8 Lip Colors Every Fashion Girl Is Wearing Right Now
One of our favorite ways to scope out what's happening on the pulse of both fashion and beauty is to open, and swiftly screenshot, our Instagram feeds. It's delightfully lazy, but also one of the best ways to track and stay ahead of what's happening in the industry. We stay in tune with the shades makeup artists can't stop painting, the boots fashion girls won't stop wearing, and, when fashion and beauty synergistically come together (as they pretty much always do) all beauty trends our favorite style muses are sporting in enviously cool ways.
Our point? So far this year we've noticed the fashion set has really been on top of their lip game. Sure, nude lipstick and barely-there shades of gloss have been the mass trend, but whenever someone has worn a not-so-safe shade, we've taken notice. Ahead, eight lip colors every fashion girl is wearing right now, product picks included. (Because we know you'll want to try them out ASAP.) Keep scrolling!
Petal Pink
Think of this demure shade of pink as the perfect utilitarian lip color for spring and summer. Like a great nude, this lipstick hue goes with most everything, and since it's low-maintenance, you won't have to worry about touch-ups during the season's hot-weather festivities.
We don't have an exact ID on Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton's perfect lip color, but she did tag her pout as Laura Mercier, and this liquid lacquer in Petal Pink just feels right.
A warm, dusty rose, this new color addition to Nars's beloved line of matte pencils could be an exact match for Tamu McPherson's own.
Bare Naked
Except, of course, not actually bare. As we mentioned, the overarching trend this spring among the fashion set was a lack of color. Alas, the nonchalant look of nude is a trend in its own right and usually begs for some kind of product pick-me-up—whether it's in the form of a barely there lipstick, gloss, or balm.
No one does nude lips better than Kylie. A soft, nude pink, this velvet-finish lippie (which, like Tamara Kalinic's, isn't a stark matte) is a fan favorite from the beauty mogul's Kourt x Kylie collection.
Nnenna Echem knows best. The absolute best way to nail a nude lip moment? Just add gloss. And frankly, it doesn't get more iconic than MAC's original clear Lip Glass. If it's been a hot second since you tucked it in your bag, (like, since the '90s), we recommend reinstating it ASAP this spring.
Hot Clay
We know; we know. The name doesn't sound that appealing, but if you're on the hunt this spring for a chic middle ground between bright orange or red and nude, an earthy shade of clay is right here waiting for you. Feel free to veer more muted and red like Tiffany Hsu did, or more sunset-orange like Lotta Lavanti.
Bold and warm, this saturated, tinted balm from Fresh also has a spike of SPF for must-have summer sun protection.
For a ripe punch of orange, we (always and forever) trust Rihanna's own line of lippies. This matte number in Saw-C is the ultimate earthy antidote.
Red
Red will never go out of style. No matter the time of year or day, it makes a statement and looks polished. And though it might not be the most low-maintenance lip color for spring and summer, choose the right formula, and you'll have minimal upkeep.
Since YSL is tagged, we'd bet money TyLynn Nguyen's shade is from the brand's Tatouage Couture stains in the hue Carmine Statement. And if not, this lightweight yet durable matte ink job will still do her red moment justice.
Evangelie Smyrniotaki loves a good red lip, and though we're not sure of her precise shade, this true red from Armani is a cult favorite and perpetual award winner, beloved for how universally flattering it is.
Colloquial Coral
We don't usually expect the expected from the fashion set, but—sorry—vibrant gradients of Living Coral were a thing during fashion week. That said, we're resisting Pantone's actual term (which feels basic) and renaming it for a fresher take that feels more on brand with the chic aesthetics of our favorite muses.
With her screenshot-worthy Instagram as proof, we've been seeing a lot of coral lip color from Caroline Daur, and we don't mind in the slightest. If you're as obsessed with the shade as we are, there isn't a better lippie than this tinted balm from Sisley Paris. If you want more of an orange coral, we recommend nabbing it in, well, Coral ($50), but if you want something pinker à la Daur, we suggest Candy, shown above.
Thanks to Louise Follain's generous coral-red color ID, we know that this is the exact shade of coral-perfect crimson she's choosing to sport this spring.
Juiced Berry
Variations of berry play nice all year long and are a nice option if you want a pop of color without going full tilt red or trendier with wines, corals, the like. Plus, berry feels bright and vibrant, without feeling overly precious. Thus, it's no surprise we've been seeing the lip color often this season.
We love how low-maintenance and easy to apply (and reapply) this effortless lip mousse from Urban Decay is. It's feather-light in texture, buildable, and waterproof.
For just a glimmer of glossy berry, do like Amina Muaddi and try just a trace of the color trend this spring. We can't stop applying this brand-new doe-foot of magic from Smith & Cult. Our recommended shade: Hot Pink. (Fear not. It applies sheerer and more shimmering than opaque and aggressive.)
Electric Orange
This spring lip color isn't for the faint of heart, but if you want your beauty look to speak volumes, we consistently sing the praises of orange. It's less expected than red and has a little more shock factor in a very photogenic way. Not surprisingly, Courtney Trop is all over the trend.
A new, limited-edition hue as part of a collab with Khloé Kardashian, this spicy shade of orangey-red has found its way into our looks on the regular.
Too neon? You can take the shade down a few degrees like McPherson—still so good.
Frosted Wine
We're still very much fans of sipping wine in the summer, and though similar shades of lipstick are often associated with fall and winter, it feels fresh and unexpected to wear it during the steamy nights of summer. To upgrade, we like it frosted, just like our glass.
From makeup legend Pat McGrath comes this new and (very) exciting shade of rich mahogany. Lips are left feeling smooth, hydrated, and dipped with an ethereal veil of color that, while pigmented, still looks natural.
I mean, must we even explain all the different reasons we're obsessed with this? No lipstick wardrobe is complete without Dior, and to re-create this look, the brand's Ultra Rouge number in Ultra Poison only makes sense. Plus, the luminous, semi-matte finish lasts 12 hours so you can carry on however you wish to carry on this season—no sweat.
Next up, these expert-approved makeup brushes will transform your routine.
Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content for Who What Wear for over four years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie and Who What Wear family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor. She considers her day-to-day beauty aesthetic very low-maintenance and relies on staples like clear brow serum (from Kimiko!), Lawless's Lip Plumping Mask in Cherry Vanilla, and an eyelash curler. For special occasions or days when she's taking more meetings or has an event, she'll wear anything and everything from Charlotte Tilbury (the foundations are game-changing), some shimmer on her lids (Stila and Róen do it best), and a few coats of the best mascara-type product on earth, Surratt's Noir Lash Tint.
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