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When you want a pout that shouts "sexy!", lip lacquer goes a step beyond regular lip gloss for a standout shine on your kisser. The best lip lacquer for each particular lady depends on her complexion and makeup palette. Across the board, however, fashion mags rave about high-end lacquers, so save up your pennies for the best lacquers available and leave the cheap stuff at home when you're going out on the town.
Color
Tinted lip lacquers generally come with more color saturation than lip gloss does -- lip gloss tends to be sheer. Follow the usual color recommendations for your skin tone when you choose your lacquer, and remember to go lighter on the lip tint when you want your eyes to be the focus for the evening. Gals with fair skin can rock the gold, brown and muted tones, while those with darker skin can go with the reds and purples. For example, NARS Lip Lacquer in Chelsea Girls, chosen by "InStyle" magazine in its Best Beauty Buys of 2011 as best lip shade for fair to medium skin, is an earthy nude that still has a deep, rich color.
Shine
Lip lacquer gives you what you need when you want lip color with more density and staying power than gloss but more shine than regular lipstick. The best lip lacquers add that special killer sparkle to your smile. According to "Vogue," designer and now makeup artist extraordinaire Tom Ford "always loathed lip gloss," but even he has added lip lacquers to his exclusive product line. These include a clear lacquer, which you can wear alone or over darker lipsticks, that actually uses pulverized pearls to create an illuminating shine.
Durability
The deeper colors and thicker formulas used to create lip lacquers help them stay on your lips so you don't have to worry about reapplying lip color while you're dancing the night away. Lacquers with deep stain formulations are made to adhere to lips for a long time. Durable brush-on lacquers like Chanel's Luminous Satin Lip Lacquer, recommended by "Cosmopolitan" as a Favorite Beauty Pick, won't kiss off -- at least not right away.
Ingredients
When you put makeup on your lips, you want to know it has safe and maybe even beneficial ingredients. The better makeup manufacturers keep this in mind for customers concerned with health as well as beauty. Almost all of the best lip lacquers mix in mineral oil along with essential oils such as vitamin E and jojoba oil. High-end lacquers aim to provide hydration along with color and shine.
