Life After Lip Gloss

Life After Lip Gloss

Real Women Wear Lipstick

 

For years, it seemed that lip gloss was the lip product, the only one that got all the beauty buzz, all the cutting-edge plumping ingredients and vitamin infusions, not to mention sparkle, shine, shimmer, and that “nothin’ natural ‘bout it” glitter. (Multi-colored flecks of metal do not represent low maintenance by anyone’s beauty standards.) I’m the first to admit that I couldn’t get enough of the stuff – tube after tube of virtually identically-hued pinky-clear glosses, swimming at the bottom of every handbag and overflowing my makeup drawer – it was the irresistible impulse-buy at every cosmetic jaunt, from the drugstore to Sephora to late-night online prowls on the Bergdorf website. I’m embarrassed by the redundancy of my glosses, not to mention the amount of cash the collection represents. (Admitting you have a problem is the first step, right?)

 

But, at some point when I wasn’t looking (I was reading Voltaire that night, I’m sure of it), something replaced our collective lethargic wardrobe of flip-flops and lip gloss. It was the return of the lipstick. Flat-out glamour in a tube, impeccably-applied, high maintenance, and – dare I say it – grown up. Pop culture sociologist that I am, I blame it on Mad Men. How else to account for our current fixation on structured pencil skirts, car coats and kitten heels? Take a look at this small-screen phenomenon and you won’t find one female character – not the femme-bot office felines nor the hapless housewives – sporting a sheer or glitter-speckled coat of gloss on their lips. The latest fashion show runways followed suit as well, making lips a statement rather than a transparent afterthought.

 

I, for one, am pleased. Sure, lipstick is a heck of a lot more work in its application and upkeep (unlike clear gloss, you’re actually gonna need a mirror for this one) but the payoff is worth it. Besides the obvious benefit of more lip definition and color staying power, there’s something infinitely more glamorous about pulling a gilded cartridge of Chanel lipstick out of your purse than a squeeze tube of sticky root beer scented gloss, no? `And, with a bit of practice, the favored “cover your lips with nude liner-then-lipstick-then blot” routine becomes second nature. Not to mention that lip color, like an amazing pair of boots but waaaay cheaper, is an instant-gratification style boost: If you want a sophisticated yet sexy Bardot look, a shimmery nude or peach looks effortlessly chic. And, if you want to rock the retro look á la Betty Draper (or Dita Von Teese), painting on a coat of creamy red or wine lipstick is a whole lot easier than wearing your hair in a swirly French twist every day and changing your name to Francie.

 

Following are some of my favorite lipsticks, those that I consider to be classics though the list grows every day as beauty houses up the formulas with skincare ingredients and precious oils. Try out a few of these babies or pick a variety of textures, from sheer and moist to satin and semi-matte at your favorite makeup counter to find your own favorite.

 

In my experience, the value of a “universally flattering” lip shade claim is about equal to that of  “one size fits all” bikinis, so I’ve left off shade recommendations in hopes that you’ll consider your own skin tone (fair to dark), undertone (cool or warm) to find your own best lippies.

 

Posh Picks -- $20 and Up

 

Bobbi Brown Lip Color ($22; bobbibrowncosmetics.com), the classic lipstick that launched the Bobbi Brown line, has colors to suit every skin tone and is still considered the best of its breed for full-coverage, creamy, semi-matte color.

 

Chanel Rouge Hydrabase Lipstick ($28.50; www.saks.com) may be one of the best beauty splurges of all time, with its unforgettable soft floral scent, creamy feel, satin finish and long-lasting powder. Rumor has it that Jen Aniston uses the Fire shade to give her cheeks her famous sunkissed glow.

 

NARS Lipstick ($24; www.sephora.com) is a makeup-artist fave thanks to its coverage, superb classics-to-culty color range and texture choices of satin, sheer and semi-matte.

 

Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited ($23; www.sephora.com) is highly-pigmented and stays color true for up to eight hours, yet feels silky and moisturizing rather than heavy.

 

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Lipstick ($34; www.saks.com) offers highly-pigmented, silky color that feels almost liquidy when applied yet true for up to eight hours. A sheer version of this luxurious texture is Rouge Pur ($30; www.saks.com), which looks richer and shinier than most sheers and has a subtle mango scent.

 

 

 

Practical Picks – Lipsticks for Less $ Than Two Lattes

 

Clinique Colour Surge Butter Shine Lipstick ($14; www.sephora.com) has a luscious, gel-based cushiony feel and shine that rivals brands of triple its price.

 

L’Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick ($8.95; drugstores) has an intense-color and comfort formula that is suspiciously close to the lipsticks of its sister brand, Lancome.

 

Revlon Super Lustrous Crème Lipstick ($8.00; drugstores) is an icon unto itself; I’d bet that both your mother and grandmother wore “Cherries In The Snow” at some point.

 

 

Stains: Low Maintenance Lips

For all of you non-believers and commitment-phobes (You know who you are.), a great lip stain packs the pigment punch of a lip stick but in a weightless, long-lasting pat-on formula that makes upkeep effort much lower than lipstick. I’m not a fan of most liquid lip stains, since they tend to go on unevenly and can dry out lips and exaggerate any dryness and lines you already have, But I’m in love with two cream formulas that feel like nothing on and leave your lips with creamy, layerable color so that you can adjust the pigment intensity. Ignore the unappealing name, Giorgio Armani Lip Wax ($26; www.saks.com) is a definitely un-waxy, sublime product that meshes a stain with the texture of silk. Laura Mercier Lip Stain ($20; www.sephora.com) is equally smooth and weightless with a very subtle shine. Both products come in a range of natural-inspired hues from nude beiges and pinks to deep berries.