Lip Lowdown: What’s the difference between lip products?
updated the 6 October 2015 à 23:02
From lipsticks to lip balms and glosses, do you often wonder which product is used for what? Fret no more as we break down for you in this simple guide.
We all know you love your lippy to death and you’ll always return to your good ol’ faithful one without thinking twice. But take a gander outside your comfort zone and you’ll find an array of lip products waiting to adorn your pretty pout.
From lip glosses to lip balms, lip stains and lip sticks, it can get a little confusing figuring out which product to use for which look. Well, instead of worrying about it, here’s our brief rundown of the different types.
LIP GLOSS
Say lip gloss and you may immediately think of sticky glittery gloss that comes out of a tube and was de rigueur for every celebrity in the late 90s to the early 2000s. But you’ll be happy to know that the once tacky lip gloss has come a long way. There are many lip glosses that make your lips look fuller and more luscious without that overly shiny or sticky feel. Some even come with SPF protection and tints for a natural sheer look. However, you might still want to hold on to your hair, if the wind is particularly strong as there is nothing worse than getting your hair stuck onto your lip gloss.
LIP BALM
From simple Vaseline to fancy stuff made from shea butter, lip balms are essentials in your makeup pouch. It keeps your lips moist and smooth as it prevents them from drying out and a true lifesaver especially when you’re on a plane. While this doesn’t add much colour to your face, it does come in all kinds of delicious flavours from fruit to chocolate.
LIPSTICK
This is the good ol’ faithful we’ve been talking about. The classic matte red lip comes to mind when we think of a good lipstick. But matte is not the only way to go these days as there’s a wide range of finishes on the market. Personally, we still like matte, but we are partial to the shimmery satin finish and the frosty lustre finish too.
LIP STAIN
This immediately makes us think of the famous Benetint range from Benefit. Lip stains are tricky to apply and they well, stain if you aren’t careful. A little goes a long way and once they’ve set, they last up to 12 hours a day. Some stains are so long-lasting, you’d still need an oil-based makeup remover to get them off. However, stains can be quite drying so to avoid a chapped mouth, apply a layer of balm beneath first. Steady hands are important when using lip stains as the application has to be perfect.
Now that you’re armed with all those nuggets of information, it’s time to venture forth on a lip spree with our selection of products in the gallery above!
Cheryl Lee
