10 Tips for Statement Lips

BR member: Seza95

Article by BR Kellie

One of the most wonderful parts of loving makeup is that you have the opportunity to make a statement every single day. It gives you the chance to channel any kind of personality you want; the bombshell, the cover girl, the Goth. A range of looks that can be achieved in as few as five minutes or as much as fifty. But they’re looks with one thing in common – they all require lipstick. 

Whether you’re looking for inspiration to change up your look, or perhaps you want to change your look completely, we’ve compiled a list of ten tips to give you statement lips.

BR member: Baylee3180

1. Nude: First things first, nude does not mean wearing a lippy the exact same colour of your skin. A nude lipstick should match the colour of your lips. So if you’ve rosebud colour lips, a rosebud hue would suit you. If your lips are more coral or caramel, look for nude lipsticks in those shades. The best part about going nude is that anyone can do it, and for those taking their first steps into the realm of lip colour it’s a nice safe option.

BR member: MrsLissy

2. Pale: Pale pastel lipsticks are not for the faint hearted. At best they say ‘look at me’, at worst they say ‘get a defib in here, stat’. So how do you make it work? First of all cover your lips in concealer to stop potential streakiness. Next apply two coats, blotting in between each coat. Finally add definition to your face - a warm blush, a touch of highlighter, eyeliner and mascara will make the look work.

BR member: PriyaNandani

3. Barbie bright: Feeling playful? Nothing beats a Barbie bright pink lippy. As cute as it is bold, it’s a relatively easy colour for anyone to wear, as long as you get the undertones right. However the key here is to tone down the rest of your look, don’t go crazy with the glitter or colourific eyeshadows, keep it simple and let your lips do the talking.

BR member: colleencanary

4. Bombshell: One of my favourite looks has to be old Hollywood glamour. Think Lauren Bacall, Liz Taylor, Lana Turner, the epitome of sultry, sophisticated, stylish women. The Hollywood waves and cat eye flick were an important part of their look, but it was the vampy red lipstick that stole your attention. Back in 2013 Bobbi Brown styled Katie Holmes in an old Hollywood glamour shoot, and I think you’ll agree the results were sensational.

BR member: Sophiegarth

5. Outlandish: Anyway who is brave enough to wear blue lips deserves a high five. It’s not easy to pull off, and yet when it’s done properly it looks sensational. The key to blue though is choosing the right shade, using lip liner, and holding your head high as you stride down the street. 

BR member: kayxcake

6. Artistic: You don’t have to be going to a fancy dress party to wear lip art. Sure spiders or cartoon characters on lips perhaps aren’t for everyday wear, but there are other ways to turn your lips into an artistic statement – think glitter over a hot pink or royal blue base, ombre lips, subtle leopard spots. The only limit is your imagination.

BR member: Lutece 

7. Gothic: Black lipstick. It’s not for everyone. It could be, but it takes a fair bit of courage, and perhaps a hint of defiance, to face the world with such a strong look.Keen to give it a go, but worried you’ll end up looking like the undead? Be sure to keep your complexion warm, think pink cheeks, neutral eyeshadows on the lighter shades of the spectrum, and lush lashes to open and brighten the eyes.

BR member idomakeupnz 

8.  Vamp: Vampy lips are all about attitude, and lots of it. There’s no room for wallflowers here. If you’re going to rock a rich dark shade of purple or red you’ve got to own it. And few own it as beautifully as our very own Beauty Review member PriyaNandani – from the lips to the eyes, to the flush of colour on her cheeks, her look was vamp perfection. 

BR member: Rania-alani90

9. Rainbow Bright: Want to rock the tangerine dream? Or say ‘hello!’ to yellow? It can be done. Once again, finding the right shade to suit your skin tone is important, as is ensuring your teeth are sparkly white, as a citrus shade will emphasise yellow stains. Finally, be sure to add lashings of black mascara to take your look to the next level.

As for number ten? What would statement lips be without proper priming? Remember, it’s a crime not to prime – and that includes your lips. The night before you’re due to slick on your lippy, scrub those babies with a homemade or store bought scrub, you can even exfoliate with your toothbrush, then layer on a nourishing lip balm to create a smooth soft canvas for the next day.

Do you regularly make a statement with your lipstick choice? Are you now inspired to? Why not give something new a go and load your look up to the Photowall, we’d love to see it!

***And don't forget - every member that uploads a statement lip photo to the BR Photowall and tags it under 'Statement Lips' will be awarded 25 bonus Beauty Points!***