Lip liner has a dubious reputation among women over 40. Back in the 1990s, Linda Evangelista and her fellow glamazons wouldn’t get out of bed without MAC Spice Lip Pencil (now £20, boots.com), which was a tawny, dark apricot colour.
This so-called ‘supermodel lip’ morphed into a harsh, exaggerated, unblended liner contrasting with whatever lipstick or – shriek! – frosted gloss was in use.
As a result, many older make-up lovers resist any hint of pencil, anxious not to replicate the brash, OTT kissers of our teens – or succumb to the dense, grubbily contoured pouts of the Kardashian sorority.
This is a pity, as nothing can be more youth-augmenting to the shrinking and puckering middle-aged mouth than a little definition about its perimeter. New liners are subtle, naturally flattering, relying on that old make-up artist’s trick of matching the shade to the wearer’s nipple colour. Yes, really.
In style, they’re akin to Charlotte Tilbury’s peachy-pink Pillow Talk Lip Cheat (£21, charlottetilbury.com), and its shade-inclusive spin-off range. Ideal for a slight, pout-enhancing overline, it is cherished by fiftysomething beauties Kate Moss and Salma Hayek.
The new lip pencils bring even more high-tech, skincare ingredients into play. These render them plumping, moisturising, line-smoothing and filling, while nourishing the natural lip line and protecting a border that may be doing a disappearing trick with age. Sport with lipstick, balm, or on its own for a modern emphasis.
Lip liner has a dubious reputation among women over 40
The most recent of these modish mouth accentuators is Refy’s Blur Liner (£16, refybeauty.com), which builds on the success of its double-ended liner and setter Lip Sculpt (£18). The latter comes in seven neutral hues, lasts for up to ten hours, and sold four months’ worth of stock in the 72 hours after launch.
The aim of the newer liner is to create the illusion of fuller lips via a single swipe, using ‘blur-gel technology’, hydrating oils, and a domed, line-hugging tip – eliminating the need for blending.
The fact that even natural-look- obsessed Glossier has produced a pencil proves that liner has changed – and for the better. In Glossier Lip Line (£18, uk.glossier.com), the super brand has created eight, ‘true-to-lip’ enhancers.
Mega make-up artist and YouTube icon Lisa Eldridge boasts blurring, soft-focus, crease-filling Sculpt and Shade Lip Pencils (£20, lisaeldridge.com) inspired by the undertones of our skin. Her cult ‘Lip Lift’ or ‘Happy Lips’ technique is also worth perfecting (Make-up Tips for Happy Lips Tutorial on YouTube).
To quote the oracle: ‘Step one, use your concealer and a brush to ‘cut off’ the outer, downturned corners of the lower lip.
‘Step two, take your lipstick and apply to the lower lip using the brush, leaving out those corners. Step three, apply lipstick to the upper lip, going to the edge of your natural shape, but not over. Step four, further enhance and define your upper and then lower lips with a liner, to your ideal shape.’ Drooping mouth, begone!
Living legend Bobbi Brown has come up with Jones Road: The Lip Pencil (£21, jonesroad beauty.com), bearing the motto ‘your lips – but better’.
Ageless sophisticates everywhere are declaring these new liners ‘better than filler’, not least because you won’t end up with a trout pout – merely the seductive smile you once enjoyed
This lavishly pigmented liner uses a blend of waxes and oils to create a lightweight, barely there finish. Several shades sold out immediately.
Meanwhile, slap-as-skincare supremos Kosas – fangirled by Naomi Watts and Gwyneth Paltrow – boasts Hotliner Hyaluronic Acid Contouring Lip Liners (£19, spacenk.com). In eight retractable numbers, they glide on to lend structure, with a built-in sharpener and brush.
Ageless sophisticates everywhere are declaring these new liners ‘better than filler’, not least because you won’t end up with a trout pout – merely the seductive smile you once enjoyed.
Race you to it!
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream is one of the few unguents with a claim.
Stock up for autumn with Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour, 4 Ways Gift Set (from Wednesday, £27, boots.com). It includes a full-size tube, plus lip balm, hand cream and all-over oil.
Save £48, exclusive to Boots
My icon of the week: Elizabeth Hurley
My icon of the week is actress Elizabeth Hurley, she always curls her lashes and carries a Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge
Sporting pink for Breast Cancer awareness at the Empire State building earlier this month, Liz, 59, is a testament to using Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum (30ml for £65, boots.com).
She always curls her lashes and carries a Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge (£32), Lip Gloss (now £27), and Lip Pencil (£27). Liz body brushes up a storm and loves an Epsom salt bath.
Cosmetic craving
I have waited years for a lilac blusher to replace my beloved, long-discontinued Kevyn Aucoin Neo Limelight Highlighter in Ibiza.
But at long last, I have discovered the perfect lilac flush in Chanel Les Tarots de Chanel Matte Powder Blush in Lavender (£54, chanel.com). It’s matte rather than iridescent à la the Aucoin, but still bewitching.
The powder is embossed with a tarot pack, on which the number five – Gabrielle Chanel’s lucky number – and the double-C logo appear. The warm-toned option, Blood Orange, is a witchy coral.
It’s a limited edition so I will be stockpiling.
Bathtime bliss
Neal’s Yard Women’s Balance Foaming Bath (£19 for 200ml, neals yardremedies.com)
Makes hormonal surges tolerable via patchouli, geranium, frankincense and rose.
Weleda Arnica Muscle Soak (£16.25 for 200ml, look fantastic.com) this arnica blend manages to relieve aches exquisitely.
L’Occitane Lavender Foaming Bath (£29.50 for 500ml, uk. loccitane.com)
For the sleepless – a relaxing froth conjuring Provencal lavender.
Marks & Spencer Apothecary Bath Salts in Calm (£12.50 for 600g, marksand spencer.com)
Lavender, orange and cedar oils make this a bestseller.
Sanex Biome Protect Moisturising Bath Foam (£2.99 for 570ml, savers.co.uk)
A pre- and probiotic blend soothing dry skin with intense moisture.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .