Two things you should know about me if you don’t already: I am a double, maybe triple, Scorpio and I love lipstick – I’ve been on a quest for the perfect lippie, boldly-pigmented on the darker color spectrum, matte, non-drying, and packing more than a suggestion of a witchy, goth vibe for most of my adult life. With the bonanza of recent matte lipstick launches this fall, during this season of the serpentine and the seductive, I’ve been indulging in an orgy of bold, next-level vibrant lippies from the best beauty brands on the market.
Before we apply and after we remove color, the lip canvas demands a lot of TLC and prep to keep the pout hydrated and plump. On off-duty hours and as part of my skincare regimen, I apply Winky Lux Aurora Balm. In the tube, the dark, gemstone-flecked balm is so Scorpio-adjacent, every application feels like a Wiccan ceremony. Formulated with ceramides and jojoba oil, it loads the lips with deep nourishment, and with a smart complexion pH balance, it settles into the most flattering shade of mauve for your vibe and complexion.
For deep hydration and major peptide plumping, I turn to Limboss’ Exotic Lips – Lip Plumper in Kir Royal. Like its namesake champagne cocktail, the glossy serum imparts the lips with a deep plum sheen, in addition to the ultra-plumping effect of peptides and avocado oil. Best applied to clean, dry lips, it doesn’t sting as much as other plumping formulas, and its impact is amplified with every subsequent application.
Now, let’s talk the vibrant spectrum of color that swatching dreams are made of. In addition to the Aurora Balm, and speaking of plumping, Winky Lux has recently launched its latest lippie collection, the Skinny Plump Demi-Matte Lipsticks in eight dazzling shades that any Scorpio would rock with pouty pride. My go-tos this month have been Rose Hotel, a cool-toned pink, and Corner Office, a deep berry rose. Room Service and First Crush dry down to pink, mauve, and more neutral color payoffs, and are a perfect accompaniment to deeper, darker black and gray goth eye makeup for day. Formulated with Maxi-Lip technology, plum oil, and hyaluronic acid, the Skinny Plump Demi-Matte Lipsticks are as much lippies as nourishing serum.
For next-level, full mattes in deep, fashion-forward reds and plums, a few luxury brands have nailed the most amazing formulas. Lelo Beauty Liquid Lipsticks in Booty Call and Nymph are my best beauty discoveries of the year. If the brand sounds familiar, you may recognize the name from the famed line of innovative sex toys. If anything, Lelo has a proven track record with nymphs, booty calls, and keeping lips happy and hydrated.
From opening the matte black packaging to the application, Lelo Beauty is a purely luxurious experience. The formulation is so creamy, I wondered if it could ever dry down to a long-lasting, transfer-proof matte. Not only did it try down in under 30 secs, it was a powdery matte without any loss of the vibrant, unparalleled pigment. Trust me when I say Nymph is the ideal platonic plum shade for goths and Scorpios everywhere.
Because I want to profess my love for Kevyn Aucoin Beauty’s latest super-pigmented and long-wearing Velvet Lip Stain launch again, and shout their name from the mountaintops, the shades Striking and You-Phoric were tailor-made for Scorpio season. While Striking is a dark brown-toned red, You-Phoric is a deep blue-toned plum. Kevyn Aucoin Beauty Head Makeup Artist Drita Paljevic recommends mixing the two to create a signature shade or ombré for Instagram-worthy lip looks. While Scorpio season may be coming to a close, once you start swatching and playing with these vibrant lippie combos, you won’t stop. It’ll be Scorpio season for you and your lips year-round.
