Ant McPartlin’s ex Lisa Armstrong tells how lipstick has acquired her via powerful instances

SALES of lipstick have hit the skids this yr after masks entered our lives.

In what was a £100million- a-year trade, there was a 49 per cent dip in gross sales between August and October, in keeping with analysis group NPD. And specialists say there’s a huge hyperlink to masks being made obligatory.

Lisa explains why our favorite lippie is strictly what we have to elevate us in darkish instances

Right here, celebrity make-up artist Lisa Armstrong, who works on telly hit Strictly Come Dancing and was married to TV host Ant McPartlin, explains why our favorite lippie is strictly what we have to elevate us in darkish instances.

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LIPSTICK is like your finest buddy. It picks you up if you find yourself down, offers you energy if you really feel weak and all the time manages to place a smile in your face.

Rising up, I learnt from my mum that lippy offers you the arrogance to get on with every day life.

Whether or not she was popping to the store, happening a canine stroll or doing the college run, Mum would by no means go away the home with no swipe of her favorite Estee Lauder lippy.

She was not vastly into make-up, however that gold missile-shaped lipstick in a mid-brown hue now jogs my memory of her each time I see it. It has develop into fairly sentimental. Even the dusky, fragrance scent takes me again to my childhood.

Lisa was a disco dancer and needed to do her personal hair and make-up for competitions

After I learn that gross sales of lipstick had dropped by 49 per cent, I used to be saddened, however not shocked. The pandemic has modified our lives in some ways, and masks carrying is just not notably condu­cive to sporting your brightest, boldest lip.

You may really feel like your completely painted pout won’t be seen below your face masking, or that your lippy will quickly be smudged throughout your face.

However I’m right here to say: Like your closest pals, your lippy won’t allow you to down. So please don’t surrender in your favorite shades simply but. Keep in mind, that is the little luxurious that may get you thru the hardest instances.

Traditionally, lipstick gross sales have gone up throughout instances of hardship, like in 2008 after the monetary disaster, in 2001 following 9/11 and within the Thirties in the course of the Nice Despair. No matter occurs after this pandemic, I can guarantee you that your lippy will probably be your go-to.

As a child, I started portray my very own pout and this led to a profession as a make-up artist. I used to be a disco dancer and needed to do my very own hair and make-up for competitions.

This supplied a chance to actually experiment — the larger, brighter and bolder, the higher. Inexperienced eyes could be paired with purple lips. And infrequently, no matter color my costume was could be matched with the identical lip hue — be it orange, pink or purple.

It made me really feel sassy and fierce and, in the end, able to carry out. Now, I get to move this similar armour on to the celebrities and dancers on BBC present Strictly.

I’ve labored on the sequence for the previous 12 seasons and infrequently have the women coming to me and saying this shade of lippy makes me really feel nice — so that’s what we go together with.

Please don’t surrender in your favorite shades simply but, writes Lisa

Psychologists have spoken concerning the braveness a little bit of color in your smile may give you. A British Coronary heart Basis survey discovered that 26 per cent of girls felt extra assured when carrying lipstick.

And I’ll always remember actress Gwyneth Paltrow’s pearls of knowledge. She stated: “Magnificence, to me, is about being comfy in your personal pores and skin. That, or a kickass purple lipstick.”

Lipstick actually is a saviour on the rainiest of days, similar to your closest girlfriends. Throughout the previous three years, I’ve had some actual highs — like creating my make-up assortment with Avon — however some lows too, and my mates have been my help community.

They’ve inspired and impressed me alongside the way in which. So, to indicate my appreciation, I made a decision to call the lippies and lip-liners in my assortment after them. There’s Clare, Emma, Jo, Fran, Gemma and Zoe.

Similar to shut friends, lipstick can present that courageous face you some­instances want.
It helped me be sturdy when my dad Derek handed away final yr on the age of 71 after a battle with most cancers.

I wore a refined pink shade that has develop into my go-to via the years.
Carrying a lipstick you’ve grown to like over time can generally provide you with that little hug you want. It’s comforting.

There are occasions if you wouldn’t have the vitality to place a full face on, however only a coat of color in your pout can assist you face the world. And it doesn’t require practice­ing or a lot talent — completely anyone can really feel the facility of a very good previous lippy. To not point out the excitement from impulsively shopping for it.

I’m undoubtedly a product junkie, as a result of there are such a lot of shades and kinds to mirror your persona or temper.Strictly host Claudia Winkleman, 48, for instance, is thought for her pale pink signature lip, however sometimes she rocks a purple simply to combine it up.

You may store Lisa’s make-up vary at Avon

I’m a sucker for Pat McGrath and I’ve to confess I personal the entire vary.
I would like to ensure I’ve acquired each temper and color craving coated. For one thing that doesn’t value the earth, these little sticks can actually elevate your spirits.

So why ought to we let a face masks get in the way in which of all the advantages of carrying lipstick? Don’t get me fallacious. You may get the odd smear stretching throughout your cheek, however I’m nonetheless going to coat my lips below my face masking — even when I’m going to be masked up all day.

Regardless of others not seeing it, it makes me really feel good — and that’s all that issues, proper? Plus, us make-up artists know that lipstick is not only for the lips. Blush hues can double up in your cheeks, too. Simply dab in your fingers and mix in your face.

All of us want a little bit extra color in our lives in the intervening time, and with Christmas simply across the nook, why not deal with your family members, or your self, to one thing timeless?

In spite of everything, it’s the pocket-size pal all of us want. So get your lippy on, put your chin up and go.

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