Candy gloss

TANGY tangerines, hot bubblegum pinks and sexy reds — this summer they’re calling it the “statement lip”. And it is one of spring/summer’s biggest beauty looks.

The first thing to decide is what kind of finish you’re after. And there’s a baffling amount of choice out there, with every beauty company worth its salt bringing out brand new formulations and super-cool finishes that make you want to break out and wear orange.

First up, and a popular launch this year, is the stain. Right, so stains are nothing new but they’re now coming in easy-to-apply pen-shapes from the likes of Rimmel and New York Colour. Personally, the jury’s out on this one — your lips need to be in really excellent condition or else the colour sinks into the cracks, and it can also wear off in a slightly patchy way. Still, if you’re after longevity then they are a good choice, but for the best effect team them up with a lip gloss or a clear lip balm (or if you want to splash out, Clarins’s Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector, €17).