5 Featherweight Lipsticks to Try Now
Though I love a cinematic matte lip as much as the next beauty fan, the dull finish is tougher to pull off under spring’s brighter daylight. Plus, with the mercury trending upwards, it’s also harder to keep an intense color together through meals, midday office meltdowns, and sweating in traffic. Luckily, the sheer lip category has pulled a Madonna of late—that is, a complete reinvention with significant upgrades on your typical tinted balms. Here, five new picks that might have you rethinking your spring lip wardrobe.
Urban Decay Sheer Revolution ($22)
A direct descendant of last spring’s balm-y lipstick movement (think buttery formulas packing wallops of color), this new sheer option by Urban Decay applies beautifully without settling in fine lines—the formula contains a color dispersion system. The finish is juicy but more sophisticated and less sticky than a gloss would be. And it’s not so sheer that when you’re looking for thicker coverage come night, you’ll need to swap out your lip color. Just layer up with a couple applications of, say, Sheer Anarchy, a playful bold pink, and you’ll make quite the impression.
Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro ($34)
Giorgio Armani has moved the beauty needle on many fronts and particularly when it comes to textures. (Need proof? Look no further than the Luminous Silk foundation, which has become a go-to with celebrity makeup artists.) The new Lip Maestro is no different. Technically a stain, it’s a safe step down for matte devotees. It goes on creamy and then dries to a soft-focus velvety finish. The lighter colors like Blush will read on the sheerer side, but dip into red and wine territory and the effect is similar to a classic lipstick but with a featherweight feel.
Rimmel London Provocalips 16Hr Kissproof Lip Stain ($7)
Another rule breaker in the lip stain category, Rimmel’s new Provocalips color is truly a hybrid. It goes on with a gloss wand, but the effect is more of a combo between a stain and the modern longwear formulas. It delivers nearly opaque color (Heartbreaker is killer with a tan) and stands up surprisingly well to kissing, eating, and drinking. The only knock is that it’s on the drying side.
YSL Volupte Tint-in-Oil ($35)
Spring’s shiny reflective surfaces are as fresh as they are enticing. YSL’s innovative formula captures that glow while adding just a hint of color (this product is the sheerest of the lot). Because of its subtle coloring, especially in neutral hues like Peach Me Love, it plays nice with dramatic eyes. Or use the reflective surfaces the lippie creates, by jazzing up an otherwise “no makeup” look.
Almay Smart Shade Butter Kiss Lipstick ($6)
Creamy and affordable, the Almay version of last season’s lip butter is a crowd-pleaser. You won’t get the high-tech finishes of the Lip Maestro or Sheer Revolution, but the formula is hydrating enough to skip the balm in warmer climes, while delivering the kind of everyday sheer color (Berry Light is a favorite) that’s pretty much foolproof.
Related:
What Your Lipstick Says About Your Personality
