Ok, let me just say this – I’m a straight-up lipstick gal. I love my lipsticks in all shades, textures and formulations. But one has to accept that it’s the ‘un-lipstick’ trend that’s taken over, hasn’t it? We’re talking about lip oils, lip blushes, tinted balms, stains, lip tints and so much more.
If you’re a beauty enthusiast, you’ve probably had to deal with the ‘sold out’ signs on many of these products like the Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil and balms, Clarins Lip Comfort Oils, Bobbi Brown Extra Lip Tints, etc. which points to the fact that un-lipstick is indeed a trend that’s here to stay. Are we then taking a lipstick break? Maybe, and just for a while, I hope! The fact is, these non-lipstick lip products are beautifully wearable, lightweight, perfect for everyday looks as well as special occasions, and lend a radiant, dewy appeal to the face. It also goes perfectly with the glowy, fresh-faced look that’s so sought after currently.
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The Un-Lipstick Trend: Is Less Really More?
We also spoke to leading celebrity makeup artists to find out what they think about this trend.
Namrata Soni, Celebrity Makeup Artist & Founder of Simply Nam says, “I feel like this trend has taken off now more so than ever because people just want to be more comfortable with what they wear on their lips. With the climate and weather changing, you may need to keep touching up which can be drying and uncomfortable on the lips, especially in countries like India, where it is so hot. I also think the mindset of ‘less is more’ is finally catching on, where people don’t want to look like they have too much on their faces.”
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Her own beauty brand Simply Nam also recently launched a range of lip oils and glosses. “We wanted to introduce full coverage lip glosses, which would again heal your lips if you are suffering from chapped, dry lips and at the same time give a beautiful sparkle and shine.”
She shares that her brides and celebrity clients love the Juicy Lip Oil and Golden Hour Lip Oil from this range. “They are beautiful tinted lip oils, easy to wear on-the-go, especially when you don’t want to be wearing full-on lipstick.” She says, in fact, her bridal and celebrity clients love these so much now, she usually leaves it behind for them, having to restock her own makeup kit!
Hydration Meets Colour
Talking of brides, Celebrity & Bridal Make Up Artist Shradha Luthra of Doll You Up By S, who recently created the dreamy soft looks for Alanna Panday for her wedding functions, believes the lip oil trend has blown up because it’s one product that combines oils and balms. “I think it hydrates the skin and also makes it look voluminous.
At the same time, there are a lot of lip balms today that are non-sticky, and also long lasting, as long-lasting liquid lipsticks! So, you’re getting hydration, along with it being non-sticky and getting the look of a gloss when it’s actually a balmy feel.”
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Shradha points out that these products are also are getting more popular now because with just a little bit of product, you can literally amplify your entire look and it’s also buildable in terms of colours. “So, for anyone who wants a heavier, and a more prominent colour or just a flush of it, it’s very easy to build the colour as you please,” she says.
Namrata reiterates this point saying, “Tinted lip oils, tinted balms, and lip glosses work really well because today you have products that actually give you amazing coverage without having to wear lipstick. While earlier, you would have to wear something underneath to cover up whether you have pigmentation, discolouration or just for a colour to pop, because lip glosses and lip tints used to be very sheer. But today, lip glosses, lip tints and lip balms give you beautiful coverage. At the same time, they have amazing healing properties, give a lot of hydration to the lips and are easy to apply.”
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One Product, Multiple Uses
This trend also encompasses another trend, that is of multi-use tinted balms and lip & cheek tints and the like. Be it in tubes, pots, bottles or sticks, these multipurpose ones, have our hearts! The PIXI On The Glow Blush stick is one such trending example that’s being used as a lip and eye tint too, and boy, has it gone viral! Also, possibly one of the first ones to win us over was Benefit Cosmetics’ Benetint. The lip & cheek tint was later launched in five other shades too, which goes to prove that this lightweight, multi-use product is a winner and still reigning supreme.
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Bianca Louzado, Celebrity Make Up Artist & Founder of Code Beauty says, “Beauty enthusiasts such as myself are loving these multi-use products now. Tinted balms that can be used on the eye lids, cheeks as well as lips are trending. It looks effortless and sexy.”
She says now people are on the constant look out for products that make the skin look uber dewy, adding, “How we use these is, we tend to put the tint on the eyelids and smudge it. On the cheeks it makes it look all rosy & flushed, and on the lips, we use it without any lip liner and make it look like naturally tinted lips.” Bianca points out that a lot of her clients ask for this look, as well as brides who want this look for their after parties.
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Namrata too shares that a lot of her clients and celebrities have asked for these types of non-traditional lip products. “I think my clients and brides just want something easy to wear which will give them a little bit of sparkle and shine and a little tint on the mouth without making it look like too much.” She believes that the overpainted and overdrawn lips are going out of fashion. “Overall, I think it’s a very good space to be in where ‘less is more’ is being accepted and people realise that they need to look a lot more like themselves,” she signs off.
The Best Picks for Un-lipstick Trend
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil
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This product probably doesn’t even need an introduction because it’s gone viral and how. And now with Rare Beauty coming to India soon, we can’t wait to try it on! It is an innovative lip jelly formulation that transforms into a lightweight oil, starting off glossy, then leaving lips tinted while staying comfortable and never sticky all day. It comes in eight shades and is made with jojoba and sunflower seed oil that instantly hydrates and nourishes for soft, smooth lips that feel moisturized all day. Gently plumps lips for a fuller, healthier-looking pout in seconds.
Huda Beauty Lip Blush Creamy Lip & Cheek Stain
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Launched just last month, these transfer-proof lip stains come in five pretty shades and are hydrating, creamy lip and cheek tint that gives a harmonized pop of colour. Hyaluronic acid powder and coconut extract makes lip blush ultra-comfortable, hydrating, and lightweight, while its doe-foot applicator helps glide the product onto the lips & cheeks for easy on-the-go application. It can be taken from subtle to vibrant in just a few strokes and has a blurred effect that lasts all day.
Givenchy Rose Perfecto Liquid Lip Balm
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After having reinvented this iconic balm in 2021, Givenchy now reveals a unique marbled liquid version Rose Perfecto Liquid Balm tints and adds a glossy finish to the lips with an immediate plumping effect and 24-hour hydration. With 97% skincare ingredients, its hydrating and comfortable formula is enriched with hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, shea butter, and pink pepper. What’s not to love?
e.l.f. Cosmetics Glossy Lip Stains
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While usually the words gloss and stain meant two different products altogether, this one combines the two! This new launch from e.l.f is a non-drying lip stain with a gloss finish. Available in 8 gorgeous shades, it is a lightweight lip stain that leaves a sheer kiss of colour and a healthy hint of glossy shine, think, more pigment than a lip balm and less bold than a lipstick.
