Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

13 best lipsticks for spring/summer

Update your make-up look with one of this season's new shades

Tuesday 22 March 2016 13:09 GMT

Clarins

In an unusual step for spring summer, the bold lip dominated the runways this season. From pillar box red through hot pinks and corals, to oranges, berries and browns, the catwalk was awash with statement shades, with only a handful of designers going nude on the lips. Here's our pick of the best lip colours for 2016.

1. Clarins Jolie Rouge Brilliant in Watermelon: £19.50, Clarins

One of the most stunning new shades for summer, Watermelon suits all skin tones and can be layered up for a more intense pigmented look, or left sheer and shiny. Ultra nourishing, it leaves lips feeling intensely hydrated, soft and comfortable for up to six hours.

2. Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Lipstick in Rock Steady: £16, Urban Decay

Get the deep red lips from Anna Sui with this highly pigmented nourishing, glossy lippie from Gwen Stefani's collaboration with Urban Decay. Combine the strong lip with winged eyeliner and loose tousled beachy hair for an effortlessly made-up look.

3. Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Long-Lasting Lipstick in Walk of Shame: £23, Charlotte Tilbury

Go for the rich, berry tones from Miu Miu with this modern matte, long-lasting lipstick. Non-drying and luminous, this is not a shade for the faint-hearted. Bold and beautiful, wear it with just a hint of mascara, strong brows and no blusher.

4. YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Oil-In-Stick in Rouge Tuxedo: £26, YSL

Red was huge this season – an unusual sight for spring summer – and was seen at Celine, Giles, Topshop, Oscar de la Renta and Jenny Packham. If you're not comfortable sporting a full-on pillar box red then Rouge Tuxedo from YSL is for you – still a statement red but with just a hint of wearable raspberry pink in it. Six nourishing oils in this lipstick give a melting texture with ultra-smooth glide on colour.

5. Urban Decay Gwen Stefani in 714: £16, Urban Decay

No one rocks a red lip like Gwen Stefani and her collaboration with Urban Decay has produced shade 714 (£16) - arguably the best and most wearable true red to hit the lipstick market in a long time. Either go neutral on the eye with minimal mascara like Celine, or for a more rock and roll lived-in look, go for slightly smudgy, post-party eyes as seen at Top Shop.

6. MAC Creme Sheen Lipstick in Among The Fire Flies: £15.50, MAC Cosmetics

Moschino was one of only a few designers to shy away from the bold lip, instead they chose a soft brown 1990s Linda Evangelista-inspired lip. Get the look with this subtly sheeny MAC lipstick.

7. Too Faced La Creme Lip Cream in Berry Naughty: £18, Debenhams

Replicate the statement oxblood lips and satin skin from the Burberry catwalk with this rich, nourishing lip stain. Hydrating, soothing antioxidants make this ultra-luxe lippie creamy and easy to wear. Layer up for a stronger look, or blot for just a hint of colour.

8. Marc Jacobs New Nudes Sheer Lip Gel in Moody Margot: £24, Harrods

Half the girls at Burberry were sporting the deep red pout, and the other half were wearing a nude beige lip. Get the look with this beautiful, velvety smooth lip gel from Marc Jacobs, packed with nourishing anti-ageing antioxidant vitamin E. A weighty lipstick bullet with an enormously satisfying magnetic click in stunning creamy caramel beige vintage-style packaging.

9. Paul & Joe Lipstick in Flower to Flower 098: £14, Beauty Bay

One of the easiest reds to wear is one with slight orange undertones – a tomato red. It suits almost everyone, doesn't make your teeth look yellow and was seen on the girls at the Victoria Beckham show. It's a great shade to wear with a tan, or for olive toned complexions, but also works well on pale English rose skin tones. This one gives a beautiful sheer finish, or you can layer up for more of a colour hit.

10. Dolce & Gabbana Matte Lipstick in Dolce Nudo: £30, Harrods

In true Tommy Hilfiger style, the catwalk was awash with California-inspired beachy brights. All bronzed limbs, tousled locks, sheeny glowing skin and barely-there lips. Try this creamy, velvety soft matte lippie, Dolce Nudo, combined with bronzed cheeks, bold brows and minimal eyes.

11. Clinique Pop Lacquer Lip Colour + Primer: £16, Clinique

Or, if you prefer your nude with a bit more shine and gloss, try Clinique Pop Lacquer Lip Colour + Primer in Cocoa Pop – high shine, full coverage but lightweight, with a built in primer to last six hours.

12. Benefit Hydra-Smooth Lip Color in Tutti-Cutie: £15, Benefit

Nothing shouts summer like coral – it falls somewhere between pink and orange and is universally acknowledged to be the perfect shade to wear with a tan. Whether you're olive and bronzed or pale and rosy in the summer months, everyone can sport a summery pop of coral. Softly sheeny with a gentle sheer coverage and packed with shea butter, mango butter and vitamin E, Tutti-Cutie is perfect for warm sunny days.

13. Lancome Lip Lover Dewy Color Lip Perfector in Corail de Ville: £18.50, Lancome

An interesting new hybrid lipstick that blends the comfort of a lip balm, the high shine of a lipgloss and the intense pigment of a lipstick, all in one easy to use soft tipped wand. This soft coral shade is easy to wear whatever your skin tone.

Verdict

The best new, true pillar-box red we found was Urban Decay with Gwen Stefani 714, while the easiest to wear more gentle red was Paul & Joe Flower to Flower. The best nude was Marc Jacobs Moody Margot. But for the perfect summer lip, you can't beat a coral and Clarins Joli Rouge Brilliant in Watermelon is our pick of the best.