Lip contouring palettes

Just like for our complexion, lip contouring helps get rounded lips, as if they had gained volume, by using different colour shades and playing with light.
After L’Oréal Paris, who launched their Lip Palette Color Riche (€18.50) as part of their Christmas Collection, it is now Maybelline’s turn to offer their first real lip contouring palette (Color Drama Lip Contour Palette, €12.99). It comprises six shades with a double-tipped brush, a primer base for colours to last longer, and an illuminating gloss to be applied in the heart of the mouth, for a 3D volume effect in four steps.
First, apply the opaque base to highlight pigments and make the colour last longer. Then, redefine your lip contour by following natural curves thanks to the fine, accurate tip of the integrated brush. For visibly plumped lips, use a shade slightly darker than the colour you chose for the inner surface of your lips. That is when the colour selected may be applied in the middle of your lips with the larger tip. Lastly, use the illuminating gloss in the middle. You can also create your own tailor-made shade, depending on your mood, outfit, circumstances, and style. Obviously, this expert gesture will not help us gain time!

Shaded lips

In the same vein, Dior’s Rouge Gradient (Spring 2017 Collection, Colour Gradation, €36 in January) is a pencil with two foam rubber tips designed to obtain subtle shaded colours. The first ‘lip shadow’ duo by the Maison Dior should be used by applying the clearer shade all over the lips as a base, like a powdered cream with a matte finish, and then lay a touch of the most intense colour in the heart of the lips. The superimposition effect creates a cross fading with a no material impression, whose intensity can be adjusted over and over again. One collection, three possibilities: a vibration of sensual reds (755 Red), a contrast of juvenile pinks (575 Pink), or shaded purples (975 Purple).
As for the Dior Addict Gradient Lipstick with the mirror radiance (€34.50, five shades: 430 Peach Twist, 459 Coral Twist, 559 Rose Twist, 760 Fuchsia Twist, 850 Pink Twist), it adorns the lips with a duo of spring shades that melt in matching tones. The stick is infused right in its heart with a second, clearer shade for a top coat effect. It only remains for you to select your favourite combination among the five duos: pink/raspberry, coral/pinkish, pink/orangey, peach/dark purple, and rosewood/fuchsia.

Lip liners

Simpler and quicker, these are also designed for lip contouring, like with Sephora’s Liner & Lipstick Duo, Contour & Color, two matte shades in the same harmony (Liner & Lipstick Duo, €12.95, six duos of shades, next January). Again, we recommend you to draw your lip contours, and then apply the liner on the inner surface of your mouth with the darker shade, to finally lay the clearer shade in the heart of your lips.
The same goes for Nocibé’s Lips Kajal, available in two shades (€12.95, six shades). They also create a velvety effect and an intense colour.

Ariane Le Febvre