For me, makeup is a tool for self-expression. For a lot of people, makeup might be the finishing touch to an outfit, but for me, it’s the main event—I’ve been known to dress based on how I want to do my makeup, whether it’s a shock of blue eyeliner or a fiery-red lipstick.
While I love playing around with eye makeup (I’ve been steadily re-creating all of my favorite looks from Euphoria season two), I consistently get the most compliments on my lips. My lips are one of my favorite features, and every time there’s a new lip launch, I’m always the first to jump on it. If you take a look inside any of my purses, you’ll find at least five lipsticks or glosses.
Who What Wear’s senior beauty editor, Erin Jahns, suggested I write about the lip products I’ve been using lately, so consider this my tell-all piece. Whether I want a wash of sheer color or a bright, showstopping look, I have a constant rotating arsenal of lip products that I keep on hand.
I’m really not one for nude lipsticks, but when I tried this new Tom Ford color, I instantly fell in love. It’s a peach-leaning nude, which really accentuates my lips and adds warmth. I think this does exactly what a good nude lipstick is supposed to, which is to make your lips look like a better version of themselves.
Brown lipstick is having a major moment right now—especially brown lip liner. If anyone else is a Katie Jane Hughes devotee (guilty), you’ve definitely seen her line her lips with Make Up For Ever’s Endless Cacao pencil. I had the privilege of having Hughes do my makeup recently, and she used the pencil. Ever since, I can’t stop reaching for this lipstick combo, especially when I want to emulate Maddy from Euphoria.
I didn’t used to be a gloss person, but recent formulas, like this hydrating and plumping gloss from Caliray, have me doing a total 180. This gloss isn’t sticky at all, and it gives just the slightest hint of color, which is perfect for a bold-liner look such as this one.
In case you weren’t aware, pink makeup is having a major moment. I almost never wear pink lip products—I usually opt for something more neutral or a red—but when I do want something pink, I go for this tinted lip oil from Merit. It’s a lip oil, but the color payoff is insane. One swipe gives you high-impact color and makes your lips the star of the show.
When Marie Lodi wrote a review of Kolorete’s hydrating lipstick balms, I knew I needed to get my hands on them immediately, if not sooner. I think this color speaks for itself—it’s absolutely gorgeous. The lipstick is also intensely moisturizing, which I love since there’s nothing I hate more than my lips feeling dry under a bold formula.
This tinted balm gives you the Parisian-girl lips of your dreams. Use it to give yourself that flushed, just-finished-kissing-someone look that French girls are known for perfecting.
As I previously mentioned, I’m such a sucker for a bold red lip. If you look at my lipstick collection, you’ll see approximately 15 variations of red lipstick—and no, I’m really not exaggerating. If I want a red lipstick that really stands out and makes people do a double take, I love to over-line my Cupid’s bow just a smidge and finish it off with a little bit of glassy gloss through the center of my lips.
The thing I love about this particular shade of Chanel lipstick is that it’s more berry-red than firetruck-red, but it’s still bright. It also wears beautifully and doesn’t dry out lips like many matte formulas do.
Next up, This $6 Drugstore Find Gives Me Expensive-Looking Lips Every Time
