Beauty Trends 2013: Lipstick Colours And Finishes To Wear This Year

There's nothing as alluring as a perfectly painted pout. Lacquered lips have been coveted by women since ancient Mesopotamia (they'd crush crystals to spiff up their smile). But lip tint has come a long way since the days of Carmine and Cleopatra. Today, women and men around the world have greater accessibility to lipstick and the endless excitement of decorating their mouths with an assortment of shades, textures and finishes from several big brands. And for 2013, lips are the biggest thing in beauty.

"Lipstick continues to have a resurgence in popularity because it allows women of all ages to feel put together... in a matter of seconds. Just a quick swipe of lipstick and a woman can go from drab to fab, brightening up her face and bringing attention to her smile," says Toronto makeup artist Jessica Jean Myers. "It’s an easy and affordable way for every woman to update her makeup style for the season and, just like nail polish, there are so many colours — one can never get bored."

Toronto makeup artist, Allana Mirza, couldn't agree more. She says eyes are being toned down and becoming more natural in 2013 while lips are taking center stage.

The experts at MAC Cosmetics told us that browns — soft, warm and plum browns — are making an appearance for spring. Hot pinks are also popular and signature reds will always be in. They recommend lipsticks from their Strength and Apres Chic collections.

If you're a fan of the dark lips from 2012's runways, the look is still in, but brighter will soon be better.

"Come spring through to fall, you'll probably want to put those deep, dark lip colours away as brights rule the show," continues Myers. She suggests you reach for hot pinks, fuchsia and red lipsticks instead.

In terms of finish, matte is in. To wear the look, ensure your lips are smooth, healthy and unchapped. To keep your mouth in perfect pucker condition, Myers recommends wearing a lip moisturizer before bed and exfoliating with a lip scrub (you can even make one on your own by combining sugar, honey and olive oil).

LOOK: Perfect A-List Pouts