Inspired by this season’s sophisticated 40s trend, dark lip shades are a Winter essential to update your every-day make-up look. Deep vampy plums and classic berry-reds were showcased by Gucci and Louis Vuitton among others on their 40s inspired Autumn/Winter 2011 catwalk shows.
When you have only a short window of time to get ready for Christmas events, apply a creamy foundation, a slick of defining mascara, and one of these dark-toned lipsticks for a polished festive look.
Rouge Bunny Rouge Colour Burst Hues of Enchantment Lipstick in Raw Silence
A satin-finish lipstick in a shade described by Rouge Bunny Rouge as ‘cool true-red’. The perfect ‘screen siren’ colour. If you haven’t tried Rouge Bunny’s whimsically named, beautifully packaged make-up range then you are missing out on an exceptional brand– all their products of the very highest quality, and this creamy lipstick is no different.
Rouge Volupte Perle in Spellbinding Violet
From YSL’s Autumn 2011 Midnight Garden collection this velvety lipstick is such a sophisticated true deep-purple shade. The Rouge Volupte formula is smooth and emollient, making application very easy. The luxurious gold case has a small mirror on the tip of the bullet for on the go touch-ups.
Rouge Allure Laque in Dragon
A beauty editor’s favourite, this luxuriously textured deep-red lip laquer is a bold choice for Winter parties, with a satin-gloss finish that won’t dry out your lips.
Hourglass Femme Rouge Velvet Crème Lipstick in Raven
Liberty
Hourglass’s paraben and sulphate free lipstick treats the lips with vitamin E and antioxidants while it colours with a rich, silky formula in this lovely rust-toned red. The water-resistant formula is very light for one with such high pigmentation, and it lasted the evening on us with a velvety feeling and subtle shine.
Moisture Plus Lipstick in Merlot
Cosmetics à La Carte offer a service where you can take an old, discontinued lipstick in and they will find you a new one from their range, matching the colour and texture perfectly. The moisture plus lipsticks are creamy and hydrating, and this shade is a beautiful warm reddish-brown.
Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Toundra
This metallic burgundy shade is surprisingly flattering on all skin-tones. The jumbo-sized pencil is convenient to carry around, while the lipstick-style formula is rich and creamy with a seamless matte finish, and contains silicones to keep the lips hydrated and give long lasting colour.
Lip Mist in Blueberry
This shade looks almost a blackened-purple in the bullet which some may be wary of – but the sheer, balmy formula of Burberry’s Lip Mists offer just a hint of colour, making Blueberry a wearable soft magenta. The formula is soft and moisturising with a light glossy finish.
£23
Chantecaille Hydra Chic in Anemone
Space NK
Chantecaille’s Hydra Chics are full-impact, luminous lip colour with a hydrating formula and six hours of wear. They come packaged in a slim stylo case and contain papaya and orchid to soften and provide anti-aging benefits. Anemone is a warm burgundy, perfect for the winter months.
Rouge Coco in Rouge Noir
Chanel’s hydrating cream lip colour in a vampy shade. Apply Rouge Noir lightly with a lip-brush for a wearable plum-tint, or layer it up for a sophisticated deep blackcurrant, perfect for a Christmas evening.
Le French Touch Absolu in Rouge Faubourg
This limited edition lipstick is inspired by the first pure-red lipstick from Lancôme which was created in 1945. The vintage-style case is much smaller than you’ll be used to, while the lipstick bullet is a standard size. Fans of retro packaging will love this touch, and the silky formula of this bold, classic red shade nourishes and plumps for a pin-up worthy pout.
