How to give good lip for the holidays
MANILA, Philippines - ’Tis the season to be the center of attention at every party, and what easier way is there than to swipe on an on-trend bold shade on your lips? (Totally newbie-proof beauty move, FYI.) Not sure which one is right for you? We break it down and make your life even easier by helping you out with gift ideas for your girlfriends. You’re welcome.
The dark lip
AS SEEN AT...Cushnie Et Ochs F/W 2013, where Charlotte Tilbury gave faces a sophisticated punk feel.
From mega matte to downright dripping, deep shades of burgundy, wine and plum were a perfect contrast to the pale, gleaming skin that hit show after show after show. Wear it with a very soft smoky eye, a touch of baroque gold on the lids, tons of mascara, or nothing at all.
MOST LIKELY TO BE WORN BY...Ladies who are all about being ladies, women with expensive taste. Social butterflies. Matronas in training. Lana Del Rey stalker-fans.
WHAT SHE'LL MOST LIKELY GIVE YOU THIS CHRISTMAS: Really pretty costume jewelry that looks ridiculous on everybody but your super bongga lola, who you’ve never seen without a full face of makeup. Ever. (You’re willing to bet that she wears lipstick to sleep, which is a page out of Tilbury's book, in case the house burns down in the middle of the night and she needs to escape in nothing but a nightgown. She’s totally your life peg for when you are 70.)
The nude lip
AS SEEN AT...Prabal Gurung F/W 2013, where Charlotte Tilbury kept everything fresh.
If they weren’t deep, dark and dramatic, lips did a 180 into bare territory with velvety nudes or just a bit of balm. Pair with bold smoky eyes or wear with little more than flawless skin to keep your look so low-maint, it’s practically no-maint.
MOST LIKELY TO BE WORN BY...Fashion bitches by default. They spend the entire morning putting an outfit together and never have time left to apply any makeup. Pretty much the only demographic that gets away with this while still looking fabulous.
WHAT SHE’LL MOST LIKELY GIVE YOU THIS CHRISTMAS: A dress you would never have picked out for yourself but actually looks amazing when you put it on. (She knows what she’s doing.) And a look of judgment and exasperation when she sees you’ve styled it totally, totally wrong.
The stained lip
AS SEEN AT...Marni F/W 2013, where Tom Pecheux applied MAC Pro Crimson Lipmix, then blurred lips’ edges with cotton swabs and a dusting of red pigment.
A blessing for all those with an inability to paint on a precise pout, the blurred, feathered edges of the season’s stained lip hit the runway in almost every shade, from pink to purple to plum, softening the darkest colors and giving even the toughest punk staples a feminine twist.
MOST LIKELY TO BE WORN BY...Alcoholics. Though you can never be sure if it’s lipstick or an actual wine stain, now you’ll have an ironclad excuse for the state of your lips after a few glasses of red. For fuller pigmentation, lowered inhibitions and likely a raging hangover the next day, keep drinking.
WHAT SHE'LL MOST LIKELY GIVE YOU THIS CHRISTMAS: A gorgeous minaudière for the next time you go clubbing, a detailed account of her latest failed relationship and a massive headache if you’re more sober than she is at the end of the night. But she’ll make up for it by being the absolute best listener ever the next time your boyfriend is an idiot, and she’ll even bring the wine.
The classic red lip
AS SEEN AT...Marc by Marc Jacobs F/W 2013, where Dick Page painted coats of Shiseido Lacquer Rouge in Sanguine and Drama onto the models’ lips.
Red is never likely to leave the fall/winter runway, so a play on texture is in order to keep the look from getting boring. Most go matte or stain-like, but a little sheen intensifies an already intense hue.
MOST LIKELY TO BE WORN BY...Single girls. Let’s get real: powerful as it may look, anyone who’s expecting to make out any time soon would never, ever wear bright red gloss.
WHAT SHE’LL MOST LIKELY GIVE YOU THIS CHRISTMAS: A self-help book that she swears will change your life, whether or not you even require any kind of life-changing.
The ombre lip
AS SEEN AT...Kenneth Cole F/W 2013, where Romy Soleimani blended MAC Nightmoth Lip Pencil with MAC Cyber lipstick in the corners, and Ruby Woo in the center of the lip.
Summer’s lip gradients went from fuchsia to red orange. Holidays go from dark to darker, giving tired old red a new treatment that’s a classier take on, well, chav. (Two words that should probably never go together by the way, but hey.)
MOST LIKELY TO BE WORN BY...Women who are unafraid to have the words “juicy†and “couture†stamped on each ass cheek. We kid, we kid. Women who can never make their minds up about anything, whether it’s men or makeup. (Especially makeup, which is why they have at least five tubes of lipstick in every purse.)
WHAT SHE’LL MOST LIKELY GIVE YOU THIS CHRISTMAS: She couldn’t decide; she got you a department store GC so you can just choose for yourself. (A pretty damn good gift, come to think of it.)
The fuchsia lip
AS SEEN AT...Diane von Furstenberg F/W 2013, where James Kaliardos blended MAC Pro Process Magenta Chromagraphic Pencil over the whole lip, overdrawn for fullness in the center, and dabbed lip conditioner to finish.
Runway makeup is, more often than not, not that easy to translate into real world looks. Not the case this season, when almost everything (but Vivienne Westwood, of course) could have gone straight to street. The feminine fuchsia at DvF and Dior, where they used it to create a stained look? Absolutely. Wear it with bold brows and lush lashes.
MOST LIKELY TO BE WORN BY...The hipster who’s too cool to wear the same red lip everyone else is wearing. What a trailblazer!
WHAT SHE’LL MOST LIKELY GIVE YOU THIS CHRISTMAS: An album she loves by an extremely obscure indie band from Lorde knows where. Consider this an honor if it happens to you; they typically don’t like to share.
