Here’s the truth from our red lips.
Few lipstick colors are quite as iconic as Pat McGrath Labs’ Elson, a bright blue-red shade Taylor Swift has worn on multiple occasions. So when we heard the makeup mogul was launching a new sculpting version of the hot hue, we were all ears.
Meet the makeup artist’s Lip Sculpt + Shade Contour Duo, a double-ended product featuring both a precision liner and a highly pigmented lipstick that’s a one-stop shop for an elevated, defined lip look.
“I’ve always used liner and lipstick together to contour, define and create dimension, but I wanted to make that artistry effortless,” McGrath told Page Six Style. “It’s about giving everyone access to couture lip artistry — no matter their skill level.”
In addition to the Swift-loved Elson shade, the new launch comes in 11 other color combinations, from peachy nudes to statement-making mauves.
McGrath recommends starting with the liner — focusing on your Cupid’s bow and the outer corners of your lips — before going in with the creamy lipstick for “a subtle highlight that makes lips look fuller and more luminous on camera.”
For extra credit (and a “true red carpet effect,” per McGrath), softly diffuse the edges and top it all off with her brand’s Lust: Gloss, which the beauty guru said looks “mesmerizing under any light.”
True to form, McGrath’s already used it at “every major runway show,” even applying it on the namesake of her bestselling red, model Karen Elson.
“I also just recently used this on Victoria’s Secret Angel Candice Swanepoel and the response has been major,” the makeup mogul added. “The moment the lip is sculpted — when you see that contour, that fullness — it’s transformative.”
Our review
“As even the most seasoned red lip lover like myself knows, making those edges and corners look nice and crisp can be challenging. With a liner on one side and a lipstick on the other, Pat’s latest launch takes the guesswork out of getting it right. Pat and her team have perfected the art of the actually-comfortable matte lip color, and true to form, these new formulas are smooth, creamy and easy to apply, with a beautiful matte finish I loved.
“Elson has long been one of my holy-grail reds, and while the Lip Sculpt + Shade Contour Duo I tried featured the same shade on both side, there’s also an Elson Extreme option with a darker liner, for those who prefer an ombré lip effect.” — Elana Fishman, Style & Shopping Director
“Like Elana, I’m a longtime fan of Pat’s products. (The foundation is one of my beauty non-negotiables). I love that the news sculpting duo feels creamy and hydrating on the lips, which is rare for a matte lip product. While I opted to blend the two colors together more seamlessly, it also be easy to use for a more statement-making look with the same drama and artistry Pat is known for.” — Hannah Southwick, Associate Shopping Editor
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