International Kissing Day: The best lipstick trends for 2018

Kiss and makeup on 6 July with one of these delightful shades

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International Kissing Day is fast approaching and this year the day dedicated to puckering up falls on 6 July.

Whether you plan on smooching with your significant other or simply want to make a statement, applying a slick of lipstick is one of our favourite ways to celebrate. But, before you decide on your preferred shade, it’s important to ensure your pout is prepped, primed and ready for action.

There are few things worse than dry, chapped lips so it’s important to remember that, just like other skin, your lips need to be exfoliated. Just try to keep it limited to once a week using a dedicated lip scrub, otherwise you could cause more harm than good.

Similarly, using a primer before you apply lipstick will help to nourish your smackers while simultaneously filling in lines and helping the colour to last longer. Here, we round up our favourite lip colours to work into your daily makeup routine.

Glossy red

Lip Lustre, Red Vixen, £17.50, Charlotte Tilbury

Women have declared a crimson lip their bold and beautiful go-to for centuries but for some time now, it’s been all about super-matte styles that just won’t budge.

However, following the resurgence of lip gloss, designers have switched out long-lasting lipsticks in favour of high-shine pouts. A look that was big in 1980s, models at Haider Ackermann sported high-sheen red lips; created by mixing Mac’s Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour in Dance with Me with Lipglass in Clear for a glossy finish.

Touch of pink

Audacious Lipstick in Claudia, £26, Nars Cosmetics

Fuchsia lipstick packs some serious punch, so much so that it’s quickly become the colour that’s on everyone’s lips this season.

At Maison Margiela, makeup artist Pat McGrath painted lips in an ultra-matte pink which was applied in symmetrical blots with a slim silhouette down the centre. However, Derek Lam adopted a more subtle approach by using Mac’s Plenty of Pout Plumping Lipstick in Ample Chic on the model’s pouts.

If you want to trial this trend make sure to keep the rest of your look simple and sweep back your hair so not to distract from the impact of this seriously bold lip. For a more refined approach, lightly dab the product using your finger.

New nude

Tom Ford Lip Colour in Devore, £40, Selfridges

A bold lip has its time and place but certainly doesn’t always feel appropriate. Enter, the nude lip.

The idea here is that the shade is close enough to your natural lip colour that it doesn’t look out of place, but still manages to warm your complexion for a subtle yet chic statement.

This season, the nude lip took on a pinky brown guise and was seen at a variety of shows including Saint Laurent, Versace, Daks and Dennis Basso.

Coral

Hourglass, Girl Lip Stylo in Explorer, £26, Cult Beauty

A colour synonymous with summer, coral is not only a bright, cheerful colour but it’s also a great shade for pretty much every skin tone. Seen at shows like Michael Costello and Tanya Taylor, the trick here is to find a shade that works for you because there really is a coral lipstick for everyone.

If the vibrancy of the hue puts your off, opt for a sheer, stain texture instead.