“Of course, true beauty comes from within. Lipstick just adds a little pizzazz,” said Anna Warner, noted American writer. With Lipstick Day having recently gone by (not like that matters to those of us who can’t go without it for even a day), we thought we’d get the experts to let you in on some of the biggest trends for the monsoon.
According to Abhinaya H, fashion stylist at Myntra, “This is the best time to play with lip colours. Beat the grey, gloomy skies with hot and bright shades like cherry red, electric orange, hot magenta, deep plum, and matte coral, which are currently trending. And then there are the all-season favourites such as dusty pink, red wine, peaches, and Melony shades. This year has also seen lots of texture-based trends in the beauty world, in general. So, if you are in a mood to experiment, glitter is your best bet!”
Concurring with her is Naina Ruhail, a UK-based makeup artist and beauty blogger, who pontificates: “Metallic lips colours are huge this season. Nudes and browns are also trending big time. This is the year of glitter lips.”
“I’ve noticed a lot of women trying to play safe this monsoon. And that’s probably why a shade like chestnut rose has many takers, observes cosmetics retailer, Arati Ahuja. “Then there are those who love to experiment and take inspiration from international fashion runways. They’re the ones that team baby blue lips with silver eye makeup,” she adds.
Remember the time when ombré lips were a huge fad? And then last year when everybody and their mother went bonkers about liquid matte lipsticks? This time around “colour-blocking has reached lipsticks too,” Abhinaya informs, adding, “We are talking of swiping two-tone lipsticks — a darker tone on the top lip and a shade lighter on the bottom lip. Just make sure the shades are of the similar colour family. This would definitely add a new dimension to your make-up.”
Considering we’ve got to find ways to beat the rain even with makeup on, she says: “More than the colours, it’s the texture that matters. This is the best time to put that matte lipstick to good use. As a general rule of thumb, avoid lip gloss during monsoons as they tend to smudge easily if you get wet and get sticky over time. Instead, choose waterproof lipsticks with extra moisture so that they last for a longer duration of time.”
When it comes to coordinating your outfit with your lipstick, there are often moments of doubt, because as with clothing, makeup too comes with its own set of dos and don’ts. “Never wear a glossy red lip shade. Go for a matte one instead. Avoid wearing matching outfit and lip colour (like red on red). Wear contrasting colours or you can always match one item of clothing with your lip colour. Always line your lips before applying lip colour,” Naina cautions.
Abhinaya suggests you “wear a lipstick that is a shade or two darker than your outfit or you’ll end up looking overly coordinated. It is also important to note the lipstick finish. In general, the lipstick should complement and not clash with the outfit.”
And while pointers like these are extremely helpful, she adds: “No matter the do’s and don’ts, remember your instincts can never go wrong! So go bold, go quirky, and pop that lip with a shade that suits your day and mood. Always keep that pout game strong!”