New formulas are transforming the feel and staying power of lipsticks, offering fluid textures in intense colours with a light-weight feel. This makes it easier to get a one-coat high-shine finish or an intense matte colour with a velvety smoothness that isn’t drying. Crayons aplenty offer ease of application and balms are your best friend for keeping lips conditioned, but it is perhaps glosses that have changed the most of all. If you have long since written off gloss as a sticky hair-catching magnet, it’s time to think again.
Nars Velvet Lip Glide $41This hybrid lip colour boasts the fluid ease of gloss with the coverage of a lipstick. An oil infusion complex aids glide in delivering saturated colour and sensorial comfort. Have fun picking from 13 shades with names inspired by the club scene that sprang up from the 1970s, including No. 54 and Danceteria. From Mecca Cosmetica stores, or see meccabeauty.co.nz
Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Colour Bold Liquid Lipstick $39Dress your lips in rich colour and high shine from Arden’s new Liquid Assets Colour Collection, which includes this wet-look lipstick alongside eye and cheek products all designed to give disco-diva definition. Micro-fine pigments of colour are encased in polymers to improve hold and shine, while glycerine adds comfort. For a less colour-saturated effect than you will get from applying direct from the click pen, blot on with fingers for a subtle stain. From Farmers and selected pharmacies.
Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Colour $19.99 Try the matte gloss trend with this creamy formula which spreads smoothly for a cushioned swipe of intense colour in eight shades. Another goodie that has been around for a little longer is the similar feeling Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lip Colour which provides a shinier finish. From department and variety stores and selected supermarkets.
