Is it possible to have it all? When it comes to lipsticks, the answer seems to be, increasingly, easily a “yes”. While ultra pigmented colour used to often come at the cost of comfort, the crop that just hit stores promises both – along with a whole bunch of other benefits. Enter the high-shine, high-intensity yet light-as-ar Dior addict Lacquer Plump, made of an oil-and-water-emulsion infused with natural hibiscus extract to hydrate and create a plumping effect. What does this actually mean? We’ll let Dior Makeup’s creative and image director Peter Philips sum it up: “It’s got a bit of everything: a very lightweight formula, the colour-pigment payoff of a lipstick, the shine of a gloss, the comfort of a lip balm – and it’s long-lasting too.”
Joining the “I-can’t-believe-this-exists” pack of do-it-all lippies is Laura Mercier’s Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick ($40, above), a slim, crayon-like stick that delivers full intensity coverage in a single stroke (yes, we tried it). Despite the finish, conditioners prevent the feeling of dryness or cracking, and you don’t have to worry about smudges or feathering, thanks o its water and transfer-resistant properties. Equally great for those with dehydrated puckers is YSL Beaute Volupte Liquid Colour Balm ($52, below), though – as its name suggests – the finish leans towards the dewy. Being a balm, it nourishes, softens and hydrates immediately with natural coconut water and antioxidant-packed pomegranate extract. The colour, however, is unmistakably rich – like a luscious, satiny lipstick.
Photography Zaphs Zhang Styling Imran Jalal Makeup Manisa Tan/Paletteinc Model Marina/Mannequin
This story first appeared in Female’s June 2018 issue.
