New gadget that picks your perfect shade of lippy
I AM not adventurous when it comes to make-up and would love to try a brighter shade of lipstick. How can I find the right shade?
Eliza, 40, London
NOTHING brightens the face as quickly as a slick of lipstick — providing it’s in the right shade. get the correct colour and it can perk up tired skin, make teeth look whiter and light up your face like a Christmas tree.
But choosing the best shade for our skin tone is a tricky business and something most get wrong.
As a beauty writer i get sent lots of lipsticks to test, but still struggle to find the perfect colour.
So when i heard about a new lipstick matching service that launches this Wednesday at Boots, i was keen to try it myself and hear a reader’s verdict.
Boots says it will revolutionise the way women buy lipstick, determining the exact shade of foundation and lipstick to suit our skin tone in a matter of seconds.
The consultant gently rested a special colour-measuring device (a high-tech gizmo that looks not unlike a TV remote control) against my jawline on each side to assess my precise skin tone and colour intensity. This information was then used to find a foundation match and from that base identify the most flattering shade of lipstick from a range of 43 colours that cover the spectrum from light pink to dark plum.
These are available in No7’ s Moisture Drench (£9.95) and Stay Perfect (£9.95) formulations — both are good for more mature skin as they aren’t drying.
it is also worth saying that this service is free and there is no obligation to buy.
in theory, there is nothing to stop you getting the match done and going to buy a lipstick at another counter.
So, does it work? i have spent the summer wearing subtle nude shades, which i thought suited me.
i was surprised, then, when the device told me i should be wearing a warm, deep pink — a colour i would normally run a mile from.
i have been dutifully wearing my new Raspberry Truffle lipstick for the past week, however, and have been delighted to find it freshens up my face and means i don’t need to wear as much blusher.
Plus, i’ve had rave reviews from friends. So, a positive experience for me, but what did our tester think?
ELIZA SAYS:
‘The lip colour they chose for me is far from what i’d normally go for — in fact, well out of my comfort zone — but it brightened up my face.
‘i normally wear lipsticks from MAC, Bobbi Brown and Chanel and have had a tendency to go for light, pale and nude colours.
This made me realise i was not as limited in my options as i previously thought. i can have a bit more fun with colour and try brighter, stand-out shades.
‘in the past, i’ve struggled to work out which colour will enhance my features without making me look clownish.
i think every woman dreads picking lipsticks that are wrong for her. Bright and fun, yes. Circus clown, no. So it’s great to have some professional help.’
ELSA SAYS:
SIMILAR shades that might suit eliza would be Rimmel Apocalips Matte lip lacquer in Burning lava, £6.49; Bourjois Rouge edition 12 heures in Rose Vanity, £6.99; Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in india intrigue, £7.99 (all available nationwide in department stores and Boots).
THE No 7 Match Made Lipstick Service launches on Wednesday at Boots stores nationwide.
ASK ELSA: Did a lipstick change your life? Share your stories of much-loved or long-lost lipsticks. Write to me today at Elsa@dailymail.co.uk, attaching a picture, please.