Shades of pink lipstick will be a staple for Spring-Summer 2013 (March to August) and maybe even for Fall-Winter abroad. Why? Pink goes very well with emerald green, the proclaimed color of the year.
Bright pinks, especially in fuchsia, magenta and rose, are flattering on those with olive undertones and a beautiful contrast to dark hair. This would be an economical but much-appreciated gift for Mother’s Day, especially for those with a limited budget.
I have had chapped, dry, flaky lips since childhood, so these formulas feel very uncomfortable to me. I usually have to first apply lip balm like Burt’s Bees or Chapstick on exfoliated dry lips before putting on lipstick.
Avoid balms with the texture of petroleum jelly or the lipstick will slide all over the place and refuse to stay on. If you do not have dry lip problems, you will love these.
Revlon Colorstay Suede lipstick (P575 each) has 22 shades in all, so you will definitely find at least one that suits you even if it’s not pink. There is no color transfer on skin and glass once it sets, unless you come into contact with an oily substance which will cause pigment to break down and smear.
My personal favorite shade is Backstage, a deep plum wine with buildable coverage so the first swipe looks like sheer burgundy rose petals. This shade can be worn all year round; you can add more layers to make it darker for the “ber” months.
Alas, like all long-lasting lipsticks, this set to very matte after 40 minutes and felt like drying paint when I pursed my lips together. They felt tight and dry after an hour despite my applying lip balm before the lipstick. I applied gloss on top, which lessened the lipstick’s staying power but made my lips look luscious and feel comfortable.
I had to wipe off and reapply on the five-hour mark to start fresh. Friends of mine with no lip problems lasted seven hours before they noticed fading at the corners and inner lips. Since it’s summer, my lips were fairly comfy but I foresee great discomfort for those who will use this on colder dry months without lip balm and occasional lip gloss on top.
My favorite Revlon long-staying formula is still Colorburst lipbutter and Superlustrous.
Bestseller
MAC Candy Yum Yum (P1,000) is neon pink that is surprisingly flattering to even kayumanggi and morena women. It is a current bestseller and said to be very similar to NARS Schiap. Women with deep coffee tones are more suitable to deep berry pinks or those with purple tones. Luckily, MAC lipstick has a wide range of colors so you will definitely find at least a dozen flattering pinks.
Clinique Chubby Stick Intense (P920) is very moisturizing with a high pigment content. The crayon-like shape and tip make coloring within the lines easy.
Just-bitten effect
Plushest Punch is an über bright fuchsia pink with very high moisture and medium shine. When it fades, it has a “just-bitten” effect. The color fades evenly and feels like a lip balm, shines like gloss but has the opaque color of cream. The color was a bit eye-popping for me, though, and I prefer Grandest Grape (purple berry) and Curviest Caramel (Your Lip).
Fashion 21 Pink Obsession Collection (P155 each) feels light on the lips. I’m not crazy about the pearly pink packaging, but thankfully there is no frosted shade in the collection. Hot Diva is fuchsia, Dream Girl is pink beige, Baby Chic is pinky peach, Sexy Lady is pink salmon, Pretty Daisy is Pink Coral, Berry Princess is a light berry pink and Blushing Teen is a warm pink. I can only wear Dream Girl and Hot Diva as everything else turns orange on me.
Colors register differently with each person, so it’s best to test colors personally on finger pads because they have similar undertones to lips and you will see the reaction on your skin. Do not just buy what looks good on a friend, even if her skin tone is similar to yours.
