I'm going to admit it: I've been a little wary of wearing a full bold lip under my mask. Between my genuine struggle with maskne and the fact that I've been
opting for full glam for Zoom over full glam for a grocery store run, I haven't felt the need for a bold lip and mask situation. That is until Naomi Campbell suggested I wear a full lip every day. And then Zoe Kravitz suggested the same idea. Just like that, my idols had spoken. I decided to ask a few of the ELLE editors what lip looks they were going for under their mask, and they delivered with pigment and variety. From a bold red from Lip Bar to a Charlotte Tilbury classic, these are the smudge-proof, transfer-free lipsticks ELLE editors are wearing under our masks.
Katie Becker, Beauty and Health Director
I’ve heard tales of the staying power of this epic lipstick, so when I passed The Lip Bar’s hometown store in Detroit while visiting family this fall, I stopped in to pick it up in a shade called Boy Trouble. I don’t know about the boy part, but I promise you there is very little trouble here. While you should apply carefully and wait for it to try, you may then proceed to don your mask worry-free—after I wore this a mask in a hot grocery store for 30 minutes (while speaking!) my red lips emerged unscathed.
Shop the Baggu Mask in Leopard (which leave lots of room for your lips FWIW) here.
Rose Minutaglio, Staff Writer
I love this lipstick from L'Oreal! It pairs best with fall foliage and a mask.
Margaux Anbouba, Associate Beauty Editor
This beyond hot pink shade named Dior Fever was my favorite pre-pandemic because it’s the best of both a liquid lip and a super-glittery gloss. And after wearing it with my Slip face mask, it’s still my number one. The formula is unbelievably light, almost water like, and easy to apply with the large doe foot applicator. It dries down almost immediately but doesn’t lose any of the shine or glimmer, but instead lacquers your lips in tiny rhinestones that don’t move after hours of champagne drinking or dancing—whether you’re doing it in person like the before times or now on Zoom.
Shop the Slip Face Mask in Black here.
Ariana Yaptangco, Social and Beauty Editor
Cold weather means it's #redlipszn and nothing will prevent me from wearing my favorite wine lipstick. My go-to formula has survived everything from drinks at the bar to work lunch dates, so I wasn't surprised when it held up behind my face mask.
Chloe Hall, Digital Beauty Director
Just like most of the ELLE.com writers, I am currently obsessed with Selena Gomez's Rare Beauty offerings. Her Lip Souffle Matte Creme lipsticks are the real deal. The formula goes on more like a tint than lipstick and is so soft and airy that I can easily forget I'm wearing it. I grabbed the shade Transform as an homage to my other current favorite thing...wine. Plus, I thought the shade matched my very cute and very on-the-nose red lipstick face mask.
