A sensible lady’s purse may not hold eyeliner, or eye shadow, or blush, but it always has to have a tube of lipstick. Lipstick originated hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of years ago when ancient Egyptians used dyes to enhance their lips. Unfortunately, these pigments were harmful and many fell ill because of them.
Lipstick enjoyed a renaissance during Queen Elizabeth I’s reign during the 16th century, when they were manufactured from beeswax and stains. The Queen’s dark lips and yellow-tinted face was a fashion statement we won’t easily forget.
Today’s lipsticks are made not just with pigments but with waxes, oils, and emollients. They come in a variety of shades and textures to fit every type of skin color and outfit.
Basically, there are 5 lipstick types:
* Creme: Great for women with small lips, creme lipsticks are made with more wax than other lipstick types. Its finish is not as shiny, and its wax content protects your lips, but may sometimes cause them to dry. This can be enhanced with a layer of lip gloss to give your lips a bit of shine. Must-haves are the Chanel Rouge Hydrabase Creme Lipstick, chosen by Allure magazine, and Clinique’s Superlast Cream lipstick.
* Matte: There is a characteristic “flatness” in matte lipsticks, but they give a dramatic yet natural effect. Your lips are also prone to drying out when you use matte lipsticks often, so keep a lip gloss handy to apply as a topcoat. Classic lipsticks of this type are Lancome’s Matte Orange Rouge Superbe LipColour and Chanel’s Matte Magenta Lip Rouge.
* Long-Lasting/Transfer-Resistant: These revolutionary lipsticks deserve a category of their own! While our grandmothers had to keep re-applying lipstick several times a day, these newfangled beauty products are guaranteed to last for hours. You can swim with them, go through a 5-course dinner with them, and even kiss with them, and your lips will stay vibrant and colorful as ever. The downside is that they may feel a bit dry, so keep a lip balm handy.
* Pearly/Frost: Once thought to be a passing trend, it is obvious that these varieties are here to stay. They’re great for a night out on the town but not really for daytime wear. For a sheer frost, try Ultima II’s Silvermine lipstick or Estee Lauder’s Perfect Sea Coral and Wild Orchid All-Day lipstick; and for a deeper frost, there’s YSL’s Teasing Rose lipstick.
* Gloss: A gloss is more of an enhancer than a lipstick, and adds luster and body to your lips. They’re recommended for women with thin and small lips.
Lipstick tips
Buy a lip liner in almost the same shade of your lipstick and apply it first to outline your lips, to make your lip color last longer. When trying out colors at a department store, never apply the tester on your lips – it’s unhygienic! Instead, smudge a small amount on your fingertips, which are said to have a coloration that’s closest to that of your lips.
If you’re over 50, choose creme rather than matte lipsticks, because you’ll need a lot of moisture. Coral and bubblegum-pink shades are for summer and daytime. Feel free to use darker shades at night and during winter.
To make lipsticks last longer, store them in the refrigerator. In addition, don’t stock up on lipsticks – they go stale after several months.
