Lipstick is the beauty equivalent of a Ferrari. It’s a fast, sexy fix and we prefer it in red. It will get you wherever you want to go. But, unlike a sports car, when it comes to lippy there’s not a one-size-fits-all model. In fact, it's intensely personal and affected by minutiae factors.
How do you wear your hair? How’s your skin? Are you on your period? What sort of mood are you in? Are you trying to impress your boss? Or, a date? There is a whispered stream of consciousness that goes into the decisions we make when it comes to lipstick. We know what suits our skin in the summer may not be the same as in the winter, and what makes our porcelain friend look like fire, won’t necessarily work on our more tanned pals.
And unlike fashion trends, which we follow with varying degress of faithfulness, how we choose a lipstick colour is a much more personal affair - and no wonder. A lipstick can change everything about how someone else perceives you - and it can have a huge impact on how we feel about ourselves.
Though we regularly think a slick of bright red lipstick will be the making of an outfit, it's more complex than just picking up any old shade. After all, lipstick comes in a myriad of tones from peachy cool hues to warm, vibrant plums. What suits you depends not just on whether your complexion is creamy or espresso but your hair, your eyes, your wardrobe and your jewellery.
But what does impact on how we pick our lipstick? We conducted a highly not-scientific study where we asked different women in our building, and around London what informed their lipstick choices. And the three most common reasons for picking a specific shade were:
1. mood
2. hair colour
3. complexion
Overwhelmingly, the majority of the women we asked in our anonymous research said it was their mood that day that affected their colour choice - much more so than any concerns of which shades matched their complexion or hair colour. A few also mentioned their outfit that day or the occasion they were attending. But for the most part, mood was by far the most important factor. Many wore a bright red shade when they wanted to feel confident or sultry. Darker tones tended to be favoured for evenings and nights out when they knew red wine was on the menu.
(Model is wearing Bourjois Rouge Laque Liquid Lipstick Majes Pink 01)
‘The colour I choose is affected by my mood, how much attitude I want to have that day and my outfit,’ said one woman we asked. She added, ‘Since I dyed my hair purple I have to be quite careful about what colour I put on my lips, I use to be able to wear dark purples but, now I feel it makes me feel like a grape.’
Many echoed one lipstick wearer who said, ‘the shade definitely effects my mood. I hate to say it but it can be empowering, but it can be, and even if your outfit is casual it makes you feel put together.’
(Model is wearing Bourjois Rouge Laque Liquid Lipstick Framboiselle 06)
‘I wear bright red lipsticks on a day when I need a bit of extra help,’ said one lady. While another, reiterated her saying, ‘wearing a dark red is sexy and makes me ready for a night out, but bright red is more summery and fun.’
(Model is wearing Bourjois Rouge Laque Liquid Lipstick* Toute Nude 02)
And that's what is so great about lipstick shades and how we pick them. They're not dictated by trends, or fashion's so-called rules. They're a reflection of how we feel inside and how we want to demonstrate that to other people. It's the biggest - and most personal - statement you can make with your makeup.
***Still can’t decide which lipstick shade suits your mood today? Check out Bourjois’ new lipstick range, Rogue Laque. There are 8 shades to chose from, the colours are ultra pigmented and last up to 16 hours. So they’re basically total genius. ***
We’re looking for four readers to win the entire range, a trip to Paris and become Bourjois Beauty Ambassadors. To be in with a chance of winning, click here… #letsplaylips
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.