You Spin Me Round
File this under cutest lip gloss packaging ever! The hydrating tinted colour housed inside the squeezable disc doesn’t disappoint either. Made with coconut, avocado and tsubaki oils to soothe, condition and plump, this high-shine finish is tailor made for thin lips. “A glossy texture helps lips look fuller,” says Rebecca Restrepo, Elizabeth Arden global makeup artist.
Elizabeth Arden Sheer Kiss Lip Oil in Rose 06, $25, at Hudson’s Bay, London Drugs, and Shoppers Drug Mart.
Orange-ish Crush
If what you want is a foolproof/ageless/instantly uplifting lippie, then what you need is this hybrid shade. A red-orange blend is universally-flattering, more energizing than classic scarlet but more sophisticated than an actual carrot shade. This one’s brilliantly designed like a true artist’s tool, complete with click-on cap, but you needn’t be a pro to master a bold lip. Gently compress the squeezable tube and put the slanted applicator tip to work, filling in lips with semi-matte, moisturizing and full-coverage colour.
Bobbi Brown Art Stick Liquid Lip in Hot Tangerine, $35, bobbibrown.ca.
Da Balm
The best lip balm should do more than merely quench lips. Infused with nourishing beeswax, a parched pout will benefit from this long-lasting formula that stimulates collagen while providing a cooling and plumping boost. Of course, the sheer tinge of rosy colour is a lovely bonus, too.
Eve Lom Tinted Kiss Mix in Demure, $33, at Murale locations.
Purple Reign
Not sure you can pull off a purple lip? Just picture it, for real. Head to revlon.ca and you can see what this shade would look like on a woman with a similar skin tone. The handy tool helps save in-store shopping time, plus you can virtually test-drive all fifteen hues in the collection of vibrant, hydrating options. And you will, it’s that much fun.
Revlon Ultra HD Gel Lipcolor in HD Twilight, $12, at drug stores and mass retailers.
Fruit Punch
Shine! Nourishment! Colour! This little vial packs a punch that’s never sticky or greasy. Blended with hazelnut, jojoba and buriti oils, it can be worn solo or over top of lipstick. But you’ll have to put it on to see its most innovative aspect: The formula reacts to your pH level to create a personalized pigment on contact.
Clarins Lip Comfort Oil in 05 Tangerine, $25, avail. June 1st in department stores, pharmacies and clarins.ca.
Dark Star
The terms “easy-to-wear” and “dark lip” don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Loaded with coconut and meadowfoam seed oils, this conditioning liquid creates a deep tone that’s light on dramatics. Brush it on, and watch it transform into a sheer gloss finish that’s free of stickiness. More good news: the long-lasting tint is also 100% natural and minimizes fine lines on lips.
Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Oil in Misted Plum, $10, at select natural, grocery, drug, and mass retailers.
Metal Head
Get ready to say “thank you” – a lot – because you won’t be able to keep up with the compliments once you paint lips in this eye-catching shimmering shade. The opaque metallic rose gold is a lovely match to olive and medium skin tones, and would also provide a gorgeous contrast on dark complexions.
Smashbox Be Legendary Liquid Lip in Petal Metal, $28, smashbox.ca and at Sephora and Shoppers Drug Mart.
Snap to It
Not sure what’s to love more: The luscious sheer coral shade or the magnetic case it comes in – no more wandering lipstick caps. Super smooth lips help display any delicate colour, but can take some prep work regardless of season. To get lips in tip-top shape, David Vincent, international makeup artist for Lise Watier, advises exfoliating with a sugar-based lip scrub before applying colour.
Lise Watier Luxoil Lipstick in Voyage, $26, lisewatier.com.
White Haute
It’s tempting, we know, but don’t judge this ivory lip colour on looks alone. Boosted with intense emollients and spiked with invigorating peppermint oil, the magic lies in what it can do once it’s on your mouth. With one swipe, the sheer white bullet will soften red and pink undertones. Think of it as a mega-moisturizing filter for your lips.
Stila Color Balm Lipstick in Opal, $29, at Shoppers Drug Mart, Murale and Sephora and online at Sephora.ca and beautyboutique.ca.
Pencil This In
Leave it to one of Canada’s most beloved beauty brands to give the lip pencil a new lease on life. Formulated with whipped shea butter, each of the 28 shades in this new range deliver an ultra-creamy and highly pigmented colour that can be worn all on its own or layered under lipstick. And, if it’s an enhanced pout you desire, try tracing ever so slightly just outside your natural lip line for an instant and subtle lift.
Bite Beauty The Lip Pencil, $20 each, sephora.ca.
Pop Art
Traditional lip colour logic states that the cool undertones of this nearly neon shade make it an amazing choice for those at either end of the skin tone spectrum. But in the age of anything goes makeup (looking at you, green and blue lippies), a mindset shift is warranted. So, if you like it, try it! Just keep in mind that something this bold requires little else to accompany it. Focus on radiant skin with defined brows and lashes as your finishing touches, and allow the cult fave, non-drying matte finish to be the star.
Nars Velvet Lip Pencil in Let’s Go Crazy, $33, narscosmetics.com, and at Sephora, Hudson’s Bay, Nordstrom and Murale.
Nude Attitude
The latest trick to finding your ideal nude lip colour involves looking where you least expect: In your bra. According to the pros on The Doctors, a shade that matches your nipples can provide a seamless match. Whether the “nature knows best” strategy works for you, or not, there’s bound to be a fit in this eight-piece collection of naturally-beautiful colours designed with golden undertones.
Maybelline New York Color Sensational Inti-Matte Nudes Lipstick in Hot Sand, $8, at mass retailers.