Shiny v. Matte Lips

Shiny lips are truly a makeup classic. A clear or tinted gloss can give lips just the right amount of definition during the day and create the perfect pout for an evening out, especially during the summer. Glosses and balms are great for moisturizing lips as well, and many formulas now contain SPF. The key to a perfect shine is to find a gloss that looks and feels natural, never sticky or tacky. Lip gloss is a must-have beauty tool for those with thin lips. It has a natural, plumping effect that makes lips appear bigger. That being said, those with extremely full lips may want to avoid going super-shiny.

With the nude lip trend recently gracing the runways, matte is back. Matte lipsticks give lips a smooth, shine-free texture and often contain the ingredient kaolin. Matte certainly looks fashionable in a nude colour (this super-chic trend is going to be big for fall), such as Mineral Lip Tint SPF 15 in Sandy Quartz or Mineral Shea Butter Lipstick in Sheer Zircon, but those with fair skin may want to go with a pale pink to create more of a contrast between your lipstick and your skin tone. Berry-stained and red matte lips are also great for fall. Check out Mineral Shea Butter Lipstick in Black Amethyst and Red Ruby. BEWARE: If lips aren’t properly moisturized, matte lipsticks can appear dry and flaky. This can be easily avoided by using a lip treatment or lipstick that hydrates lips with conditioning ingredients, such as shea butter.

Application:

Those seeking shiny lips can apply gloss alone or over lipstick. During the day, I like to wear a peachy-pink gloss and contour my lips with a neutral liner that matches my skin tone. You can also give your gloss a little extra staying power by filling in your entire lip with lip liner and then topping it with gloss. At night, apply a clear or lightly tinted gloss over your lipstick to get a brilliant shimmer.

To get perfectly chic, perfectly matte lips, follow these steps:
1. Begin by moisturizing your lips. Using a conditioning lip cream to remove any flakes of skin and fill in lines for smooth application.
2. Next, contour your lips with a lip pencil. Begin at one corner of your top lip and follow your natural lip line to the other corner, then repeat on the bottom lip. If you’re going for nude, matte lips, use a nude liner. If you’re creating a colorful matte look, choose a shade that matches your lipstick.
3. Fill in your lip shape with the liner. This will enhance the matte appearance of your lipstick and help your lip colour stay on longer.
4. Finish off the look by applying your lipstick. Use a lip makeup brush for application so as not to disturb the liner.      

To get a gorgeous shine or a matte finish, view the Lip Collection at PürMinerals.com.