In the midst of the United Kingdom’s second lockdown, when you’re forgoing pants and stress-eating, a swipe of lipstick may feel like a frivolous beauty ritual to partake in. There is something in the act of application that may seem counterintuitive at this point in time. You can’t help but ask yourself: Why should I turn to my beauty arsenal when no one but my cat is going to look at me?
This is exactly the time to turn to a beauty ritual! Makeup, specifically lipstick, can either act as a momentary balm to soothe your woes or as a proverbially armour that shields you. In fact, despite the dire austerity measures of the Great Recession, cosmetics sales not only prevailed, they flourished. Historically, this trend has stood the test of time.
Now, more than ever, a new tube of lipstick can provide a brief moment of joy and levity. A bold red or cheerful pink hue is a small luxury but a symbolic gesture, akin to war paint, that enables you to face the realities of the world, even if that once wide world has been regulated to the television screen in your living room.
Below, we’ve compiled a five of our favorite lip products that will be sure to spark delight:
FOR THE AMOROUS:
Turn to Fenty’s Uncensored, a perfect universal red for all skin colors and undertones. As a liquid lipstick, the silky formulation guarantees long wear sans any high-maintenance measures. It’s the kind of siren red that would have once turned heads but now promises to stay kissably smooth all day long while cozying up with your quarantine-boyfriend.
+ Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color in Uncensored.
FOR THE CLASS ACT:
With a cheeky name, Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk delivers on all the major fronts. The buildable pigment is long-lasting, hydrating, and enriched with orchid extract to soothe and protect lips. As the bestselling shade in the line, Pillow Talk is ideal for any occasion.
+ Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk.
FOR THE FLIRTY:
Tom Ford’s True Coral combines soja seed extract, Brazilian murumuru butter and chamomilla flower for an ultra-creamy, hydrating wash of colour. With specially treated colour pigments, Tom Ford’s iconic lipsticks deliver pure color in its truest form.
+ Tom Ford Most Wanted Lip Color Lipstick Collection in True Coral.
FOR THE ADVENTURER:
Embrace the time at home as an opportunity to experiment with an unconventional hue. Yves Saint Laurent’s Le Orange is a bright wash of colour that will unleash your wild side. Declaring at least six hours with just one swipe, Le Orange is sure to stay on your lips through a long day of Zoom calls.
+ Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Satin Lipstick Collection in 13 Le Orange.
FOR THE GIRL NEXT DOOR:
On a day when your lips need hydration and only a slight wash of colour, turn to Kosas’s botanically rich lip balms. The brand refers to this product as ‘Lipfuel’ for your pout as the formulation is deeply nourishing and plumping with a heady cocktail of hyaluronic acid, wild mint, konjac root, and more. Think of the product as skincare for your lips and pick your favorite hue from the three offerings: clear, pink, and tan.
+ Kosas Kosasport Lipfuel in Rush.
