From Rich Rhubarb to Juicy Blackberry – The 7 Berry Lip Shades We’re Craving This Autumn
Main image – Gabriel Brooks
Whether it’s a plum balm, a red wine lipstick or a black cherry stain, you may have noticed that berry lips are everywhere at the moment.
And yes, yes, I know. Berry tones for autumn… earth-shattering? No. But this season, they’re a little less statement lipstick and a little more ‘just stole a blackberry from the punnet’, with sheer tints, balmy textures and softly blurred edges.
It only felt right to take you through our favourite berry lip products for autumn then. Because here at Live That Glow, we’re nothing if not selfless.
So which berry camp are you in? Personally, I like a subtle raspberry lip stain or tinted balm – something that’s going to enhance my natural lip shape with a hint of colour, rather than dominate it.
If you’re not sure where you stand on berry lips just yet though, don’t worry – makeup artists Mally Roncal, Denise Del Russo and Gen Waring are here to give their tips on how to choose your perfect shade and, crucially, how to wear it.
A new take on berry lips
This season it’s out with the heavy, traditional lipsticks and in with the sheer stains, balmy textures and blurred finishes.
“There’s something about a rich berry or wine lip that just feels like fall,” says celebrity makeup artist Mally Roncal. “These shades have always been glamorous, but what I love right now is that we’re wearing them in a much more effortless way.”
That means forgetting the perfectly drawn lip if that’s not your thing. “You can blur the edges, tap the color on with your finger or add a little gloss on top,” Roncal adds. “It’s still gorgeous and polished, but it feels lived-in and so much more wearable.”
How to find your perfect (unintimidating) shade
If you’re new to lip colour, it can be tricky to know where to start when searching for your perfect shade. “The easiest way for someone to find the most flattering berry shade for their skin tone and undertone is to swatch a few shades on their fingertips and hold up to their lips to see which looks best next to their lips,” Del Russo advises.
Image – Caroline Attwood
“I typically look for undertone in the complexion, as there’s a berry shade for everyone,” adds Waring. “With a neutral complexion, you can pick slightly cooler or slightly warmer, depending on the vibe of the look. If you have a cooler undertone, sometimes it’s nice to add a berry shade with a bit of warmth.”
And what about for warmer undertones? “Picking a berry lip that’s slightly cooler is also a great idea if you want to neutralise the face,” she says. “That being said, it’s really up to the person wearing the color and what you feel most comfortable in.”
And if deeper berry shades still feel a little intimidating, you don’t have to go all in straight away. “If deeper lip colours feel intimidating, start small,” advises Roncal. “Take the color and tap it onto the center of your lips, then blend it out with your finger for more of a soft, stained effect. You can always build from there if you want more intensity.”
So with that in mind, here are seven of our favourite berry shades from across the Live That Glow office – catering to all tones, undertones, and coverage levels.
1. Laneige Glaze Craze Tinted Lip Serum in Rose Jam
This tinted serum leaves a glossy finish and hydrates the lips. The shade is a gorgeous deep rhubarb that dilutes beautifully on contact with the lips. Think of this as the halfway house between your everyday balm and a proper autumn lip.
Pair it with a little blush and mascara and you’ve got enough color to look like you’ve made an effort. Even if you absolutely haven’t.
SHOP LANEIGE GLAZE CRAZE TINTED LIP SERUM IN ROSE JAM
£19 from Space NK UK
$22 from Laneige US
2. Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Festival Magic
This deep, cool-toned purple-berry lipstick has a soft matte finish.This is the one for those who want a proper autumn lip – think crushed blackberries rather than a barely-there tint.
Build it up for a full-on berry look and keep the eyes simple with just mascara. With a shade this rich, your lips can do the talking.
SHOP CHARLOTTE TILBURY MATTE REVOLUTION IN FESTIVAL MAGIC
£29.50 from Charlotte Tilbury UK
$37 from Charlotte Tilbury US
3. Ultra Violette Sheen Screen SPF 50 Hydrating Lip Balm in Last Bite
This juicy berry pink balm offers SPF 50 protection. This is the one for balm devotees who want to join in without venturing too far from their comfort zone.
The shiny finish keeps things fresh and casual, so you can leave the rest of your makeup fairly minimal and let that juicy tint do its thing.
SHOP ULTRA VIOLETTE SHEEN SCREEN IN LAST BITE
£17 from Boots UK
4. Refy Lip Blush in Orchid
This cleverly blurs the lips, tints them with colour and feels like a lightweight balm. In our opinion, Orchid is a perfect, universally-flattering berry-nude and offers much more of a softly blurred lip than a sharply drawn lipstick look – great for those slightly intimidated by the berry lip trend.
Dab it onto the center of your lips and work outwards for a subtle wash of colour, keeping the edges soft rather than reaching straight for a liner.
SHOP REFY LIP BLUSH IN ORCHID
£16 from REFY UK
$24 from REFY US
5. Laneige Juice Box Lip Tint in Jazzy Jam
This is another tint and you can build it up to whatever level of pigment you desire. The shade is a reddish-brown and the brown undertone here makes this a softer way into the trend if pinks and purples aren’t usually your thing.
Start with one light layer, let it settle, then decide whether you fancy a little more – there’s no need to go straight in with the full autumn lip.
SHOP LANEIGE JUICEPOP BOX LIP TINT IN JAZZY JAM
£20 from Sephora UK
$23 from Laneige US
6. Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil in Hope
This looks like a heavy, glossy raspberry when first applied but, once blotted, leaves a gorgeously flattering stain.It’s another good option if you like the idea of ??a berry lip but would rather keep the finish understated.
Blot away the initial shine and let the remaining color be the focus, with a little blush to bring the whole look together.
SHOP RARE BEAUTY SOFT PINCH TINTED LIP OIL IN HOPE
£22 from Space NK UK
$24 from Rare Beauty US
7. E.l.f Sheer For It Blush Tint in Mauve Actually
This looks like a scary purple but, when you apply it on your lips and blot it, leaves a subtle juicy blackberry tint.
Consider this your reminder not to judge a lip color by how alarming it looks in the tube. It works on cheeks too, so you can tie the whole look together with a little of the same shade. Two jobs, £6. We love to see it.
SHOP E.L.F. SHEER FOR IT BLUSH TINT IN MAUVE ACTUALLY
£6 from e.l.f. UK
$6 from e.l.f. US
The takeaway
Whether you fancy a juicy tint, a blurring balm or a full-on blackberry lipstick, there’s more than one way to wear berry this autumn.
Try the fingertip test Del Russo suggests, consider your undertone and choose a finish you feel comfortable in. No need to go straight from clear balm to the deepest plum. Unless, of course, you want to.
Meet the experts
Mally Roncal is a beloved celebrity makeup artist and expert who has worked with everyone from Beyoncé to Jennifer Lopez.
Gen Waring is an Ottawa makeup artist and founder of Waring Makeup.
Denise Del Russo is a makeup artist and judge at the Beauty Shortlist Awards.
