Luscious lips - find your perfect lipstick

Nail the pout of the season with make-up supremo, Mary Greenwell

By Eminé Ali Rushton


Think lip-gloss and what comes to mind? Images of teen popstrels and cotton candy blondes such as Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson? Now, think lipstick and who do you imagine? Sexy sirens Gwen Stefani and Angelina Jolie?

With fashion taking a sexy and sombre turn for winter, the poster girls for the season are firmly rooted in the second camp - with make-up artists choosing to shun saccharine smiles in favour of serious pouts, painted in the most beautiful shades. Leading make-up artist and celebrity favourite, Mary Greenwell, is a fan of the versatile colours and textures that popped up all over winter's coolest catwalks. ‘The lip colours of the season include everyday-wearable sheer nudes, alongside berry and dark wine reds. The boldest hit of the season, however, was black lacquer which is in line with the current gothic trend - one thing's for certain, lips are to be taken seriously this season!'

Prep your lips

If it's been years since you last left the house wearing lipstick, don't panic. ‘Prep your lips by using a lip balm every single night before bed, in the middle of the night when you wake up, first thing in the morning and before you apply your lipstick. If your lips are completely hydrated then applying lip liner will be much easier and you can create and correct the shape of your mouth far more subtly. My favourite lip balms are Eve Lom Kiss Mix, £12.50 (spacenk.com) and Sisley Nutritive Lip Balm, £29.50. When using lip liner, look for a very natural and neutral colour, even if you are wearing dark or bright lipsticks. The liner should not be recognised as a line itself, but used solely to enhance the shape of the lips. Then move onto lipstick. The colour you choose should be dependent on your outfit and mood. There are no rules with colour. If the steps before colour application are done properly, applying the colour should be the easiest bit! The amount of lipstick you put on, thick or thin, is up to you. With modern lipstick textures and colours, blotting is not really necessary, but if you feel there is too much product on your pout, just remove the excess with your finger,' says Mary Greenwell.

No colour will last all day long - the preparation of the lips is the most important partThe biggest bugbear for lipstick-loving ladies is how quickly they can wear off. While there are new and improving formulas dedicated to staying put for up to 16 hours, the truth is that the longest-lasting lipsticks do tend to be the most drying. ‘No colour will last all day long - the preparation of the lips is the most important part when it comes to ensuring that make-up stays put. Besides, there is nothing wrong with applying make-up regularly!' Lipstick may not be the most low-maintenance item in your bag, but it will certainly be one of the most impactful, and applying to soft, dry and balm-free lips (pre-lined or primed), will make the colour last as long as possible.

Signature shades

With so many brands launching lustworthy colours and textures, where to begin? ‘My favourite lipstick that of all time is Silhouette by Rouge Allure from Chanel, £19. The Rouge Allure range has fantastic colours and textures that really do last. Also Christian Dior Addict High Shine Lip Colour, £16.50, is gorgeous and glossy - a great alternative to lip-gloss. I also adore SUQQU Creamy Lipstick £24, because they really are healing and nourishing.'

The most common concern for lipstick virgins is finding the right colour. Many of today's most stylish women swear by a signature shade - Chloe Sevigny adores MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo, £11 while Gwen Stefani favours the brand's Russian Red, £11. Mary Greenwell, however, believes that ‘changing your lip colour is one of the fastest ways to change your make-up look.' Mix an old favourite in with a new hue - for on-trend colours you can't beat Bourjois, MAC or Rimmel.

Don't let the shape of your lips scare you off either. Kirsten Dunst's pout may be petite while Angelina's is generous, but that doesn't stop them running the lipstick gamut from nude to vampish. ‘You should always make the most of what you've got! Just remember that dark colours will accentuate large or small mouths. If you want to play it safe, go for this season's more neutral and natural nudes or rich creamy colours with very little shine. The look still makes a statement, but will be supremely flattering too,' says Greenwell. The single unifying trend for lips this winter - strong & sexy. So from beige to black, one thing's for sure, this season, it's time to kiss and make-up.

Whats hot right now?

We have pouted our way through Autumn's latest lipsticks - click here to see our favourite new seasons shades