margaret o’connor

lady gaga’s milliner

mac retro matte liquid lipcolour in feels so grand, £18

I used to be too scared to wear red lipstick; that bold, striking colour just had me spooked. But as I ventured into my thirties, I became more comfortable in my own skin and discovered that red lipstick was in fact my (not so) secret friend. It wasn’t love at first sight, though – I must have tried at least 10 different ones. If I got the shade right, the staying power wasn’t spot-on. If it lasted for the long haul, it looked a bit odd against my skin tone. I needed a lipstick that looked like it belonged on my lips and would stay put for hours. With my own millinery business to run, some days I don’t even have time to check myself in the mirror.

The lightbulb moment happened when my friend, a make-up artist, recommended MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour in Feels So Grand. The combination of its deep ruby pop of brightness and beautiful matte finish complemented my pale skin tone and I knew I’d found the one. I wear it with lip liner and a touch of moisturising lip balm – because it’s matte, dryness is inevitable – but the plus is that I only need to reapply it after I eat food or have a drink.

I feel extremely confident and sexy when I wear it. There’s nothing sexier than a lip imprint on a glass, right? But it has to be red. A pink wouldn’t quite offer the same sensuality. It’s that fearless feeling that keeps me coming back for more. In fact, you will never see me without my MAC Retro Matte – even on a casual night. You never know who you might meet when you step outside, so I always have my sidekick in my handbag and on my lips.