Fire up your summer lip game with the season’s hottest colors. Think outside the matte red box and explore new trends and techniques that include nostalgia-inducing shades, tasty formulas and more. Here is what’s popular for perfecting your pout.
metal mouth
A makeup trend rooted in the ‘90s, metallic lips officially have made a comeback. Kevyn Aucoin takes the look to the next level with his Molten Metal collection featuring a gold-hued lipstick. The yellow-gold tone is completely wearable and can be paired with a nude liner. The texture is anything but sticky and seamlessly glides on for the perfect summer shine.
Kevyn Aucoin Molten Metals liquid lipstick, $30, kevynaucoin.com
popsicle mouth
You don’t have to make out with a popsicle to get softly smudged red lips. Use a gloss, not a matte lipstick, and apply with your pinkie finger—no need for brushes or wands. Blend it out just past the lip line to get that ‘popsicle’ look. Once you’ve applied the desired amount, use a little foundation around the edge of your mouth to keep the color from spreading too far outside the lip line.
ColourPop Ultra Blotted Lip in Bit-O Sunny, $6, colourpop.com
orange is the new red
Swap your red lips for coral. Thanks to the geniuses at NARS, the brand’s iconic Orgasm Blush has been reintroduced as a lip balm that is complete coral perfection. Just like its blush counterpart, the color is universally flattering and has been flying off shelves since May. The balm gives lips a sheer, gold-flecked, peachy rose tint without making it look like you’re wearing anything—perfect for summer and beyond.
NARS Orgasm Afterglow lip balm, $28, nars.com
lilac lips
Move over, millennial pink! Lilac is taking over the beauty ethos and is showing no signs of slowing down. Lilac lips may be for the more experimental, but they are definitely worth exploring. NYX Macaron Lippie in lavender is a budget-friendly option to ease into the trend. Rock the shade at the next summer festival!
NYX Macaron Lippie, $5.99, nyxcosmetics.com
lip lickin’ color
Remember the flavored lip glosses of the ‘90s? MAC Cosmetics does. In June, the beauty brand debuted its Oh, Sweetie lip gloss collection that looks, smells, tastes and feels like cake frosting. The colors range from blue (Wild Berry Frosting) to white (Funfetti Cake). There are red and pink tones for the more tame at heart, but no matter your color of choice, who can resist a lip gloss that tastes as good as it looks?
MAC Oh, Sweetie lip gloss, $17, maccosmetics.com