Don’t have time to put on makeup before a last-minute Zoom call? A swipe of lipstick is the quickest way to transform your look. No matter the shade, a creamy nude or bright glossy fuchsia lip does wonders to liven up a dull complexion and make you go from drab to fab in an instant.
Here are 13 gorgeous lip colours that we have seen our favourite Korean celebrities like Blackpink’s Lisa and Suzy wear.
Girl group T-ara member Hyomin is proof that all you need is a bright lip colour to look put together effortlessly. Wearing Yves Saint Laurent Tatouage Couture Velvet Cream ($55) in shade 201, she looks chic and confident rocking bold red lips while keeping the rest of her makeup to a minimal. If you are pressed for time in the morning and want to look polished quickly, a swipe of this vivid and highly-pigmented lipstick will do the trick.
Softer red lips can also look vibrant and brighten your face. Try out Rouge Dior Ultra Care Flower Oil Liquid Lipstick ($52) in shade 635 Ecstase as seen on singer Sunmi. Infused with flower oil, the lipstick is super moisturising and also gives you long-lasting wear for up to 12 hours. If you want a bolder colour, simply use a lip liner first to outline the lips and fill them in before applying the lipstick.
If you are going for an everyday makeup look, choose a natural-looking lip colour like a soft coral shade that will make your lips look healthy and rosy. Here, “He Is Psychometric” actress Shin Ye Eun is wearing innisfree’s Vivid Cotton Ink ($15) in shade 18. This subtle peach coral colour is perfect for lazy days when you don’t feel like putting much makeup on, but still want to look fresh and presentable when you head out to run errands or catch up with friends over coffee.
Like her fellow Blackpink bandmates, Lisa is often spotted with a peachy-nude lip. Try out Moonshot’s Lip Feat Lipstick in S210 Peach and Cream ($29) for a similar look.
The semi-matte formula delivers high-impact colour payoff sans dryness. Blot it in the center of your lips for a gradient effect or apply straight from the bullet for something more intense.
The one-half of the music duo Akdong Musician (AKMU) demonstrates why this shade will always be timeless classic. Here, the sharp red hue isn’t overbearing thanks to her clean base makeup and almost naked eye.
A mix of The Face Shop Flat Velvet Stick ($16) in Solar Beige , applied to the centre of her lips and the The Face Shop Flat Velvet Stick ($16) in London Red, applied to the outside of the lips is how Suhyun achieved her everyday ombre lips.
Orange lipstick in the tube looks intimidating, no matter how you dice it. The “My Golden Life” actress balanced the tone with a cast of the very same hue on the cheeks so it looks more natural and wearable.
The Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Shine ($52) in shade 14 Corail in Touch moisturises the lips like a lip balm and leaves lips plump and sparkling, without the wet appearance and sticky feeling of a gloss. There is no need to layer with this pigmented lippie, just one swipe deposits powerful and long-lasting colour.
You can’t go wrong with coral lipsticks. The versatile peachy shade is great for all sorts of occasions be it a day at work, a girl’s night out or having a simple meal at the restaurant. That said, wearing the wrong shade of coral can make your skin look sallow.
As a rule of thumb, Asian skin tones with yellow undertones look better with a warmer coral hue with a slight yellow tinge to it or reds with an orange hue. A perfect example is this tasty tangerine shade seen on Hani, member of South Korean girl group EXID. She is wearing Sisley’s Phyto Lip Twist Tinted Balm ($58) in shade 7 Coral, a hydrating mandarin shade that is great for everyday wear.
If you have fair skin, you might be fearful of bold shades. But if you ever needed proof that going bright is the way to go look no further than this fiery peony shade seen on actress-model Eugene Jung who says she: “likes this lipstick!” and its “wonderful colour.”
The “Moorim School: Saga of the Brave” actress achieved her peony-pink lips with the inexpensive NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Addis Ababa ($14), a smooth, creamy formula that dries down to a non-drying matte finish.
This perfect pinkish red lip seen on fresh-faced K-pop idol Hyeri is all thanks to the Clio Rouge Heel Velvet in Shade 1 Red to Go (S$25.90). Dry lips might be an inevitable by-product of matte lippies, but not this one.
This semi-matte lipstick sets to a satin velvet-finish that looks – and feels – soft to the touch.
Not quite matte, not quite sheer, the gorgeous singer-actress’s vibrant pink Lancome Juicy Shaker ($38) in Berry in Love is a happy medium. Packed with nourishing oils, the pigment in these lippies are subtle but the more you shake, the more they pack a punch, making them extremely versatile and wearable for both day and night. They also work well as a lip topper to add a glossy finish without the sticky feeling.
The shade of your coral lippy will change depending on the tone of your lips. The lighter your natural lip colour, the pinker the coral will appear, the darker your natural lip colour is, the redder it will look.
Pinker corals like this beautiful hue seen on After School member Nana are more flattering on cooler complexions because they will help to brighten your complexion. She is wearing the Yves Saint Laurent Volupte Liquid Colour Balm (US$32) in shade 6 Undress Me Coral that delivers a sheer wash of colour with a glossy healthy glow.
The key to nailing this fiery crimson lip look without going down in flames is to keep everything else soft. The “Love Rain” actress paired her red lips with lightly drawn brows, fluttery lashes and an ever-so-slight dusting of rosy pink blush on the apples of the cheeks.
She is wearing the Tony Moly Shocking Lip (S$25.56, available from Lazada) in Red Shocking, a long-lasting tint on her lips.
Nude lips are the easiest way to make a bold statement in a subtle fashion. For those with medium to tan complexion, go with a peachy beige similar to this shade one seen on singer Yuri. Steer clear from pale beiges, creams or white tones that could wash you.
Try out the Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip Colour ($41) in Ruby, a wearable lippy that combines the look of a lipstick with the feel of a balm.
