WHEN picking a lippy pre-pandemic, the only question was whether the shade suited your look and your complexion. Smudging and fading due to wearing a face covering was not such a big issue. Now, pitting your lip paint head-to-head with a mask is the ultimate test and staying power is a key requirement. But the […]
WHEN picking a lippy pre-pandemic, the only question was whether the shade suited your look and your complexion.
Smudging and fading due to wearing a face covering was not such a big issue.
Now, pitting your lip paint head-to-head with a mask is the ultimate test and staying power is a key requirement.
But the battle has not ended our love affair with lipstick.
Sales volumes leapt by 61 per cent in April to June compared with the previous three-month period, says Boots.
Sales boomed after the Great Depression and in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.
And as mandatory Covid rules relax, the hardship hero is flourishing again.
The make-up missiles are boomeranging back into business.
A quarter of 16 to 34-year-olds name lipstick as the cosmetic product they are most excited to wear again, according to a survey by L’Oreal Paris.
And nearly half of make-up wearers missed putting their face on more than they missed choosing an outfit.
Meanwhile, 34 per cent said they are feeling more experimental with their looks.
As a result, new formulae with stronger pigments are flooding the market.
These include Wonderskin’s Wonder Blading Peel & Reveal lip masque, which pulled in five-star reviews and won praise from party girl Paris Hilton.
Sitting bang in the middle between a stain and a lipstick, the semi-permanent hue is a two-step formula that is waterproof, transfer-proof, alcohol-free and lasts for a solid ten hours.
It has such staying power that US customers have googled how to get it off.
Make-up artist Carola Gonzalez revealed her video demonstrating how to use it proved to be incredibly popular.
Carola says: “I posted a video using Wonderskin’s Lip Kit, showing people how fun it is to apply. It got the most views out of any video I have ever posted.
“The benefit of using it is that you won’t have to reapply for a really long time. It’s a highly pigmented lip stain that won’t smear, bleed or transfer.
“It’s non-toxic, paraben-free and waterproof. It looks different on varying skin tones but it actually flatters and compliments everyone, which is rare to find.”
With patented technology, the lip kit uses calcium chloride to speed up the gelling process.
The first step requires painting your lips with two layers of the bold metallic blue mask.
I tried the shade Romance, which claims to be a cool rose . . . but ended up more of a deep crimson.
This might have been my fault, as I left it on for longer than the suggested 45 seconds.
The instructions explain that time is key to the pigment strength. The longer you leave it, the bolder the colour.
So I left the thick, sticky mask on for a minute before spraying with the activation mist — spritzing once, a few inches away from my face — to stimulate the final colour.
Next is the fun part. As the mist dries, the blue mask starts to feel tight and cracks, curling up at the edges so you can peel it off.
Starting at the corner of my mouth, as I peel back the mask a bold pop of red emerges — and it does not feel drying at all.
Unlike lippies, which often feel creamy on, or glosses that can feel wet and sticky, this feels more like a stain.
It doesn’t leave any product residue and I can lick my lips without washing it off. And it really does not shift.
It conquered my mask, lunch, dinner, drinks and cups of tea.
My pout was still rosy after taking off my make-up and cleansing my face, though it eventually diminished after some gentle scrubbing.
It requires no top-up and there is no danger of it smudging round your lips, leaving marks on your glass or ruining your mask.
The only downside? I recommend only applying to hydrated, nourished lips, as the binding formula will stick to any dry patches.
If red is not for you, it also comes in a bright coral called Crush, the poppy pink Sweetheart and a deep plum, Darling.
We finally have a reason not to stay tight-lipped.
