Glamourpuss actress Natalie Wood was the kind of woman who, after dining in an upscale restaurant, would check her lipstick in the reflective blade of a knife. I was thinking about how impossibly chic that was recently and lamenting the fact that lipstick has lost some of its power lately. Nowadays, it’s safe to say that most women prefer the ease and convenience of gloss. But after years of gloss domination, I’m happy to report that lipstick is on the uptick: On the red carpet. On the runways. And on the bewitching pouts of regular women.
I’ve long idolized women who knew how to own lipstick, including my mother Liana Perdis (who would never leave the house without it), and the leading ladies of cinema. Luscious lipsticked pouts re-emerged in full force at the spring fashion shows, when designers including Christian Dior and Giambattista Valli showcased perfect matte red lips, while designers like Prada, Karen Walker and many others explored every shade under the sun. Similarly, at the fall shows taking shape now, lipstick is headlining makeup looks.
At the fall shows in New York earlier this month, I was thrilled to showcase lipstick at three of the four events we sponsored. Zang Toi’s models rocked a deep purple lip forged from a blend of four different products. Designer Tony Cohen and I collaborated on a nude look that utilized my brand new DéVine Goddess Lipstick shade dubbed Lianna, named for my eldest daughter. Meanwhile, Walter Baker of Walter opted for my Napoleon Perdis DéVine Goddess Lipstick in SMP, a dusty pink named for my wife, Soula-Marie.
In the spirit of the return of lipstick, here are some of my quick tips for putting your best pout forward:
- Don’t be afraid of going red. There is a shade for everyone. Blue-reds flatter most complexions. Orange reds work well with olive and caramel skin tones. Plum reds are fabulous for darker skin tones. Blondes look best in pink reds.
- Always line lips last—not first—to give the pout a flawless finish. Steer away from an obvious line and just fill in where necessary. The texture of the lip pencil will help to lock everything in place.
- Dab concealer onto the outer corners of the mouth to give the lips a lifted effect. This is a great way to achieve a youthful look without resorting to surgery.
- Use a white pencil on the edge of the lip line to create a subtle highlight and add size to the lips. This will promote the illusion of fuller lips—no injections necessary!
- When priming the face, don't forget that priming lips with a lip primer is just as essential. This will prep the lips for an even application of lipstick and liner and ensure soft, supple, kissable lips!
In 1995, celebrity makeup artist Napoleon Perdis debuted his line of cosmetics and launched his first concept store and Makeup Academy in Sydney. Today, Napoleon Perdis has 59 stand-alone concept stores and more than 800 point-of-sale locations across Australia and New Zealand. In the U.S., the brand has three Napoleon Perdis stores and is sold in select independent retailers. Celebrity fans of the brand include Jessica Szohr, Lady Gaga, Becki Newton, Debra Messing, Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Bynes, Shenae Grimes, Whitney Port, Adrienne Bailon and more.