13 Bold Lipsticks To Boost Your Mood

I was at a lunch recently when the woman sitting next to me told me this story: “Three years ago my mum died quite suddenly and I had to fly back to London without having time to pack properly. I was completely stressed and was trying to come to terms with her death during the 24-hour flight. On arrival I bought some clothes and also some make-up from Boots the Chemist. In Boots, I found a lipstick and thought, ‘Gosh, this colour is great.’

“It was only a couple of days later when we were picking up Mum’s possessions from the hospice that I looked in her handbag, and there in her make-up bag was the exact same shade lipstick I had bought the day before. I still can’t bear to throw out that make-up bag.”

The woman who told me this story, Abigail Sheppard (above), has a way with colour. It was evident from the striking printed Romance Was Born dress she wore to lunch, and from her shocking bright coral lip. That day I asked her what shade she was wearing.

“It’s another Boots lipstick, called Gay Geranium,” she replied. “I’ve always loved colour – none of that wishy-washy soft stuff. I probably got it from my mum who was an artist. It started with the punk [music] scene for me, heavy eyeliner and bright red or pink lipstick. At one time, I used a purple eye pencil as a lipstick.”

Abigail is proof that you can rock a bold lip at any age. A hit of lip colour can instantly boost your mood whether you are planning a Zoom call, an evening out or are simply going shopping. The key is choosing the right shade and formula for your skin tone. I asked make-up artist Desiree Wise for her tips and suggestions.

Avoid anything too dark in tone. Lean towards soft-brick, earthy or rosy-pink tones. Wear colours that match, or are slightly deeper and warmer than your natural lip colour.
Bright reds, coral, fuchsia, berry and true red are more flattering on fair to medium skin tones. Darker skin tones can wear those shades too, but can also carry off deeper tones like mahogany, plum and burgundy.
Look for a sheer, creamy finish. Avoid matte and opaque formulas as they can look quite heavy. Use a lipliner because it helps prevents lipstick from bleeding or feathering.