Update your lipstick collection this spring for as little as $18

Before we even get to colour, our lips are spoilt for choice when it comes to texture. We have lipsticks – matt, cream, liquid, sheer, satin, long-wearing – plus oils, crayons, stains, balms, glosses, liners and tints. And each of these comes in an array of applicator formats. Here are my picks, starting with the classics.

For shine, you can’t beat YSL Beauty Loveshine Lipstick ($72), which contains nourishing fig pulp and six oils, and comes in 23 shades. For the best cream version, my favourite is M.A.C’s M.A.Cximal Silky Matte Lipstick ($40). Unlike many other matt formulations, this one won’t dry out your lips. It’s also available in 50 shades – my pick is Honeylove, a beige-toned rose. Another matt option, and my latest obsession, is Westman Atelier Lip Suede Matte Lipstick in Pip ($87), which contains peptides and vitamins C and E to prevent dryness.

If you’re after a finish that’s somewhere between matt and gloss, try a satin lipstick, specifically Rouge Dior ($72); the 85 shades come in satin and velvet finishes. A combination of peony and pomegranate flower extracts hydrate and smooth, and the pigment is intense, meaning a little goes a long way. For the perfect tan shade for summer, try Intuition Velvet Finish.

Moving on to liquid lipstick, and our hero is Kevyn Aucoin Velvet Lip Paint ($72). Use it on its own or layer it over a lip liner. Also try Merit Signature Lip Liner ($38) – its lightweight gel formula never bleeds – and try it on its own by colouring in the entire lip. For versatility, reach for a lip stain that can double as a flush of cheek colour. The OG (and still the best) is BeneFit Playtint Lip & Cheek Tint ($42).

For a glossy finish, lip oils are still ruling the roost. One of our favourites is Clarins Lip Oil Balm ($48), which hydrates and plumps lips, and comes in six shades. For pure gloss, go for a clear or pale formula you can wear on its own or over your favourite lipstick, such as Covergirl Clean Fresh Yummy Gloss in Let’s Get Fizzical ($12).

Of course, lip colour will only look polished if it’s applied to a healthy base. To keep lips in peak condition, a gentle exfoliant will lift away flaky skin, while a lip treatment will work as you sleep. We like Poppy & Pout Marshmallow Creme Exfoliating Lip Scrub ($112), which includes coconut, sunflower seed and peppermint oils to slough away dead skin. And, for a nourishing overnight lip treat, Laneige gives us the super hydrating Lip Sleeping Mask in Berry ($31). Keep a pot of it bedside.

ASK STEPH

What can I do to combat frizzy hair?
A weekly mask will target frizz by smoothing your hair’s ruffled cuticle and taming flyaways. We love Typebea Hydra-Gloss Treatment Hair Mask ($50), with ceramide, argan and avocado oils, and shea butter.

Send questions via Instagram, @mrssdarling.

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