While make-up artists believe that there’s no such thing as a quick red lip, if you are rushing you can use NYX Jumbo Lip Pencil in Hot red as your lip liner and lipstick, so you’ll only need one product.
Clicks stock an array of lipsticks to suit every outfit and mood. Have fun and choose colours that inspire you to greatness!