Editor’s Pick: The 5 lipstick shades you need this summer

Lipstick. That’s my beauty obsession this summer!

But not just any lipstick. I’m talking about bold shades and bright colours which are all the makeup I need to instantly add a cheerful touch to any outfit, day or night.

And when it comes to lipsticks – I believe in classics. Those basic shades that complement your skintone and instantly steal the attention from the bags under your eyes. I also believe that while experimenting is great, every woman should have THAT perfect shade of red, orange, plum, pink and nude lipstick in her makeup bag – and stick to it.

Don’t know where to start? I have picked my personal favourites of these must-have colours to demonstrate how to choose and what to look for when it comes to dressing up your lips this summer:

Red

Every girl should have the perfect shade of red lipstick for her. While that bright Louboutin hue looks great on soles – it doesn’t mean it can work on everyone’s face. Find out what’s your complexion undertone first (warm, yellowish, cool…) and try as many shades as you can. While classic bright reds work great on cooler undertones and lighter skin, you’ll find that a slightly darker shade would complement olive and darker complexions better.

MY PICK: YSL Rouge de Couture in ‘Le Rouge’ 1 (approx. USD35)
This particular shade is slightly darker than classic red and has great consistency and subtle shine which is also long lasting.

Orange

Arguably the hottest lipstick shade for this summer – but also the trickiest to pull off. While donning orange lips is proven to highlight your eyes and reduce the appearance of dark circles, finding the right hue is key to make it look flattering rather than clownish.

MY PICK: M.A.C. Pro Longwear in Good to Go (approx. USD24)
Love the super bright and matte shade which lasts for hours especially if coupled with the matching Pro Longwear lip liner. This particular shade looks great on warmer undertones and is incredibly flattering especially on those days where you can’t be bothered to slap on a lot of makeup. Wear is plain with mascara and you’re literally – good to go!

Plum

The Lorde plum craze is still ongoing and while MAC’s ‘Heroine’ shade inspired by the ‘Royals’ hitmaker is super, it is really hard to pull off on medium toned complexion. Plum lipstick is great if you’re going for a more serious or grungy look depending on the rest of your makeup too. I like to wear it with monochrome outfits coupled with light purple-hued eye shadow to finish the look.

MY PICK: Maybelline Color Show in Plum Perfect (approx. USD8)
I have to admit I bought all 3 plum shades of this new range to try them on as I’ve been a fan of Maybelline’s earlier plum shade  – Dazzling Plum from the ColorSensational collection – since it launched. This particular shade hit the spot! It is dark enough without being dull, had a bright tint and soft shine – and is very comfortable to wear.

PINK

When it comes to fashion, I’m no big fan of anything pink. The only pink I wear is hot pink nail polish and lipstick. Avoid it at all cost if you’re too blonde as you’ll end up looking like a Barbie – in a bad way. But if you have  darker hair, a hot pink lipstick can look very sexy and alluring – perfect for a  night out.

MY PICK: Laneige K-secret Cushion Tint in Joy Pink (approx. USD17 – available from July 2014) 
Although this is advertised for cooler skin tones, I found it perfect for me. This lipstick comes with a cushion on the other end which you can use to blend the high pigmented shade to the effect you want. I personally prefer keeping it bold and blending slightly around the edges for a softer contour. The K-secret Cushion Tint will be available in stores starting July – so yes, I got a few more weeks to be one of the privileged few to wear it!

Lip Gloss

Not many women are fans of lipgloss especially as it gets too sticky in the summer. While this is true, we still need a neutral glossy shade to dress our lips when we’re going for a full-on eye makeup or simply want to plump the appearance of our lips. A good tip would be to apply nude or slightly tinted lip liner and exfoliate your lips well before you apply the gloss. If you have chapped lips, a coat of lip balm would be recommended too. And don’t forget to clean any excess with a swab once you finish applying.

MY PICK: NARS Larger than Life lip gloss in Gold Digger (approx. USD26)
The golden hue of this high shine gloss is perfect for tanned skin in the summer. I love its intense sparkly look which give the impression of fuller lips without being tacky. Although can be a little sticky (unavoidable with lip gloss) it is still comfortable to wear and can last a few hours before the need to re-apply.

Rana Wehbe