Purple Lipstick, From Soft Lilac to Deep Aubergine

Purple Lipstick, From Soft Lilac to Deep Aubergine

Purple lipstick covers far more ground than people expect, from a dusty lilac you can wear to work to a deep plum for a winter dinner. These are the mauves, purples and glossy stains I would reach for this fall.

In 1984 Prince released Purple Rain, the album and the film, and purple has belonged a little bit to him ever since. It is a color with a sense of drama built in, which is exactly why purple lipstick scares people. The trick is that purple is a huge family. At one end sit dusty lilacs and mauves that read almost neutral, and at the other a deep aubergine that looks like a glass of red wine. Almost anyone can wear something in between.

The first row is the soft end. MAC Macximal Silky Matte in Soar is a cool mid-tone mauve that I think of as the gateway purple, and MAC Sleek Satin in Pink Peppermint is a dusty lavender with more slip. Gucci Velvet Matte in Anne Lilac is a darker lilac with a very grown-up feel. GUERLAIN Kiss Kiss Blur Matte in Tender Lilac is a soft mauve with honey in the formula. Anastasia Beverly Hills Mauve Cloud is a muted mauve with a cool taupe undertone. LAWLESS Forget the Filler in Minx is a warm mauve that also plumps. Dior Rouge Dior On Stage Matte in a mauve pink is transfer-proof, and Marc Jacobs Beauty Heart On in Mauve On is a cool purple pink.

A quick test: if silver jewelry looks better on you than gold, start with the cool mauves. If gold wins, go for a warmer mauve like Minx.

Swatch collage of Gucci Velvet Matte Lipstick in Anne Lilac, MAC Macximal Silky Matte Lipstick in Everybody's Heroine, MAKEUP BY MARIO Ultra Suede Lipstick in Amanda and MAC Lustreglass Stainglass Lip Tint in Grapevinvyl
Purple Lipstick

Mauve and lilac lipsticks

Plum and purple for going out

This row is where purple lipstick gets bold. These shades range from bright violet to a deep plum, and they look best with a simple black outfit and not much else.

MAC Macximal Silky Matte in Everybody's Heroine is a bright purple for a party. Marc Jacobs Beauty Heart On in Pop Off is an electric purple with a soft shine. Risk It All is a pure purple in a matte velvet formula with hyaluronic acid. Gucci Velvet Matte in Eva Grape is a deep, muted plum. MAKEUP BY MARIO Ultra Suede in Amanda is a deep plum with a soft-focus finish. TOM FORD Lip Stylo in Deep Violet is a slim matte that is easy to apply precisely. Sarah Creal Speak For Yourself in Main Character is a rich plum, and TOM FORD Runway Lipstick in Night Mauve is a medium plum that works in the office.

Pairing tip: with a deep plum, add a little blush in a berry tone so the lip does not look disconnected from the rest of your face.

What I would skip: a bright purple with lots of colorful eye makeup. Two bold colors compete. Let the lip lead and keep the eyes to mascara and a soft brown liner.

Plum and purple lipsticks

Purple glosses and stains

Purple glosses and stains are the easy way in. A sheer wash of purple over bare lips looks like a berry flush, and nobody will ask if you are wearing purple lipstick.

YSL Loveshine in Purple Dream is a sheer plum oil gloss that plumps. Danessa Myricks GlossWork 4D in Grape Soda is a cool lilac plumping gloss. HUDA BEAUTY Faux Filler in UUU Baby is an electric lilac with a glass-like shine. NARS Afterglow Lip Shine in Wishing Star is a soft lilac. MAC Lustreglass Stainglass in Grapevinvyl is a cool plum stain that lasts up to twelve hours and does not transfer. m.ph Top Coat in So Vain is a rich plum gloss with a balm-like feel. Too Faced Kissing Jelly in Grape Soda is purple with multicolored shimmer, and Givenchy Perfecto in Vinyl Berry is a sheer plum lip oil gloss.

How to use them: dab a purple gloss over a nude lipstick to shift it cooler, or wear the stain alone for a flush that lasts through lunch.

What I would skip: a purple gloss over a warm orange or coral lipstick. The two tones can look muddy together. Stick to nudes, pinks and berries underneath.

Purple glosses and stains

Finding a purple that suits you

Start with a sheer purple gloss or a mauve from the first row, and wear it for a few days until it feels normal. Then try a deeper plum from the middle row for an evening out. Match the undertone to your jewelry, cool for silver, warm for gold, and keep the rest of your makeup simple. Purple lipstick is not a costume color. It is just another shade of berry, and once you find your version it will feel as easy as your favorite red or nude on a cold night. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Purple Blush That Reads as a Flush, Lilac to Plum and Juvia's Place Blush and the Warm, Deep Shades I Love With It.