It’s all about lips

Bright lips are back and bolder than ever this summer, so it’s time to embrace these vivid shades and bring back some joy into your makeup routine.

If our lips haven’t been trapped inside our homes, they have been hidden under a mask, which means lipstick barely got a look in. But with freedom on the horizon, it’s time to bring back a face-brightening pop of colour. Here’s how to choose the right shade and texture to suit you and how to apply it for a longer lasting colour.

Exfoliate first

Prepping your lips is the key to preventing an uneven lip finish. The best way to do it is to scrub and moisturise your lips before applying lipstick. Use a pre-formulated lip scrub or make your own with a concoction of coconut oil and brown sugar. A washcloth or toothbrush over the lips will also get rid of the dry skin.

Prep with balm

After scrubbing its time to smooth the skins surface with a light layer of lip balm to lock in moisture. The key is light, as too much will make your lipstick bleed or smudge. Apply at least five minutes before you apply colour to allow it to soak into the lips.

Line the lips

When using brighter lip shades a lip liner is an important step for defining the edge of the lip so the colour doesn’t bleed out. Simply line the outside of the lips with a nude lip pencil to define the lips without them looking too harsh.

Choose a colour that sparks joy

With so many shades out there, it’s hard to decide on the best colour. While some shades will look better on some skin tones than others, at the end of the day the key here is to choose a shade that makes you feel happy. It might take some trial and error, but if you do pick the wrong one, mix it with the lipsticks that do suit you. As for the formula, creamy lipsticks are great for drier lips as they will boost moisture, and matte lipsticks and lip stains will last longer than glosses.

Application

Apply with either a lip brush or dab on with your fingers if you want a subtler effect. If you’ve never worn bright colours before go for creamy formulas as these will feel more comfortable and forgiving. If you mess up, just dip a cotton bud into makeup remover and wipe off your mistakes and try again.

The shopping list

From creamy sticks and bold mattes to statement glosses that shimmer, find your favourite shade here.