For seasons, sharply contoured cheekbones and bold matt pouts have dominated. But now feminine flushed cheeks and glossy lips have staged a revival. Welcome to the new age of pretty.
Switch to shine
Shimmering lips gave models at Custo Barcelona, Giorgio Armani and Vivienne Hu spring/summer 2019 shows a pretty look that will make us rethink our favourite matt lipstick. “We’re shifting to glossy lips again,” says Uzo, director of global artistry for Nars. “Matt lips will never go away, but I am super excited with shiny lips. I love a gloss. I’ve always loved gloss.”
Swipe and go
The genius thing about gloss is it’s almost never completely foolproof. Just heed these rules: “Never smack or rub your lips together as it loses some of the shine,” says Alphie Sadsad, national artistry lead for Sephora. To keep the look from becoming too sweet? “Go with natural hues or statement rich jewelled tones,” suggests Sadsad.
Bet on blush
From sweetly flushed cheeks at Rodarte and Jonathan Simkhai spring/summer 2019 shows to dramatic popping colour at Savage x Fenty, blush is having its moment. And the best news? It’s super flattering. “A great way for women who are really stuck in contouring is to use blush as contour. I think it’s so much prettier,” says Uzo. “Place it underneath your cheekbones to sculpt your face.”
Experiment
Wedded to your nude-matt lippie? Lip gloss is the perfect way to experiment with colour and finishes without going too far out of your comfort zone. “This seasons we are going to see shimmer finishes, super-clear, super shiny finishes, vivid colours and nudes – everything,” says Uzo.
Placement is key
At the Anna Sui and Dennis Basso spring/summer 2019 shows cheeks were washed with sheer colour for pretty but pared-back elegance. To avoid doll-like spots, Uzo recommends “applying blush to the apples of the cheeks then linking the colour to the cheekbones. It will give you a pop of colour but also [add] some structure.”
Brush up
“You need a great blush brush,” says Uzo. “I love a kabuki-inspired brush to sculpt and contour around the cheekbones.”
Pretty pairings
A charming blush teams well with gloss, but you can also go more daring. “Bush is beautiful when you pair with a simple lash and a gloss lip,” says Sadsad. “Or you can go for a strong statement lip.”
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