This is the finish I'm obsessed with for lips at the moment, the Jelly Lip. I'd love to say it's a name I created but it's actually a term coined by the world's most prolific makeup artist, Pat McGrath, who was asked during the last show season to name her top trends. Jelly Lips was one of them, and I have to say I'm hopping on her bandwagon for this.
I think Jelly Lips perfectly reflects a woman's ideal lip right now - juicy, shiny without being too glossy, making your lips delectable and kissable like little flowers drenched with dew. What your lips look like in your fantasies basically.
Jelly Lips are softly tinted and beautifully hydrated, not at all the scary gloss finish of the early Noughties when a passing breeze would shellac your hair into your (plentifully applied) MAC Lipglassed or Lancome Juicy Tubed lips like a fly in amber, whipping sticky shiny hair strands across your cheeks. (Which was possibly not the sexy effect you were going for).
Jelly Lips is a look that's created with a new type of lipstick that a few of the cosmetics houses are now doing - it's basically a cross between lip balm, lip gloss and lipstick. They aren't too sticky, nor too drying and they use super reflective pigments to give EXACTYLY the amount of sheen you want. It's the perfect lip for summer as it's so easy, and its best complement is glowing skin - especially with a lovely (faux) tan. They're even great for the beach as you can just toss them in your bag and go.
And for real life, let's be honest - these new lipsticks work a hell of a lot more easily than a lip balm, lipstick and gloss. I don't know about you but when I'm racing out the door with my son's homework under one arm and my makeup kit under the other, the last thing I'm worrying about is getting my lips pristine with three different products. These new hybrid lipsticks mean you can throw them in your bag and go - you don't even need a mirror to touch up.
Some of my favourite Jelly Lips products are:
- Dior Addict High-Shine lipstick - quite sheer colour-wise but gives the beautiful finish you would expect from Dior. It has a huge range of shades and has a lip plumping effect as well.
- Estee Lauder - Pure Colour Gloss Sticks - these are some of the most pigmented options giving a soft burst of colour with a bit less sheen than others. I love Honey Pink for a slick of gorgeous coral.
- Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butters - Part of the new makeup that Revlon has been bringing out, these are gorgeous and don't in any way feel budget, although they are a lot cheaper than the prestige options. They have hydrating mango, coconut and shea butters to boost lip moisture. They come in a wide range of colours and give long lasting and hydrating wear. My picks are Strawberry Shortcake and Cherry Tart.
- Clinique Almost Lipstick - the original and still one of the best. Invented way back in the 90's Clinique were so far ahead of the curve on these easy, super sheer lip tints. They have now re-launched the range with new shades and it's one of the most comfortable ones to wear. My favourite is still the iconic Black Honey shade.
- Crème de la crème - Chanel Rouge Coco Shine. I think these are perfection. I love the colours, pinky-grey Boy being my personal current lipstick - and the chicness of Chanel? Well with a lipstick like that there's nothing to stop you touching up in public. In fact, it should be mandatory.
Perfect lips in an instant? Maybe you want to hop on my Jelly Lips bandwagon too.