Photo: Courtesy of Fairchild Archive
After a winter buried under layers of balm, your lips are finally ready for that makeup trial. And there's never been a better time to try out a wedding beauty look: This season, lipcolor is prettier, longer lasting, and more moisturizing than ever. We road-tested a few of our new favorite aisle-ready shades. Get ready to start swiping!
The Shining Star:
Maybelline The Elixir ColorSensational, $8.54, available at Amazon
It's like your favorite middle school lip gloss, all grown up. New technology has helped the sticky, gloppy glosses upgrade to high-shine, wet look formulas that feel as soft as a balm. Plus, a new applicator with both long and short fibers means you can get full coverage in one swipe. When our tester gave the gloss the afternoon-coffee treatment, she was surprised to find it didn't rub off on the cup at all. Could it be — a gloss that actually lasts through your wedding night?
See More: How to Make Your Wedding Lipstick Last All Night
The Timeless Beauty:
Dolce and Gabbana Classic Cream Lipstick, $33, available at Sephora
Vintage-loving brides, listen up: This is your dream lipstick. Inspired by Italian women of the '50s and '60s (and modern-day screen siren Monica Bellucci, who stars in the lipstick's ad campaign) the super-moisturizing formula is ensconced in a lustrous gold tube worthy of any wedding clutch. You'll want to collect 'em all, but you can't go wrong with a rosy pink like Chic, part of D&G's new spring palette. You'll need to re-apply after dinner, but it's worth it for the soft, non-drying feel.
The Do-It-All Gloss:
Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss, $8, available at Amazon
Don't balk at the super-pigmented hues in the tube: This gloss comes out sheerer than any other we tried. Our tester loved the super-buildable coverage. One layer creates a barely-there pink sheen, while more yields a bolder pout. Try it on its own with a soft smoky eye and lots of blush, or over your wedding lipstick for a touch of shine in you photos.
See More: We Solve Your Beauty Problems: Wedding-Day Lip Color
The Sheer Genius:
Dior Addict Lip Glow, $32, available at Sephora
It goes on like a balm, but pigments in the formula react to your lips' temperature, resulting in a deeper flush of color than our tester expected. Plus, it lasted for hours! The best part? Every tube is packed with SPF 10, which means outdoor brides can rest easy without fear of that dreaded lip sunburn. We also think your groom will appreciate the minty taste ...
The Liquid Wonder:
Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer, $4.79, available at Walgreens
If you can't decide between lip gloss and lipstick for your wedding day, Rimmel's got the perfect compromise. This super-pigmented liquid lipcolor goes on like a gloss, but looks extra-bold on your lips. And at such a steal, you can buy it in multiple shades and layer pigments. Apply it just like lipstick: paint on a layer with a lip brush, blot, then apply a second layer. Otherwise, you might be in for some fading after dinner.