This summer, I decided to bust out of my regular beauty routine and try out several summer lipstick trends. I wasn’t sure if I’d find my go-to, a date-night favorite, or a heap of absolute garbage on the other end, but I decided to test-drive the trends. On the advice of countless girlfriends, and after pouring over the beauty blogs while my toddler napped, here’s what piqued my interest and made the cut. And of course, how they fared.
Want the lowdown on the best lipstick trends for this summer? Read my recap below:
Lipsense
The Scoop: If your Facebook friend base is anything like mine, you’ve been added to groups for this product. I normally stay away from MLM (network marketing companies), but couldn’t resist the countless selfies I kept seeing of moms kissing their kids or drinking coffee with bold lips and not leaving a mark. How?
The Details: It felt a little scammy that I needed a $50 “starter kit” to get going, but it included lip gloss and “oops” remover, so the price proved to be worth it. My consultant Hayley included instructions to apply one thin layer of color at time, letting it fully dry and then after two or three, to seal with gloss. Easy-peasy. The color I chose for this experiment is called Goddess; tubes are $25 per color.
The Results: Lipsense proved itself – the color stood up all day during a Fourth of July spent at the beach, showering, and for late-night fireworks (and smooches!) with the hubby. I highly recommend this long-wear color for busy moms, especially if you like bolder hues and don’t usually get to wear them for fear of smudges or stains.
A Matte Gloss
The Scoop: Gloss is the obvious choice for summer, but matte lips have held strong with celebs for over a year, so I decided it was time to give them a try. I opted to summer-up the look by combining it another popular trend right now – a punchy pink.
The Details: I was overwhelmed by how many matte lip options greeted me when I walked into the beauty store, but I wanted a gloss, not a stick. For something on the “chalkier” side, I prefer a creamy texture. I found just that – plus super-easy application with a tube of Ulta Matte Lip Cream in Bossy, $9.
The Results: This Barbie-pink matte gloss was my favorite of all the trends I tried. My husband raved about the color, telling me I looked “hot.” Score one for Mommy! And, the matte texture didn’t feel dry, which I loved. I’m planning to go back and get this moisturizing yet matte gloss in a bunch more hues.
Pastels
The Scoop: After seeing ice blue splashed across the spring/summer runways, including a perfect pout designed by celebrity makeup artist Pat McGrath for Maison Margiela, I was intrigued. As a stay-at-home mom, I couldn’t figure out a way to justify blue lips, so I decided to take the trend a little “light” and go with a gorgeous lavender.
The Details: Once I had decided on the color, I needed to choose the texture wisely — anything too matte in a pastel wouldn’t quite work for day. I found a creamy lipstick in a fun violet and bit the bullet. Application was a little trickier with this color than the others, since the shade is so far from my natural lip color. It wouldn’t be ideal for a rushed morning, but I managed to pull it off without any oopsies. NYX Turnt Up Lipstick in Playdate, $5.99.
The Results: I actually loved the color despite it being outside my comfort zone, and wearing it made me feel young and fresh. I was surprised to get nothing but positive feedback about my lips, and even my mom (who will let you know when she hates your lipstick!) thought it looked cute when I wore it to meet her for lunch. Bonus: my two-year-old daughter absolutely loved the color.
Chestnut Rose
The Scoop: Nudes aren’t new, but they’re everywhere. On the runways of The Blonds, Nicholas K, and Erdem this season, sultry neutrals had the volume dialed up with a slight pink tinge. Since my skin tends to look sallow against nudes in the winter, this was the perfect moment to try one out, thanks to my summery glow.
The Details: It was hard picking the right hue to complement my skin tone and fit the trend, so I tried a bunch on both my hand and my lips. I was open to sticks or glosses, but it turned out the pigment of a gloss wasn’t enough to truly show off the trend. I went with the satin-finish and perfect hue of Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Lipstick in Naked Talent, $12.
The Results: I felt like a goddess in this color, and the fact that it’s easy to apply on-the-go without a mirror scores even more points for it. Now that I’ve bitten the bullet with nude, I’m ready to take the plunge and try more throughout the year. This color, though, is bound to be my new everyday lipstick.
No-Shine Red
The Scoop: When I was young and working in fashion, I never shied away from a red lip. As a mom, the look feels a little intimidating and complicated to pull it off. But with a fresh summer glow I reached for a matte red, as seen at Valentino, Giambattista Valli, and Dolce & Gabbana and many others this season. I figured this is the time of year to try it if I’m ever going to!
The Details: Lured in by a buy-one-get-one-half-off deal, I stuck with Soap & Glory. I truly love the creamy yet stay-put texture of this lipstick and it translates well in red just as in the nude. One layer was all I needed on both my top and bottom lips, then a quick touch-up to ensure the corners were handled and I was on my way. Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Lipstick in Fired Up, $12.
The Results: I fell in love with red lipstick again the minute I put this on, and in a matte formula it didn’t overwhelm. Since my face now shows my exhaustion (thanks, pregnancy and toddler!), I balanced out the look with black eyeliner and an extra coat of mascara. The shade might be strong for preschool drop-off, but I can’t wait to wear it out with my husband soon.
Overall, this project had no disappointments and was a ton of fun. My advice to any mom who wants to give the trends a try? Just go for it. You’ll never know what you can pull off until you put it on!
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