beauty

When it comes to makeup, the first image that probably pops up in your head would probably be of a lipstick. It is our go-to makeup item when we want to quickly pull our look together. And, without it, your makeup would always be incomplete. Lipsticks are like magic wands. With a swipe of it, you can instantly feel a change in your mood. Quite a few trends have popped up this season that are vying for a spot on you face. There are super easy ways to wear lipstick differently than the usual slap it on and go! So, this week You! takes a look at some of the most popular lip trends that you can rock this season...

Goth & vampy

Vampy lip shades might look different on everyone - whether they’re blue-undertoned, more red or purple - but if there’s one thing they all have in common, it’s that they’re a cold-weather favourite. While, there are no real rules when it comes to what time of year you should wear certain shades, but there’s something about the switch from summer to fall that inspires a shift to darker lipsticks. Rich plums, dramatic burgundies, bronze-y chocolates, and even straight-up black lipsticks are just a few of the many deep shades available.

If you like regular bullet lipsticks then look into Color Studio or Luscious - they have both creamy and matte textures available that feel comfortable on the lips and stay on for long. If you like the feel of a liquid lipstick, Maybelline is your best bet! With such a bold lip, there’s no need to make a statement with your eyes as well, since you don’t want to overpower the look. Keep your eye shadow minimal, but feel free to use simple black mascara and eyeliner.

Plump it with pink

While the nude lip trend is still running, it is getting a bit much. Brighten dull, drab winter days with a fabulously bright shade like Fuchsia or a blushed nude.

You can opt for any kind of finish - satin, creamy, matte, metallic or shimmer - and it will look amazing on any skin tone. Also, if you like to have luscious lips without overdoing it, lip contouring in shades of pinks is a brilliant idea.

Before trying to contour your lips, make sure you have the right products and brushes at the ready. You’ll need a lip liner, lipstick and gloss.

Highlighter, concealer and lip brush are optional. Start by accentuating your cupid’s bow with a liner and line your lips. To add dimension, fill in the outer corners of your lips.

Now take your lipstick and lightly fill in the areas untouched. Once your lips are good to go, you’ll want to lightly highlight your cupid’s bow to add a dimensional touch. All you have to do is grab a liquid highlighter and outline your cupid’s bow. You can add a sheer gloss on top or just let it be. Viola, you have a nice pink pout!

Two-toned galore

Two toned lips are perhaps the easiest (and most comfortable) to do but they look like you put in a lot of work to achieve it. The simplest two-toned lip combination is one that melds seamlessly together, meaning that you can opt for a light and dark version of the same colour. However, if you’re ready to take on the two-toned world by storm, we recommend diving right in with complete contrast.

To create this look, use the lighter shade on one lip and the darker shade on the other lip and then blend them in at inner side of the lips. Many other variants of the basic techniques exist. You can even play with more than two colours once you are comfortable with the basic concept.

The Ombre oomph

An ombre lip is more of an advanced version of the two-toned lips and requires some technique. This is usually a makeup trend catered to the makeup maximalist - but as it turns out; they’re actually a lot easier to wear than one might think. You can make it subtle or bold depending on the kind of colours you use. To achieve this look, line your lips with a lip liner that is one shade darker than your base lipstick colour. Keep the line thicker on the corners and taper off as you move to the curve of the lips. Then apply the base lipstick to the lips leaving out the inner most part of the lips. In the inner most part, use the lighter lipstick and top off with clear gloss to even it all out.

We recommend using a creamy bullet lipstick for the base and for the lightest shade, opt for metallic or glossy finish to really bring out the sparkle. For an advanced version of the style: use more than two colours to make the ombre effect more prominent.

Pro-tips:

• Exfoliate your lips with a lip scrub. This will help remove all the dead cells and help you with a smoother application.
• Moisturise. Use a lip balm/Vaseline/moisturiser and let the product sink in for at least 10 minutes. This is especially important if you’re applying matte liquid lipsticks because it accentuates flakiness and the lines of your lips.
• Don’t forget the lip liner. Always line your lips with a liner. And to make it look even more tidy, use a small flat brush with some concealer and line just outside the lips to wipe out any smears.