Think pink! Tips for kissable lips

Cara Delevingne's pink lips are perfected backstage by the creative director of YSL Beauté, Lloyd Simmonds. Picture / YSL Beauté.

Hello perfect pink pout, it’s time to shine, says beauty editor Janetta Mackay.

Pink has been declared the lip colour of the season by makeup maven Bobbi Brown. Why argue with an expert? It's less obvious than red, more impactful than nude and way easier to wear for most women than orange. Plus, with pink, the bonus is there's a flattering shade to suit all skin tones.

Go girly, go ladylike, go pop princess. From delicate shell shades, through warm rosewoods, to hot brights, we reckon there's plenty of choice from most brands. That's before you even get to pinks with a coral twist or a berry tinge. My own go-to pink owes much to magenta and I have a friend who favours full-on fuchsia.

Pink lipstick has been chosen as the hero colour in a number of new makeup collections coming on to counter in the next few weeks, including the shade worn by model Cara Delevingne (above). She's wearing Yves Saint Laurent's Tint-in-Oil, an example of a new style of hydrating lip product with a light feel. The innovative base is an oil infused with clear colour.

Revlon is launching its version of this new oil mix technology next month, and more brands will likely follow. The American company's Ultra HD will be in lipstick form, but without the traditional waxy lipstick feel, while the French brand's newbie is a slick, non-sticky gloss-style product.

In support of building a loving relationship with your lipstick - and perhaps a Valentine - today we have some tips and hints on lip care and how to pick the perfect pink, plus a sample line-up of just a few of the lippies we like.

If you've a hot date coming up on Saturday we recommend wearing a long-wear matte formula - you don't want a creamy lipstick or a gloss smearing all over that glass of bubbles. The other approach is to keep it simple with a stain of colour or a tinted balm for natural-but-better lips which are, of course, pink.

Yves Saint Laurent Volupte Tint-in-Oil in Cherry my Cherie; M.A.C Viva Glam Miley Cyrus; Guerlain Kiss Kiss in Rosy Silk; Karen Murrell Pink Starlet Lipstick; L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche in Crazy Fuchsia.

Pictures / Supplied.

Yves Saint Laurent Volupte Tint-in-Oil in Cherry my Cherie (No5) $59
The promise is of a "tint with balmy comfort that is lightweight and non-sticky". True enough, and that's unusual especially with decent colour, but I'm not going to go with the press release and say it is long-lasting. Good for gloss, but no match for a decent lipstick, though the lush yet non-sliding feel is special. Lipgloss fans looking for something more luxurious than usual will love it. Volupte Tint-in-Oil comes in eight shades, with a fruity mango scent and a well-shaped foam applicator. In selected department stores and pharmacies from next week.

M.A.C Viva Glam Miley Cyrus $40
Whether you want to make like Miley, support a good cause or just wear one of the hottest pink shades around, check out the new Viva Glam collaboration. There's also a sparkly hot pink lipgloss for $38, with every cent of the sales price of the growing line-up of Viva Glam lip products going to help women, men and children living with HIV/Aids. What's not to like about that? Miley for Viva Glam at all M.A.C counters from tomorrow.

Guerlain Kiss Kiss in Rosy Silk (No 560) $59
The premier packaging prize goes to this sculptural lipstick from Guerlain. Black and gold always look elegant together and this will slip as easily into an evening clutch as you do into a little black dress. The creamy lipstick formula contains moisturising hyaluronic acid and a subtle vanilla-violet-berry fragrance. From Smith & Caughey's, Queen St only.

Karen Murrell Pink Starlet Lipstick $29.95
This colour was the top-selling lipstick shade across New Zealand pharmacies last year, according to the latest Aztec sales data. That's quite a feat for a local brand. Viva feels vindicated, having long rated the natural range for its moisturising appeal and growing range of colours.

Murrell says Pink Starlet's blue-gold base makes it a fail-safe shade able to tone with most colourings. The Aucklander also makes darker and lighter pink shades and says: "Wearing pink lipstick is self-gratifying and also a gift to anyone who is lucky enough to look at you." From selected pharmacies and health food stores, ph 0508 600-400 or see karenmurrell.com.

Tips for kissable lips

Viva asked Lisa Matson, New Zealand makeup director for L'Oreal Paris, for her suggestions on how to make a lasting impression with soft, smooth, smashing-looking lips. Here's her tips.

• Exfoliate weekly (a soft-bristle toothbrush is good for this) and apply a treatment lip balm liberally at night because skin regenerates best while you sleep.
• Use a lip primer prior to application to soften lips and add longevity to your lipstick.
• Choose a bright- or deep-coloured lipstick to draw attention to your mouth, unless you're going for a sultry, smoky eye, in which case leave your lips neutral.
• Accentuate your cupid's bow and create a well-balanced shade using a lip pencil for ultimate results.
• Apply lipgloss in a slightly lighter hue to the middle of your lips to give the illusion of fullness.
• If you're a gloss girl think about texture. The tackier the product the longer it will stay on your lips, but is it kissable?
• To ensure your lips last the distance, opt for a long-wear lipstick or gloss formula.

Well matched

When searching for the right pink hue for your lips, look to your skin tone, says makeup artist Lisa Matson. Women with warm skin tones should opt for warm pinks with a nude or coral base, and those with cooler skin tones are best to choose a blue based pink. Colour intensity can also be gauged by your skin colour. Lighter skin tones can wear pale and bright shades. The darker your skin is, the brighter or darker you should go.

Matson's recommendation for a doll pink is the longwear formula L'Oreal Paris Infallible Le Rouge in Beyond Blushing, $25.99. For a hot pink she likes L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche in Crazy Fuchsia (above), $23.99. For sheerer coverage try L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Extraordinaire in mid-toned Rose Melody, $25.99.

- VIVA