Name a more quintessential beauty product than lipstick, I'll wait. Given its mass appeal in the industry – lipstick sales are a good indictor of the economic climate according to the so-called Lipstick Index – it may be surprising to know that even make-up legends are divided on the subject of what the best lip wear looks like. Indeed, Bobbi Brown, founder of Jones Road Beauty, was so opposed to the idea of lipsticks that there was a time she gave up wearing them all together.
'True story — I stopped wearing lipstick for many years because they all felt dry and powdery,' reveals Brown. It's the reason why you may have noticed that, since launching in 2020, her beauty line has never offered up a traditional lipstick format. There's a lip pencil, a dense lip balm, and even a grown-up gloss, but a high-coverage bullet? Not a single one. Until now.
'It took me a while to decide what made a lipstick formula excellent. That’s how The Classic Lip was born. Smooth, satiny, lightweight, comfortable — it checks all the boxes,' Brown explains.
It's telling that Brown has synched the launch of her first Jones Road lipstick with the release of her memoir, Still Bobbi, out 23 September. It's 34 years since Brown launched her first-ever formula and this modern take on lipstick marks a new era.
The The Classic Lip, £30 is game-changing for the lipstick shy. It is buttery but not tacky, highly pigmented but blendable, and it offers a sophisticated satin finish that doesn't crack – a non-negotiable for Brown. That all-day comfortable wear is down to a cocktail of peptides and vitamin E, which plump, smooth and nourish lips. There are also 12 shades to choose from, including bold reds and mauvy neutrals, each as timeless and wearable as the next and made to suit a plethora of skin tones. The lipsticks correspond to each shade of the The Lip Pencil, £24, too, meaning you can build the perfect lip combination with ease, Jones Road wouldn't do beauty any other way.
Shop: Jones Road The Classic Lip
www.jonesroadbeauty.com
It's taken make-up legend Bobbi Brown five years to release a lipstick for Jones Road. Having forgone traditional lipsticks herself for years, her modern take on the make-up essential seeks to undo the errors of 'classic' formats, read: dry, powdery and ageing. The Classic Lip is for the anti-lipstick, lipstick wearer.
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'Like Brown, lipstick hasn't been a staple in my make-up routine for years. I love to line my lips with a pencil and go over with a gloss – this is without a doubt my dessert island duo. But Jones Road's The Classic Lip has started to bring me back into the fold, not only because of its comfy, buttery wear but its maximum colour pay off (all without being matte, might I add) that glides on sans any tugging or dryness. Plus, the colours are so wearable, I am wedded to Tawny Nude.'
Rachael Martin, beauty director, says: 'I’ve found the most beautiful colour in the shade ‘nude pink’ - it’s the perfect rosey hue with the most flattering hint of brown - perfect for everyday. The formula is incredibly creamy and surprisingly pigmented - the quickest swipe imparts a dense (but never heavy) wash of colour. It’s long lasting, too. While I did have to top up after lunch, I found the colour stayed put throughout most of the day and my lips felt soft and moisturised, too. Adore.’
Pros
- Buttery, comfortable formula
- Suits-all shade selection
Cons
- If you like matte lipstick, this may not be for you
Sameeha Shaikh is Grazia's beauty writer, covering all categories to bring you insights on the latest trends, industry news and the products you need to know about, viral or not (most probably viral).