As you may expect, as GLAMOUR’s Beauty Director I am a beauty-olic. In my 20 years as a beauty editor I’ve tried thousands of hair, skincare and makeup products some good, some bad and some stand out super heroes that have power to change your beauty routine, and even your life for the better. And that’s what I’m here to share, the super heroes that are worth the *click add to basket* right now.
This week, I am declaring my love for sheer lipstick. I believe everyone has a lipstick preference. Yes, you may dabble between a matte, a gloss, a low-key off duty tint or sheer pop of colour, but deep down you know the one, the favourite that delivers all the lipstick feels. So while I’ll work a bold, bright pigmented lipstick for the instant polished result and pulled together finish, my heart and lips belong to sheer lipstick.
They’re easy to wear and easy to apply, almost anywhere, without a mirror. There’s no brushes or precision required here, just a swipe direct from the bullet onto lips and a smoosh of lips together. And the carefree joy of a hint of glossy, transparent-ish, imprecise pop of colour – that’s what I want to wear right now for summer.
Sheer lipstick was a friend in lockdown, the quick swipe that showed you had *actually bothered* before a zoom, but now it speaks to mask-less freedom and letting our lips live again and wander where our hearts desire. Yes with snogging back on the agenda, these are the lipsticks for snogging in. Granted you can achieve the satisfying smudge-ability by just rubbing a sheer lipstick in over the lip line for that worn in lived well, just kissed kind of look, but why not go one better and let an IRL snog to do the smushing for you?
They’re also the perfect holiday lipstick that can be dressed down for the day, or up for night and let’s be honest a sheer slick of colour looks its best against a sun-grazed complexion that’s glowy from the heat and paired with a slick of smudged eyeliner.
Many sheer formulas now also come with balm-like skin benefits, thanks to added vitamin E and hyaluronic acid to treat the delicate skin on lips, as well as delivering a pop of colour and a glossy finish. In fact it’s easier to head out of your lipstick shade comfort zone and amp up the colour with a sheer texture. There’s less commitment and no worry about the *awks* wear off that can arise with heavily pigmented lipsticks. I’ve also been known to dab a sheer lipstick onto my cheeks as a quick glossy blush alternative when on the run.
Convinced yet you need one in your life? If so scroll down to see my top six sheer lipsticks and why they make the grade…