Lipstick

Choosing a shade and a finish

We have made lipstick in the UK since 1979, and the range grew out of what people could not buy anywhere else. Black came first and has never gone out of the catalogue. The rest of it, blues, greens, purples, neons and glitters, followed for the same reason. Below is what each product in this collection is for, because the difference between them is finish and formula rather than only colour.

Black, blue and green, the colours most ranges skip

Our black lipstick has been on sale since 1979 and is still the best seller. It is a flat, dense black rather than a dark plum pretending to be one. Blue lipstick and green lipstick are single shades, each strongly pigmented enough to read as that colour on a first coat rather than a tint. All three want a lined lip underneath them. A dark or unnatural colour shows every wobble at the edge and will creep into fine lines around the mouth if you give it nothing to stop against.

The main range, and where the reds, pinks and purples live

The core Lipstick range runs to more than fifty shades and is where most of the conventional colours sit. Reds through to pinks, lilacs and purples, peaches and corals, plus a set of darker shades that read almost black in low light. It is a creamy, opaque formula that goes on wet and settles. If you are matching a shade you have owned before, the numbers on the packaging have stayed consistent for years, so the number is more reliable than the photograph on your screen.

Matte, creamy or glitter

Finish changes how long a colour lasts and how forgiving it is. The Matte Lipstick comes in twelve shades and sits flat with no shine, which holds the longest and is the least kind to dry lips, so put balm on first and blot it off before you apply. The Fresh Lipstick is the softer end, twelve creamier shades that feel more comfortable and need topping up more often. The Glitter Lipstick carries suspended glitter in twelve colours including black, gold, silver and white. Glitter lipstick works best layered thinly over a matching solid colour, because worn alone the sparkle is doing all the work and the coverage underneath it is thin.

Neon, and what happens under UV

The Neon Lipstick comes in six shades, blue, green, orange, pink, red and yellow, and it is UV reactive, so it glows under a black light. Pink and red are the two that sell. Worth knowing before you buy it for a club night: neon pigments look bright but sit sheerer than the core range, so build it in two thin coats rather than one thick one, and blot between them. In daylight it reads as a strong bright colour rather than as anything unusual. The glow only appears under UV.

Getting a dark lipstick to last

Dark colours punish shortcuts. Start with a balm, leave it a minute, then blot it off completely, because lipstick will not grip a slippery lip. Line and fill the lip with a lip liner pencil so the colour has an edge to stop at. Apply the first coat, press a tissue over it, then apply a second. If it still moves on you, dust a little translucent loose powder over the tissue on the first coat before the second goes on, or finish the whole face with makeup fixing spray. None of that will survive a plate of chips, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something.

Line first with something from the lip liner and lip pencil range, or use the long-lasting lip stain and liner pens if you need colour that holds for a full day. For the rest of a dark look there is the goth makeup range, and for everything brighter and stranger, the alt makeup range.

Lipstick FAQ

Can lipstick expire?

Yes, lipsticks can expire but they can take about 2-3 years to do so as the oils that hold the pigment may deteriorate by then. Keep the lid on and store them in a cool dry place to keep them up to that time.

Who invented lipstick?

Ancient Mesopotamian women were among the first to use crushed gemstones to decorate their lips around 3500 BCE. In ancient Egypt, even Cleopatra coloured her lips with a mix of red ochre and carmine in a waxy base. The Greeks and Romans had their own versions too, with Greeks using red iron oxide and ochre clays and Romans blending beeswax with red pigments. Though lipstick fell out of fashion in medieval Europe, it made quite a colourful comeback later on!

Can lipstick go in hand luggage?

Solid lipsticks can go in hand luggage. Liquid lipsticks have to follow the liquids rule.

How lipstick is made

It all starts with a blend of waxes, oils, and pigments. The waxes give the lipstick its shape and help it glide smoothly onto your lips. Oils, like castor or olive oil, keep it creamy and moisturising. Finally, pigments provide that gorgeous pop of colour. These ingredients are mixed, heated, and poured into moulds to cool. Once solid, the lipsticks are polished and ready

Will lipstick come out of clothes?

Gently scrape off any excess lipstick with a spoon or the edge of a credit card. Next, dab the stain with a cloth soaked in a bit of rubbing alcohol or makeup remover—just be sure to test it on a hidden area first. Blot, don't rub, to lift the colour. Once most of the stain is gone, pop the garment in the wash as usual, following the washing instructions.