While many 90’s beauty trends deserve to forever stay buried at the bottom of our make-up bags (ahem, that brown lipstick), one lipcolor trend has been making a triumphant comeback this year. Ever since Pantone announced ‘Orchid‘ as 2014’s Color of the Year, purple has become THE lip hue both on and off the catwalks. Everyone from Lorde to Rihanna to Amanda Seyfried have embraced the violet lipstick trend. Buzzfeed even declared purple ‘the best lipcolor of all time‘. Purple hues offer a dramatic shift from the lighter colors of summer, bringing your beauty routine easily into fall without breaking the bank. From dark plums to striking neon violets, there are a wide variety of options to satisfy any mood and any ensemble.
Let’s be honest, there’s just something so unexpectedly haunting and yet polished about a purple pout. I’ve always wanted to try it for myself but pulling it off felt… intimidating. After hunting for several days, I finally found my perfect bright violet shade at my favorite beauty shop here in Chicago, Arch Apothecary. I’ve used Kevyn Aucoin’s ‘The Matte’ Lipcolor for years since the formula keeps my lips hydrated without sacrificing staying power. I came across his lipsticks after confessing to Arch’s owner Emma that I didn’t think I would ever find a red lipstick that worked for my pale coloring. She quickly proved me wrong after showing me his matte red shade ‘Eternal’, a color I ended up loving so much I wore it on my wedding day! After browsing the lipstick selections, I tried on ‘Persistence‘, a bright violet-hue that I expected would make me look like I belonged in the circus. But after layering on a few light applications, I was hooked and completely taken aback by how fresh and alert the color made me look
Follow These Five Tips to Find Your Perfect Purple Lipcolor (without looking grungy):
1. As with any bold lipshade, it’s important to take your time and find the right color for you. Browse around a few different brands and look for a shade that compliments your natural coloring. Much like the search for your perfect red lipcolor, finding the right purple shade may take some time. Be patient and only settle for a color that makes you feel confident!
2. To keep the focus on your violet pucker, keep the rest of your make-up minimal. Adding dramatic eye make-up can be over-powering and feels costume-y. Keeping the rest of your make-up simple and classic will make your pout the center of attention.
3. However…. Don’t let the purple completely wash out your face (this is especially true for pale complexions). Use bronzer and/or blush to bring back some warmth to your complexion and to prevent you from looking like a cast member of Frozen.
4. Find the right formula. Look for a lip shade that will keep your lips moisturized while staying put. Don’t buy the right color with the wrong formula! No one wants to feel like their lips have migrated to the Sahara Desert! Everyone is different so make sure you find something that works for your lip chemistry.
5. Don’t forget the lipliner! As with most bold hues, purple lipstick can slowly migrate around your lips as the day goes on. Keep your color and confidence in place by applying a purple or nude lipliner. Bonus Tip: another great trick for lipstick staying-power is to apply your shade, place a tissue over your lips and slowly brush over the tissue with a face powder brush. Then reapply your lipstick and head out the door. This is a common runway trick that makes a huge difference!
10 great purple pout options to consider:
- Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Matte Lip Tar in Hoochie
- Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lipgloss in Juicy Plum
- Dolce and Gabbana Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipstick in Royal 110
- Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lip Colour in 45 L’Adoree
- Topshop Lip Bullet in Wine Gum
- Clinique Chubby Stick Baby Tint in Flowering Freesia
- Covergirl Queen Collection Lip Color in Fine Wine
- MAC Sheen Supreme Lipglass Tint in Simply Wow
- Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer in Plum
- Make-Up Forever Rouge Artist Lip Color in N50 Aubergine
And don’t forget lipliner!
Go on, I dare you to give purple lipstick a try!
HAPPY SHOPPING!
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