Best lipstick looks for summer: 16 Beauty Panel tips for making bright lipstick colours last
This season it’s all about the statement lip. Moving away from the darker hues of fall, designer after designer sent models down the spring runways wearing vibrant shades of lip colour. From Prada to Rochas to Dries Van Noten, the statement lip was certainly the beauty statement of the season.
When done right, the statement lip can look stunning, but it can be tricky to find the right colour for your skin tone. And when you’ve found that perfect colour, how do you make sure it stays on all day (or night) long? Luckily, with a little help from the Beauty Panel, we have all the tips and tricks you’ll need to find the best lipstick out there—and to keep it on your lips.
Challenge 11: The statement lip is a big trend this season. How do you make your lipstick colour stand out and last?
Colour-wise, bright-pink, fuchsia and coral tones top the list of the best lipsticks to try this season, with Maybelline’s new Vivids collection and Obessive Compulsive Cosmetics’ bright liptars appearing in many of our panelist’s answers. If you’re already well-versed in wearing bold lipstick colours, why not take your look to the next level with an ombré application? Bold n Beautiful Makeup’s Janella Panchamsingh, Alison Leong from Alison*Elle and Tess Lopez from Makeup By Tess all show you how to apply two colours at once for an on-trend look. Plus, Sandra D Sobon from Moms Makeup Stash has a great tip on how to ensure easy application of bold lipstick colours. Ready to read about the best lipsticks and bright colours for spring? Read on.
JJ Cowan
Toronto | Secrets From Your Girlfriends
Early last fall I was feeling a tad blah with the weather change and began searching through my makeup bag to see if anything would fit my fancy and bring some life to my dual state. As I was rummaging through I came across a stick of Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in “Dragon Girl” that I had purchased on a whim during a recent counter visit and thought “why not?” Well, this “what the heck moment” changed the landscape of my face forever and the results that transpired was a lip with pop and personality. Up until this point my lips had been a regular in the realm of glossy pinks, neutrals and berry shades but I had found my salvation and forever will be a statement lip girl.
Currently, my collection of statement lip colours has grown in epic proportions and includes pretty much every Nars Matte Lip Pencil that exists along with several members of the Nars Satin Lip Pencil family. Statement lips can be a tricky endeavour because it is all about finding the right colour, texture and application tool that works right for you. I would start with evaluating your skin tone and work backwards by matching the depth of the statement lip with the tone of your skin. As a result of being pale, I tend to move towards a bright orange/red shade like Nars “Red Square.” I drift away from deeper reds because they make me feel dark but I absolutely adore the way a deep-berry lip looks on olive complexions—it just works so well. One thing to remember about using a matte lip pencil is they have a tendency to dry your lip out and clump, but you can help eliminate this issue by applying a very light layer of lip balm to the lip area before you apply your colour. This provides your lip with much needed moisture without compromising the matte lipstick application. As for tools, I find lip pencils are really the only way to go because it’s a clean and easy application —who wants to fuss with numerous tools when applying a lip color? Not me!
Products used: Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in “Red Square”
Janella Panchamsingh
Toronto | Bold n Beautiful Makeup
Creating a bold lip can sometimes be challenging. You have to know which colours best complement your skin tone and you also have to keep in mind the atmosphere around you. Given the fact that I work in the cosmetics industry, bold lips are always welcome! I love wearing bright purple/fuchsia lips as they make me look refreshed and daring. Here are my tips and products I use to complete a bold lip:
Step 1: Make sure the lips are exfoliated and well hydrated. (I used Fresh Sugar Scrub and Jack Black lip balm on mine.)
Step 2: Line your lips with a invisible lip liner. I do this because my lip colour tends to bleed sometimes.
Step 3: Outline your lips with your liner of choice. I used M.A.C “Night Moth” and NYX “Cabaret.”
Step 4: Saturate your lip brush with your lip colour. I used OCC liptar in “Nylon” along the perimeter of my lips, and painted overtop the liner for a deep-purple hue. In the middle of my lips I applied OCC liptar in “Queen” for a slight ombré look.
Step 5: Roll you lips together to properly blend and distribute lip colour.
Tip: For a more matte finish when using a glossier lip colour, blot with a piece of tissue after applying each colour.
Products used: Fresh Sugar Scrub, Jack Black lip balm, Dior Universal lip liner, M.A.C lip liner in “Night Moth,” NYX lip liner in “Cabaret,” Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Liptar in “Nylon” and “Queen”
Sandra D. Sobon
Toronto | Moms Makeup Stash
Bold lips are popping up everywhere and as much as I wanted to jump on the statement lip bandwagon straight away, it did take me a bit of time to get used to this prominent trend. Whether you opt for something classic like red or decide on something trendy like tangerine or fuchsia, statement lips can be such confidence boosters and are also a reflection of your mood and personality.
For this look, I chose a medium-dark pink with blue undertones and a natural sheen. Before applying a bold lipstick, I exfoliate my lips with a lip scrub. If you don’t happen to have a lip scrub, try applying a thick layer of lip balm, and gently scrubbing your lips using a soft toothbrush to slough away any dead skin. This step ensures that you are working on a smooth and even surface. I then line my lips with a lipliner to prevent any “bleeding” outside the lip line. If you don’t have a matching lip liner, you can use a colourless one like I did to extend the wear of your lipstick and prevent feathering. Another option is to use concealer around the lip line. For the rest of my makeup, I decided to keep it pretty neutral, skipping blush, bronzer and eye shadow in the crease, adding only a light shade of shadow to my eyelids, a touch of mascara and liner.
A couple of other things to consider when wearing a bold, intense or bright lip colour:
1) Make sure to pair the lipstick with “less intense” eye makeup since heavy eye makeup will only distract from your lip look.
2) Remember the following when selecting a bold shade: Blue-based colours suit most complexions but look especially good on brunettes, while pinks & oranges are great for blondes.
3) If you aren’t feeling comfortable, just ease into it…. start off with a brighter gloss and slowly work your way to applying a bolder shade of lipstick with a light hand. You’ll be surprised just how much wearing a bold shade will brighten your day!
Tip: Storing bright lipstick in the fridge makes it easier to apply! The cold temperature actually makes it sharper and easier to manipulate, thus preventing an uneven application.
Products used: Maybelline ColorSensational Vivids Lipstick in “Vivid Rose,” No Bleeding Lips Secret Lip Liner
Dee Thomson
Toronto | Liner and Glitter and Gloss, Oh My!
I love a good statement lip—it’s one of the easiest ways to add a little oomph to your look. This season, I’m crushing on corals and bold pinks, and am having a hard time deciding which one I like best. I’ve been alternating between the two depending on my mood: I love a bright coral lip for adding a little warmth and a tropical feel to my look, but bold-pink is girly and completely eye-catching. Since I’m planning on rocking both of these shades this spring, I’ve got a couple of tips to make them last. First, I like to start off by exfoliating, which you can do by using a lip scrub or by rubbing a toothbrush in circular motions. This ensures the lipstick has a smooth, soft surface to apply to. I also like applying lipliner before my lipstick. I’ve become impartial to clear liner (like No Bleeding Lips) because it’s so universal and foolproof. I like to apply it just around the edge of my lips to avoid feathering and travelling. Finally, I’ll pat on some face powder after my first layer of lipstick, then apply a second layer of pigment on top of this for maximum colour. I find that this really helps to set the lipstick and ensures that it lasts!
Products used: Givenchy Le Rouge in “Mandarine Bolero,” Maybelline ColorSensational Vivids Lipstick in “Hot Plum”
Elaine Atkins
Toronto | Toronto Beauty Reviews
I love the statement lip any time of year but when warmer weather hits it’s a cue to play with bright, fun colours.
Normally when I think of a ‘bold lip’ I think of rich matte lips, but matte lipsticks can be really hard to wear and I think the look can be a bit too heavy in sunnier seasons.
I am loving these new Stila lip crayons—they are a hybrid of a lipstick, gloss and balm. They have the coverage and glide of a creamy lipstick, the shine of a gloss and the moisture of a balm. I’ve been experimenting with a bright pink shade to get me into the spring and summer mood.
My tip for longer lasting lip colour is to line and fill in your lips with a lip liner that matches the lipstick colour exactly or one that matches your lips exactly. Since most of us probably don’t have bright pink lip liners I say find the perfect “nude,” that is, the one that is closest to your own natural lip colour. Apply your statement colour on top and be ready to turn heads!
Products used: Stila After Glow Lip Colour in “Festive Fuchsia”
Tess Lopez
Toronto | Makeup By Tess
Bold statement lips are big this season, but a unique way to sport this spring/summer trend is to wear an ombré lip. We have ombré hair and ombré nails, who said ombré lips can’t join the party?
The lip look I’m wearing today is a wearable ombré lip: a dark pink colour on the outer edge of my lips gradually fade to a lighter pink towards the centre.Not only is this lip cool-looking, it also gives an effect of fuller lips. (Ssshh! A best kept secret!) One of my tips for making this look long-lasting is to use lip liners or matte lipsticks. An alternative is to dab a tiny bit of powder over your lips to increase the staying power.
Products used: Annabelle Twist Up in “Kinky Pink,” M.A.C lipstick in “Angel”
Jennifer Francis
Durham | Spiced Beauty
I will be rocking red lips this spring! I’m currently obsessed with “RiRi Woo” which is from the RiRi Hearts M.A.C collection, created by Rihanna. It’s the perfect blue-based-red for all skin tones. Plus it makes your teeth appear whiter!
If you’re looking for a long-lasting lipstick I would recommend a matte lipstick. You can apply more than one coat without it looking cakey. This lipstick is a Retro Matte finish that is very long lasting! I went five hours without having to reapply.
Product used: M.A.C lipstick in “RiRi Woo”
Rema Benallal
Toronto | The Burgundy Book
A bold lipstick is one of those things that instantly brightens up your face and I believe that it’s the underdog of beauty. So many women focus on a coral bush or a bronzer to make them look a little more alive but it’s surprising how much of a difference a fabulous lipstick can make. My friends know me for sporting a bold lip pretty much every day of the week because to be quite honest, I’m always in too much of a rush in the mornings to layer on the shadows.
In my constant search to find the perfect bold lipstick I look for two things: pigment and staying power. You want your bold lipstick to be fully opaque because otherwise it’ll look like a balm. There’s also nothing worse than putting on your lipstick only to have it transfer between your lips, your coffee cup and your man’s face.
Picking a shade (especially during spring/summer) that’s bold and bright enough to make your lips look fuller is also a great hit when choosing the right lipstick for impact. I was ecstatic to hear that Make Up For Ever had released the Aqua Rouge liquid lipsticks in summer shades because they’re one of the best, long lasting formulas on the market today. They don’t transfer, they’re intense in colour and they come with a gloss for when you want to hydrate and shine. The lipstick shade “#16 Fuchsia” is my new, everyday favourite
Products used: YSL Touché Éclat Foundation, Benefit They’re Real Mascara, Dior Diorskin Nude Tan Paradise Duo in “Coral Glow,” Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge lip colour in “#16 Fuchsia”
Michelle Mullins
Toronto | LipstickRules
Go big or go home. That’s my motto when it comes to choosing a lip colour. Making a statement with lipstick is my go-to look. When I’m wearing a statement lip, I keep the rest of my makeup very subtle—a neutral shade on the eyes, a complementary blush and mascara.
As for colour, I love them all, whether a neon pink or a bright purple. But if there’s one colour I’ve been reaching for most these days, it’s a reddish coral. To apply, I first dab the colour on lightly with my finger or a brush to get the shape I want. I then blot and fill in again right from the tube. I find this method helps the colour last for hours. Alternatively, a lot of brands now have these lip crayons that do it all from one product. Simply line your lips with your desired colour and fill in. Easy peasy. All in all, I encourage everyone to make a statement and grab a bold lipstick colour. Trust me, it’s a lot of fun.
Products used: Annabelle Twist Up Retractable Lip Crayon in “Flirtini,” Dior Diorskin Nude Foundation; Nars blush in “Deep Throat,” L’Oréal Voluminous Mascara, Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in “Birthday Suit”
Ellie Somfelean
Montreal | My Beauty Box
A vibrant magenta would have been the last colour I would reach for in the summer, when I usually tend to gravitate towards oranges, corals and warm pinks. But there is something about the way this fuchsia-purple looks against sun-kissed skin. The colour itself is bright and vibrant and I adore liptars as they are very concentrated. It’s also easy to apply: I line my lips with a brush dipped in the product, fill in the colour and that’s it. It’s like having an all-in-one product! I don’t bother with gloss, as the natural oils provide enough hydration to keep me happy and prevent bleeding.
The secret about a bright lip is to keep the rest of the face quite neutral and take time to apply the lip product. You want crisp, clean lines that follow the lip’s natural contour. Use concealer as a base, and apply a liner and translucent powder outside the lip line in order to prevent bleeding. I tend avoid glossy or very hydrating formulas when choosing a bold lip colour as they are prone to bleeding and wearing off fast. I like matte formulas or liptars because they wear off gradually, turning into a natural looking stain, versus long lasting lipsticks which can by drying and flake. Last but not least, always apply the product with a brush!
Products used: Joe Fresh Lip Brush, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Liptar in “Hoochie,” Physicians Formula Eye Booster Eyeliner, Rimmel Scandal Eyes LycraFlex Mascara
Aleeza Agno
Toronto | Stylish & Literate
I love a bright pink lip this season and I’m currently loving the YSL Glossy Stain. It has the vibrancy of a lipstick, the glossy finish of a lip gloss and the longevity of a lip stain. It’s a no fuss lip product that’s perfect for spring.
Products used: YSL Vernis À Lèvres Glossy Stain in “#15 Rose Vinyl”
Genevieve Peeke
Montreal | Gen In The City
My favourite lip colour for this season is definitely bright fuchsia-pink! I love how it just brightens up your whole face and adds a wow factor even when you have no other makeup on. I am currently loving the bright and bold Maybelline Vivids lipsticks collection—it’s perfect for summertime. For long-lasting lip colour on a hot summer day, I’ll apply a lip stain or lip liner under my lipstick. Also, makeup setting spray has become my new best friend and hot weather staple.
Products used: Maybelline ColorSensational Vivids Lipstick in “865 Fuchsia Flash”
Michèle Leung
Toronto | Ruban x Rose
Products used: Blackheart lip liner in “Vamp Red,” C.O. Bigelow Rosebud Salve
Fiona Man
Toronto | Product Wars
For days when I am too lazy to apply eyeshadow and want to look put together, I use a bold lipstick colour. Many people choose red or fuchsia but I like to be a tad different and use ORANGE! Here are some easy steps on making your bold lip colour last all day and night!
What You’ll Need:
Lip balm. You want to make sure your lips are well hydrated so dry patches don’t show underneath your bold lip colour. My all time favourite is Crawford Street Skin Care Mint-Vanilla Lip Balm as it is free from petrochemicals and soothes my chapped lips; Bold matte lipstick. I steer towards matte lipsticks as they tend to be longer lasting. I love using L’Oréal Color Riche in “Neonic Orange” as it is cheap, isn’t drying and has great colour payoff; Tissues, to blot any excessive product from your lips and create a stain. This will allow for your lipstick to wear away evenly; Translucent powder. To increase the longevity of your lipstick, you want to apply translucent powder over top. Nars Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder is a great setting powder that doesn’t dry out your skin or lips; Lip brush. A lip brush will allow for more precise application and a synthetic brush hairs will absorb less product and be easier to clean the lipstick from. Bdellium Tools 546T Square Lip Brush makes is super easy to apply lipstick. It has a large surface area and a square edge to easily follow your lip lines; Eyeshadow blending brush, such as M.A.C 224 Tapered Blending Brush, which can easily pick up and apply powder.
Steps:
Apply lip balm. Apply lipstick to your entire lip using a lip brush. Blot your lips with tissue paper. Swirl an eyeshadow blending brush with a translucent powder and apply it onto your lips. Apply another lipstick straight from the bullet to increase the colour intensity.
Products used: Crawford Street Skin Care Mint-Vanilla Lip Balm, L’Oréal Color Riche in “Neonic Orange,” Nars Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder, Bdellium Tools 546T Square Lip Brush, M.A.C 224 Tapered Blending Brush
Christa Potter
Kawartha Lakes| Perilously Pale
When summer weather starts to appear, pretty soft corals and pinks come out of their winter hibernation. When I want my lips to make more of a statement those soft shades are amped up to the next level to intense orange-reds, bright corals and hot-pinks. For a statement summer lip I turn to vibrant-orange and coral-red lipsticks like Yves Saint Laurent Glossy Stain in “Corail Alla Prima” and Lancôme Rouge in Love lipstick in “Crazy Tangerine.” I also love the entire Maybelline ColorSensational Vivids lipstick line which has incredible bold and bright summer shades with an amazing formula at an affordable price.
When wearing a statement lip you don’t want to worry about your lipstick fading in an unsightly way or migrating all over the place. That’s why selecting bold shades with excellent formulas is of utmost importance. To keep bold colours in their place, a good waterproof lip liner can go a long way. I love the Make Up For Ever Aqua Lip liners. The won’t budge, and if you fill in your entire lip with them—instead of just lining your lips—you can be sure your colour will last all night.
To make sure you don’t end up making that bold statement on your teeth as well be sure to use the “finger trick.”. Just put your finger in your mouth, make sure your lips are wrapped around it, and pull your finger out. All the lipstick that was on the inside of your lips is now removed and you won’t have to worry about that embarrassing transfer to your teeth. And since all eyes are going to be on those lips, make sure they are in optimal condition by gently exfoliating them with a soft cloth or toothbrush and prepping with a hydrating lip treatment like Hourglass Lip Treatment Oil or, my longtime holy grail, Lansinoh Nipple Cream. Yup, I said nipple cream!
Products used:
Yves Saint Laurent Eye Palette in “Marrakesh Sunset,” Yves Saint Laurent Glossy Stain in “Corail Alla Prima,” Yves Saint Laurent Terre Saharienne Matte & Natural Bronzing Powder in “10 Terre Amber,” Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in “10L”
Alison Leong
Vancouver | Alison*Elle
When the weather warms up, so too does my makeup, as I find myself reaching for bolder and brighter shades. I especially love playing with lip colours like coral and neon pink, both of which can be worn together to make lips pop and look extra luscious.
Start by applying one shade around the lip line, and then fill in the middle with the second shade. Use your fingers to blend the colours together creating a gradient, duo-toned effect on your lips.
Products used: M.A.C Lipstick in “Pink Nouveau,” M.A.C Lipstick in “Vegas Volt”
