Move over matte, the latest lip trend has shifted from bold and flat to shimmering metallics. Okay, let’s keep it real here – metallic/shimmery lipsticks are no where near new. I can recall playing with my mom’s frosted plums and reds as a child, making a total mess – this new trend is like welcoming an old friend home! However, what is new is that many long-wear lipsticks formulas were not developed as metallics (which I think is due to the metallic pigments potentially messing up performance). Also, it seems that metallics are often thought of as fall/winter shades (think ice queen), but now there are plenty that hold strong essences of the beach and summer festivals, or are perfect for a summer night out.
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in Derelict (Liquid lip): This olive-toned gold can give you hints of gold bars without blinding everyone around you. It is also very similar to NYX’s Trickery from their Wicked Collection, which is a beautiful color, but the formula doesn’t wear very long.
*Milani Mattalics Lip Creme in Mattely in Love (Liquid lip): Shimmery red lips aren’t just for the holidays, I promise. This shade would look gorgeous glistening in the sun at an outdoor outing or at a late night bonfire. Hurry up and find it now before it sells out – these are disappearing from the interwebs fast and I can’t find them at CVS to save my life!
Black Moon Cosmetics Liquid to Matte Lipstick in Selene (Liquid lip): This shade isn’t totally metallic, but it has a gorgeous pearlescent sheen that may help you wade into the metallics pool if you’re skeptical. I also love that Black Moon uses two models of different shades for each color, making it easier for women with darker skin to see how the lipstick will look on them.
*Milani Mattalics Lip Creme in Chromatic Addict (Liquid lip): This gorgeous soft gold is great for day wear or layering over another lipstick for a bit of shimmer. These Milani lip cremes are available at CVS, but again beware, they are hard to find so you may have to order online.
You can also check out my review of the Milani metallic lipstick here:
NYX Cosmic Metals Lip Creme in Celestial Star (Liquid lip): Now we’re talking! These shades from NYX are not your mother’s metallic lipstick. While this may be too bold for a lot of people during the day, it’s great for a special event or a night out. Reviews I saw relayed that this formula does not dry down – the result is long wearing but seems like more of a pigmented gloss.
*Coloured Raine in Mary (Liquid lip): This gorgeous burgundy is wearable for any season, any time of day, for anyone. It’s currently sold on the Coloured Raine site, but I saw it was in stock at Ricky’s NYC.Â
*Danessa Myricks Enlight Illuminators (Powder): If you can’t find a shade or formula that you like, it’s simple to use a pigment, highlighter, or eyeshadow that you love on your lips for a metallic look. DM has the perfect shade for any skin tone and there are a myriad of unique colors on the site.
Wet N’ Wild Limited Edition Metallic Liquid Lipstick in Peony Express, Indigo Your Own Way, My Tulips Are Sealed (Liquid lip): This collection reminds me of sorbet and ice cream stands – just too cute! FYI – these do not totally dry down (they probably last around 3-4 hours without eating or drinking) and it’s important not to use too much or it will get goopy around the inside of your lip. But I mean…they’re $3 – if you don’t like wearing them alone, they pair well with a long wearing matte for a metallic look and longer wear.
ColourPop Ultra Metallic Lipsticks in Kween, Man Eater, 3-Way, and Zebra (Liquid lip): CP’s new collection dove right into the metallic lippie trend, and they picked some amazing colors to debut with. They keep selling out, but if you sign up for their email list, you’ll get restock alerts ahead of time so you can get them before they’re gone!
LA Splash Cosmetics in Catrina (Liquid lip): This shade looks normal in certain lights, but the duochrome in it gives flecks of blue and green as the light reflects. The effect is so pretty! I haven’t seen a lot of duochrome metallics either, so this is a really unique shade.
Have you tried the metallic lip “trend”? What are your favorite hues?
*Indicates a black-owned brand
