It’s one of those times of year when lipstick really comes into focus. All those jokes about shenanigans under the mistletoe, not to mention the excuse of party-time central to ramp up your look. It’s like Valentine’s Day, but on steroids.
red As I am prone to chapped lips, lipsticks aren’t always my friend (I can find them too drying), so I’m often a lip pencil and balm kind of gal. (I am, by the way, trying out Sensai Cellular Performance Total Lip Treatment, harrods.co.uk, which so many people swear by. It’s expensive – £75 for 15ml. It isn’t a cure, but on days when I’ve used it at bedtime, in the morning my lips have been transformed.)
But there are three lippies that I want to pay proper service to. First, Estée Lauder Pure Color Desire Rouge Excess Lipstick (£34, esteelauder.co.uk, pictured in Say Yes) – it’s a bonkersly long name and it irritates me that they don’t spell it ‘colour’, but that’s a side issue. Moisturising and lightweight, it comes with two options – creme and chrome. My preferred one is the creme, which gives a satin finish that’s a little bit glossy, but not too much so.
Glossier has updated and reintroduced its Generation G Lipstick (£14, glossier.com, pictured in Zip). It’s a matt finish and intended to give the effect of a just-blotted lip colour – which it does. I think of it like a stain, when your lipstick has worn in to the ideal colour. I prefer to apply it with my finger and push it into my lips as this emphasises the toned-down quality.
Then there’s Giorgio Armani Beauty’s festive collection. A creamy texture that gives lips gloss, the classic Ecstasy Shine Lipstick (£30, armanibeauty.co.uk, pictured in Red Excess) has been rebooted for December with four limited-edition shades of red and purple in a special case.
Follow these stars
No matter what your star sign is, I have a prediction for you – something important is coming into your life. I can see it: it begins with the letter C… and ends with ‘hristmas’. I can also see a few launches relating to astrology and the four elements: water, air, earth and fire.
Spectrum Collections has charming sets of star-spangled brushes housed in an elemental bag (which can double as a clutch) with the corresponding star constellations printed on the side (£49.99, spectrumcollections.com).
Natural beauty followers who read their horoscopes religiously will love the Pai Skincare In Your Element Gift Set (£22, paiskincare.com).
And, whether you take it seriously or not, Slip Silk Sleep Masks (£45, selfridges.com) come in night-sky blue with each star sign constellation embroidered on the front.
Feature by Edwina Ings-Chambers
