How to wear black lipstick IRL
If the Fall 2015 runways were any indication, dark lips were the beauty look of the season. Though many of us swap our pinks and corals for plums and reds like clockwork when fall arrives, this year we noticed the lip colour spectrum sliding over to the darkest end: black. Though it may not be for the faint of heart and one of the most difficult lip colours (shades?) to rock during the day, nothing says high fashion like a glossy black lip. Hey, it’ll get heads turning.
So to our readers who are ready to up the drama factor, we solve your burning questions on how to wear black lipstick. Thanks to these four easy tips, courtesy of our Beauty Panel members, you’ll be rocking one of the season’s biggest trends in a wearable way in no time.
Challenge 105: How do you wear black lipstick? See the answers now! »
Have a beauty question you want to see the panel answer? Send it our way at [email protected]. Read on for the answers to this week’s challenge and for more goodness, get to know all contributors on our Beauty Panel hub page.
Colleen Conroy
Vancouver | Blush Rouge
I must admit black lipstick is a bit of an uncommon look for myself. I’ve applied it on others for photo shoots and also in television and film, but only have I ever worn it on myself maybe one or two times. The look is beautifully dramatic, and definitely a statement for fall. One way I have found to make this look a little more wearable for day-to-day is to use a layered look as opposed to a straight on black lipstick.
Here I have started with a dark purple lip liner that I used to line and fill in. Layering on top of that I’ve used a beautiful deep red lipstick. To top that off, I’ve used a lip topcoat in black. This topcoat is a great idea if you are trying out the black lip trend and want to ease yourself into it as you can layer on top of anything and control the level of darkness that you want to achieve.
Products used: M.A.C lip pencil in “Cyberworld,” M.A.C lipstick in “Studded Kiss,” NYX V’amped Up Lip Top Coat in “Black”
Katie Elwood
Vancouver | Katie Elwood
Dark plum and deep burgundy lipsticks are always fall makeup essentials, but recently, the must-have lip is just a bit darker. Black lipstick is now an edgier option to add to your fall collection. If you are thinking about trying the dark lip trend, here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Prep your lips by exfoliating and hydrating to help get rid of any dryness that might stand out once your lipstick is applied. Line your lips with a dark lip liner; plum or deep red work if you don’t have black. This will give you the right base to start with. Set and layer; apply a thin layer of lipstick, then lightly dust a translucent powder over the lipstick to help hold the colour in place. After setting, lightly apply one more layer and you are ready to go. For the rest of your makeup, keep it simple. Whenever I do a dark lip, I let that be the focus and keep the rest of my makeup very minimal.
Products used: Fresh Sugar Lip Polish, Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment, Garnier BB Cream in “Light to Medium,” Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow Pencil in “Satiny Flesh,” Make Up For Ever Smokey Lash Mascara, Charlotte Tilbury Chic To Cheek Blusher in “First Love,” Make Up For Ever Lipstick in “Satin Black,” Laura Mercier Translucent Powder.
Amy Mckissock
Burlington | Bratty B
When it comes to lipstick no shade is as daring as black, and yet with celebrities such as Rihanna and Gigi Hadid backing the trend, it appears that this gothic shade is making it’s way into the mainstream beauty industry. Having always been enamoured with the goth aesthetic loving this look comes naturally to me. The trick to pulling it off? Keep the remainder of your makeup simple – one bold focus is enough. But that’s not to say this look doesn’t require a bit of effort.
To increase the wear time of your grungy lips, and reduce the chance of feathering, you’ll want to begin with a clear lip liner, my favourite is the No Cosmetics No Bleeding Lips secret lip liner. Next, finding the right black lipstick can be difficult as not all are made equal, often times the shade is much more translucent on the lips than it appears in the bullet. Luckily, I’ve made this task simple as I’ve discovered one that provides black lips in a single swipe, and won’t break the bank; the ColorPop Lippie Stix in Bull Chic ($5). This brand has been all the rage given their incredibly pigmented formulas, eccentric shades, and low price point, so naturally they would have one of the best black lipsticks on the market. The matte formula gives Bull Chic a lengthy wear-time already, but to ensure this lipstick doesn’t move an inch I also add a thin coat of the Anna Sui Lip Top Coat to seal in the colour.
Products used: Too Faced Born This Way Foundation in “Porcelain,” Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer, W3LL People Bio Brightening Powder, Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Palette, Benefit Hervana Blush, M.A.C SkinFinish in “Soft N Gentle,” Anastasia Dip Brow in “Medium Brown,” Benefit Gimme Brow, Make Up For Ever Smoky Stretch Mascara, No Cosmetics No Bleeding Lips, ColorPop Lippie Stix in “Bull Chic,” Ana Sui Lip Top Coat.
Maisie Dunbar
Germantown, MD | Maisie Dunbar
The best way to wear black lipstick in a professional environment is to wear it with confidence. In today’s fashion forward world, black lips are no longer for teenagers trying to make a bold statement, or just trying to rebel. A woman can rock a black lip whether she is working nine to five or five to nine. The baby boomers are stepping out of their comfort zone to take advantage of the rocking black lips. I decided to line my lips with “Raisin” lip liner and “Chyna” Black Lipstick by Bluffajo Cosmetics, which go on smooth for long-lasting coverage without bleeding or fading, infused with antioxidant properties. The combination with lip liner showcases a softer black, while wearing the lipstick alone can give a black leather look. It is for a person who is not afraid of color. It is black, bold and beautiful.
Products used: Bluffajo Lipstick in “Chyna,” Bluffajo Lip Liner in “Raisin”
 to rock during the day, nothing says high fashion like a glossy black lip. Hey, it’ll get heads turning.
So to our readers who are ready to up the drama factor, we solve your burning questions on how to wear black lipstick. Thanks to these four easy tips, courtesy of our Beauty Panel members, you’ll be rocking one of the season's biggest trends in a wearable way in no time.
Challenge 105: How do you wear black lipstick? See the answers now! »
Have a beauty question you want to see the panel answer? Send it our way at beautypanel@fashionmagazine.com. Read on for the answers to this week's challenge and for more goodness, get to know all contributors on our Beauty Panel hub page.
Colleen Conroy
Vancouver | Blush Rouge
I must admit black lipstick is a bit of an uncommon look for myself. I’ve applied it on others for photo shoots and also in television and film, but only have I ever worn it on myself maybe one or two times. The look is beautifully dramatic, and definitely a statement for fall. One way I have found to make this look a little more wearable for day-to-day is to use a layered look as opposed to a straight on black lipstick.
Here I have started with a dark purple lip liner that I used to line and fill in. Layering on top of that I’ve used a beautiful deep red lipstick. To top that off, I’ve used a lip topcoat in black. This topcoat is a great idea if you are trying out the black lip trend and want to ease yourself into it as you can layer on top of anything and control the level of darkness that you want to achieve.
Products used: M.A.C lip pencil in “Cyberworld,” M.A.C lipstick in “Studded Kiss,” NYX V’amped Up Lip Top Coat in “Black”
Katie Elwood
Vancouver | Katie Elwood
Dark plum and deep burgundy lipsticks are always fall makeup essentials, but recently, the must-have lip is just a bit darker. Black lipstick is now an edgier option to add to your fall collection. If you are thinking about trying the dark lip trend, here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Prep your lips by exfoliating and hydrating to help get rid of any dryness that might stand out once your lipstick is applied. Line your lips with a dark lip liner; plum or deep red work if you don’t have black. This will give you the right base to start with. Set and layer; apply a thin layer of lipstick, then lightly dust a translucent powder over the lipstick to help hold the colour in place. After setting, lightly apply one more layer and you are ready to go. For the rest of your makeup, keep it simple. Whenever I do a dark lip, I let that be the focus and keep the rest of my makeup very minimal.
Products used: Fresh Sugar Lip Polish, Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment, Garnier BB Cream in “Light to Medium,” Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow Pencil in “Satiny Flesh,” Make Up For Ever Smokey Lash Mascara, Charlotte Tilbury Chic To Cheek Blusher in “First Love,” Make Up For Ever Lipstick in “Satin Black,” Laura Mercier Translucent Powder.
Amy Mckissock
Burlington | Bratty B
When it comes to lipstick no shade is as daring as black, and yet with celebrities such as Rihanna and Gigi Hadid backing the trend, it appears that this gothic shade is making it's way into the mainstream beauty industry. Having always been enamoured with the goth aesthetic loving this look comes naturally to me. The trick to pulling it off? Keep the remainder of your makeup simple – one bold focus is enough. But that's not to say this look doesn't require a bit of effort.
To increase the wear time of your grungy lips, and reduce the chance of feathering, you'll want to begin with a clear lip liner, my favourite is the No Cosmetics No Bleeding Lips secret lip liner. Next, finding the right black lipstick can be difficult as not all are made equal, often times the shade is much more translucent on the lips than it appears in the bullet. Luckily, I've made this task simple as I've discovered one that provides black lips in a single swipe, and won't break the bank; the ColorPop Lippie Stix in Bull Chic ($5). This brand has been all the rage given their incredibly pigmented formulas, eccentric shades, and low price point, so naturally they would have one of the best black lipsticks on the market. The matte formula gives Bull Chic a lengthy wear-time already, but to ensure this lipstick doesn't move an inch I also add a thin coat of the Anna Sui Lip Top Coat to seal in the colour.
Products used: Too Faced Born This Way Foundation in “Porcelain,” Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer, W3LL People Bio Brightening Powder, Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Palette, Benefit Hervana Blush, M.A.C SkinFinish in “Soft N Gentle,” Anastasia Dip Brow in “Medium Brown,” Benefit Gimme Brow, Make Up For Ever Smoky Stretch Mascara, No Cosmetics No Bleeding Lips, ColorPop Lippie Stix in “Bull Chic,” Ana Sui Lip Top Coat.
Maisie Dunbar
Germantown, MD | Maisie Dunbar
The best way to wear black lipstick in a professional environment is to wear it with confidence. In today’s fashion forward world, black lips are no longer for teenagers trying to make a bold statement, or just trying to rebel. A woman can rock a black lip whether she is working nine to five or five to nine. The baby boomers are stepping out of their comfort zone to take advantage of the rocking black lips. I decided to line my lips with “Raisin” lip liner and “Chyna” Black Lipstick by Bluffajo Cosmetics, which go on smooth for long-lasting coverage without bleeding or fading, infused with antioxidant properties. The combination with lip liner showcases a softer black, while wearing the lipstick alone can give a black leather look. It is for a person who is not afraid of color. It is black, bold and beautiful.
Products used: Bluffajo Lipstick in “Chyna,” Bluffajo Lip Liner in “Raisin”){kind=link}