If you're reading this then chances are you're a beauty basic. Don't fret, we all need to start somewhere and admitting that you need some guidance is the first step to becoming a full-fledged beauty afficianato!
There are so many different lip brands and products on the shelves these days that it can be difficult to keep up at times. While which brands you choose to use all come down to personal preference, we can help you out with understanding what separates one lip product from another. Consider this your complete A - Z guide on all of the different type of lip products available.
Lip Treatment Products
Lip Balm
Balms are a must have for every girl! They are used for treating the cracked and dry skin your lips experience and maintaining smooth, healthy lips. Most balms have SPF coverage, with some brands having extra goodies such as shea butter and vitamin E to help soften lips.
Balms can appear either matte or shine, and can offer no colour to sheer colour depending on your preferences.
Lip Butter
Lip butters are similar to lip balms in the sense that their primary purpose is to hydrate the lips. Unlike balms, butters contain natural organic oils which provide lips with more moisture however they do feel slightly heavier.
Lip Butters come in a range of colours, often having a sheen finish.
Lip Preparation Products
Lip Primer
Primers are used to allow beauties to get the most out of their lip products and prolonging longevity.
Lip Primers, much like skin primers, act by moisturising, smoothing and preparing lips for colour and assist to prevent your lipstick colour from bleeding, flaking, or fading throughout the day.
Lip Liner
Lip Liners are often used to outline and/or fill-in the lips to help lipstick stay in place and avoid it moving. Liners act as a barrier which works to prevent lipstick from moving onto the skin surrounding the lips; this is also known as bleeding.
Liners offer full colour coverage and come in a variety of colours often matching your favourite lipstick shades. They also often have a life span longer than its companion, the humble lipstick.
Lip Plumping
Plumpers are used to get fuller looking lips by enlarging your natural lips for a short time period. Plumpers are often applied like a gloss and have a unique tingling sensation when it's working it's magic. If you're looking for bigger, fuller lips without the commitment of fillers then plumpers are worth trying out.
Minimalist Products
Lip Stain
Stains are great for babes on the go as they offer all day colour with no upkeep throughout the day, Lip Stains often come in liquid form, however some lipsticks also offer stain, and can last up to twelve hours once applied. Stains dry matte and require a skilled hand for application.
Unfortunately, if you have dry or chapped lips then a lip stain will not be your friend. Stains highlight every nook and crany, so avoid them if you're lips needs some TLC.
Lip Crayon
Crayons are our holy grail, offering colour, hydration and longevity. Lip Crayons are literally oversized crayons for your lips, with the best part being that they don't require any sharpening due to their twist bottoms.
Crayons offer amazing pigmentation and a variety of finishes, such as matte, sheer, satin, gloss and balm. Lip Crayons are very lightweight and are a natural looking alternative to lipsticks.
Glamour Products
Lip Gloss
Lip Glosses take me straight back to the early 2000's and my memories of wearing awful sticky lipglosses during my awkward teenage phase.
Glosses are often moisturising and stay moist the entire time they are worn. And as the name implies, they are glossy af. Thankfully, glosses are very versatile and offer full-colour, sheer colour, no colour, glitter and SPF protection.
Word of warning: avoid sticky glosses. You'll find that your hair will become stuck to your lips constantly. And touch-ups throughout the day will be necessary as glosses offer short-lived colour as they wear off easily.
Lipstick
I am a firm believer that a girl can never own too many lipsticks. Ever. And how could you ever own too many when there is an astounding variety of colours and finishes? Lipsticks come in a range of finishes such as matte, gloss, full colour, lustre, satin, and glaze just to name a few. Your finish will also determine the coverage of the lipstick. A matte lipstick will be full coverage compared to a lustre which will be sheer.
Every girl knows exactly what a lipstick looks like, however not every girl feels confident enough to apply and wear them. Personally, I've found that different finishes apply and wear differently to one another. So if you're one of these girls, head down to your local cosmetic store and try out a range of finishes to see which one you're most comfortable with.
Lipsticks do come with some maintenance, and often need to be reapplied after food and drink. For darker colours, you may also need to prime and line to prevent the lipstick from moving and smudging.
Liquid Lipstick
This is probably my, and every other girls, favourite type of lipstick. Liquid lipstick applies as a liquid, however dries matte and becomes so long lasting that makeup removers are essential for removal. How long do they last? Well that depends on the brand and quality of the product that you're using.
Liquid Lipsticks offer full, solid colour and are great for pulling off bold looks. Avoid any kind of oily foods though if you want your your look to last all day, as oil is amazing at removing liquid lipstick from your lips. Another downside to Liquid Lipsticks is that they are very, very drying on the lips which requires regular exfoliation of your lips and switching to another type of lip product every few days to give your lips a well deserved break.
Now you're on the track to being a beauty know it all! Stay tuned for more Pro Tips which are posted on the first Sunday of each month.
- B xo
