Who doesn’t love the look of luscious lips? They’re plump, sumptuous, and dare we say, inviting. Whether vamped up or played down, painting one’s mouth can be empowering. And with the latest range of desirable, wearable finishes and formulas from haute brands, such as Gucci, Dior, Armani, and YSL, finding the perfect lippie to make you look and feel decadent is easier than ever before. Below, four top makeup pros from the luxe fashion beauty brands above divulge the ultimate expert advice on achieving lush, sensual lips this Valentine’s Day and beyond.
Tips for Softer, Plusher Kissers
For a buttery smooth pucker, YSL Beauty national makeup artist J. Brandon suggests exfoliating your lips at least once a week to rid them of flakes. Use a nourishing lip scrub, like the Fresh Sugar Lip Polish Exfoliator, to gently buff away dry, dead skin cells while leaving your lips deeply moisturized.
Armani Beauty makeup artist Carolina Gonzalez likes using a simple lip balm, like the one from Aquaphor, or a hydrating lip mask—Mario Badescu’s is her fave—before and after applying lipstick for a super-soft mouth.
Both makeup pros emphasize that using lipstick with hydrating ingredients is key for a lush, silky-smooth feel. “Look for lip products that contain vitamins and oils to help nourish your lips throughout the day and won’t dry out your lips,” says Brandon.
Jojoba oil is one of the many nourishing ingredients in Armani’s ultimate longwearing shades.
Infused with Moroccan pomegranate extract sourced from the YSL Beauty Ourika Community Gardens, as well as hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and mango oil, this high-shine jelly gloss will leave your lips petal-soft.
How to Fake Fuller Lips
For an effortless, laissez-faire method of making lips look naturally voluptuous, Gucci Beauty Global Color and Makeup Artist Thomas de Kluyver favors using the luxe Italian label’s new glossy lip plumpers infused with hyaluronic and Capsicum extracts. “The way they reflect light gives your lips an illusory fullness,” he says. And unlike some of those other lip plumpers out on the market, he notes that Gucci’s iteration won’t leave you with an uncomfortable, burning sensation. “It’s rather more of an enjoyable light, tingly titillation,” he explains. Gucci’s new sheer lipgloss comes in 6 hydrating tints that flatter all complexions.
Slightly overlining your lips is another way of faking a pillowy mouth. Brandon likes using a slightly darker lip pencil shade on the outer upper and lower corners of the top and lower lips for a vampy “pursed” effect.
Gonzalez, on the other hand, prefers using a powder blush, like Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Glow, for the overline. “I use a smudging brush to apply blush around the edges of the lip to make them appear fluffy and big. I like this technique because sometimes a lip liner can age you, but blushed lips are more modern and natural,” she says. “After applying the blush, I like to tap the Armani Beauty Lip Power Lipstick all over the lip. Be sure to wipe any excess product off. Then, purse your lips and directly apply the lipstick to the innermost part of your pout. Lastly, it’s super important to smack your lips a few times. This ensures your lip product is evenly applied and dry.”
Cardinal Rules
For an effortless red lip that looks natural, Peter Philips, Creative and Image Director for Dior Makeup, recommends applying a vermillion with a soft matte finish that blends in easily, then going back in and lightly softening the edge lines. Likewise, if you’re looking to bring on the drama with high-impact glamour, he suggests outlining your lips and filling them in with a satin shade with a bit of shine.
But whether you prefer a bright orange-crimson or a deep, lush brick, it’s all about tapping into your natural confidence when you sport any of the wide-ranging rouge tones. Any of them will look right on you, if you truly believe they do, emphasizes the Paris-based pro. Incorporating three natural waxes, a silky gel and shea butter, Rouge Dior Velvet has a smooth, matte-like texture that is surprisingly soft, and doesn’t look or feel dry at all. Dior’s new satin-finish lipsticks envelop your lips in a soft, radiant coat of color while providing long-lasting comfort and suppleness.
Simply Irresistible Smackers
Nothing telegraphs “kiss me” more than a sensual mouth. For a luscious, flirtatious lip, Brandon likes mixing two shades—a more neutral, clear color on the outer lip and a more pigmented color in the center—for what he describes as a “glazed” pout. “It’s a super-sensual, glossy look, which pulls people in,” he says.
Gonzalez considers the ombré lip as her all-time favorite. “You can play with colors here and it’s super seductive,” she says. “First, I apply a darker shade (she likes to use Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Glow Blush in Raspberry on the edges of the mouth instead of a lip liner, as blush can give a full look without a distinct line) to prep the lips and add subtle, natural color before applying the lipstick. Then, I go in with a slightly brighter tone, like Armani Beauty Lip Power Matte Lipstick in shade 407—in the center of the lips. Next, I apply from the deepest point of the lip to the edge and blend it in. The bullet-point tip of the lipstick makes application precise and easy. Lastly, I use a small, fluffy brush to buff the bold color to the edges of the lips, creating a dreamy lip.”
For an easy, fun take on the come-hither approach, De Kluyver likes layering gloss in a contrasting color over lipstick or liner. “Instead of matching your gloss to your lipstick, it’s really nice to play around with different combinations of colors,” he says. “Brown gloss over a claret lip is really beautiful, while peach over red brightens and lifts.”
Make It Last Forever
“To keep lipstick from smudging and to make it long-lasting, it’s all about the product you use,” says Gonzalez, matter-of-factly. “Once you find a long-lasting shade that you like, set it with a powder blush in a similar tone to lock it in. You can even use the blush as a primer and apply it before your lipstick.”
“A good powder blush, like the one from Armani Beauty, should settle on your lips wherever you want the color to last,” explains Gonzalez. “This one is buttery soft, but it is also very pigmented and buildable,” she adds.
Brandon’s longwear fave is the YSL Rouge Pur Couture Caring Satin Lipstick, which leaves lips with a pretty stain even if it starts to slightly wear away by the end of the day. The antioxidant-enriched formula is enhanced with ceramides and flower extracts for a decadent feel when you swipe it across your lips.
However, if you’re a glossy gal through and through, de Kluyver insists that you try Gucci’s latest iteration. “It is longwear without being sticky or tacky, which is rare for a glossy formulation,” he explains. “And, most importantly, it delivers an unbelievable shine.”