LIP SERVICE
A COAT OF LIP COLOUR IS AN EASY WAY TO GIVE YOUR LOOK, AND MOOD, A LIFT. JULIETTE WINTER CURATES THE SEASON’S BEST HUES.
Give your look and mood an instant lift with one of these new-season lip colours.
THERE’S SOMETHING A LITTLE MAGICAL about lip colour. Long before screen sirens like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn fashioned a painted pout as the go-to for instant glamour, it was considered almost as precious as currency in Elizabethan England. Queen Elizabeth I herself is said to have believed that rouge lipstick had lifesaving powers and was rumoured to have been wearing nearly a half-inch of her signature scarlet when she died (ironically, most lipsticks were high in toxic lead back then). When the mercury dips each winter, fashion (more often than not) dictates that we should reach for colour as a mood-lifting beauty accessory. “Stained berry, red and dusky rose lips are going to be huge,” says Alphie Sadsad, national artistry lead at Sephora. “It gives a cool, undone finish without looking like you’re trying too hard.” Bang on trend is the classic red shade, Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Lip Creme Lipstick in Goddess ($43), the berry-toned Antipodes Moisture-boost Natural Lipstick in Oriental Bay Plum ($29), and Mecca Max Lip Whip in Caramel ($25), a richly pigmented pinky-brown balm-like formula that glides on with its cushioned pompom-style applicator. If you’re in a rush to apply colour, Alphie advises using a matte formula to achieve a stain-like finish. “Use your index finger to press the pigment directly into the lip. Repeat if you want to achieve a deeper hue.” The satin Estée Lauder Pure Color Desire Lipstick in Rouge Excess ($60) makes this technique almost effortless thanks to the 25 per cent pigment in the formula. If you always apply straight from the bullet, stick to pretty pink and nudes such as Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Ultra Lipstick in Rose Aurora ($48), which has a light metallic sheen. However, if you prefer opaque colour, then precision is required. “If you have uneven lips, try a lip brush,” says multi award-winning Sydney makeup artist, Sarah Laidlaw. “A quarter of a millimetre will make all the difference to the shape. Stand back from the mirror to check the balance of your lip shape when your lips are relaxed because that’s how other people will see you.” For those keen to try something new, this season’s ‘it’ look for lips is a soft-focus edge, a technique that creates an effortless French-style aesthetic and is, happily, dead easy to do. “Apply your lipstick about 3mm in from your lip line, then use a very small fluffy brush to smoosh the colour up to the lip line,” says Sarah. “This will leave you with a soft blurred effect on the edge.” Matte lips have had their moment in the spotlight, but gloss is slowly making a comeback with finishes that have a hint of shine, such as Bobbi Brown Crushed Liquid Lip in Big Apple ($40) with its on-trend glossy sheen. “Powdery velvet finishes will take second place to glossy textures this season,” says Alphie. “Think of it as the matte lip 2.0, a more effortless application that won’t dry you out as much.” We love the brown-berry shade of Givenchy Le Rouge Mat Lip Color in Pourpre Défilé ($59), in a velvet matte formula that feels soft and light but has an opaque finish. If you’re prone to dryness then you’ll need to smooth lips before you apply any kind of colour. “Try a little lip ritual — combine sugar with olive or avocado oil and gently rub on the lips,” says Cindy Luken, founder of Sydney-based Luk Beautifood. Wash it off, pat dry and follow with a nourishing lip balm, such as Pure Papaya Care Papaya Lips ($5.95), or Estée Lauder Pure Colour Envy Lip Repair Elixir ($45), which can be used as an overnight lip mask. Both matte and gloss lippies have a place in your purse because your choice might depend entirely on the outfit or occasion. “You don’t want a high gloss lip if you’re outdoors with lots of breeze as your hair may leave strings of colour across your face,” says Sarah. “And you don’t want a matte lip if it’s cold and dry, as your lips will end up looking like the Sahara!” Even more hotly debated than texture are the ingredients that go into making lipstick (particularly since FDA tests found that 400 lipsticks contained traces of lead). According to Cindy, some of the key ingredients traditionally used in lipsticks include synthetic oils and waxes derived from coal, shale or petroleum, synthetic colours and flavours, phthalates, and chemical fixatives and preservatives. Natural lipsticks are made with nourishing oils and mineral pigments. We love Luk Lip Nourish Sheer Lipstick in Tea Rose ($29.95), a flattering rose with a brown base, and Dr Hauschka Lipstick in Paeony ($49), a stained berry shade. Whatever formula, colour or texture you choose, there is one notable piece of advice from the makeup pros that always applies: wear your colour with confidence. “I say embrace what makes you feel great!” says Sarah.
“Powdery velvet finishes will take second place to gloss textures this season.”