Are You Ready? Meet the Marie Claire 7-Day Lipstick Challenge
Let's do this.
Like many women, I have a love-hate relationship with lipstick. On one hand, I can't get enough of the way it makes me feel—more chic, polished, confident, and on certain days, alive and breathing. On the other hand, it's kind of a pain.
When I swipe on lipstick in the morning, it's a trying, daylong devotion. I have to be wary of the fact that at any given moment, it could smudge on my teeth, or I could unthinkingly touch my face and smear it without realizing. And then there's the matter of what I eat. Sadly, there are many foods, namely some of my carb-filled favorites, that are always at odds with a RiRi Woo pout.
But enough excuses. These are small prices to pay when you consider just how envious you are of that girl. You know the one I'm talking about. The one who wears her signature lip rain or shine, managing to leave the office with the same perfectly painted color that she entered it with. Yes, the one that has single-handedly inspired us to come up with a 7-Day Lipstick Challenge for ladies like myself, who need a little push to take the leap.
Here, we invite you to join in the fun. Consider it a boot camp, or a cleanse (of being predictable), or a diet (actually given the eating limitations it really could be a diet...). Put your smear-ridden fears aside and wear a different lipstick shade for every day of the week—keeping in mind that all days of said week are not created equal and call for something different. Study up below, and if you're ready to take on the challenge, use the hashtag #MClipstickchallenge to share your results with us on Instagram. May the lipliner be with you...
We've got bad news: It's Monday. The good news? You can look to a bright and universally flattering red-based orange for moral support. This shade has just the right amount of pop to ward off the beginning-of-the-week blues.
It's only Tuesday, so you're still subject to bouts of the-weekend-is-never-coming moodiness, so we think it best to channel that energy into an oozing-with-cool crimson shade worthy of a film noir heroine.
You've practically conquered the first half of the work week and you deserve a hump-day treat. With that in mind, we give you a rich plum that's decidedly envy-inducing.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
For many, Thursday night is girls' night, which means you want a statement-making hue that will be the envy of all your cocktail circle. Whether you're going to dinner or out dancing, an electric pink fits the bill.
Friday night is date night, which means you've got to don a shade that will hold up, if you know what we mean. A soft pink is totally romantic and you don't have to worry about heat-of-the-moment smudges.
Saturday night is a free-for-all, and you can't go wrong by channeling your inner screen siren with a classic red lip. It's glamorous and utterly wearable.
You've gone six days sporting vivid shades, you deserve something that's slightly less high-maintenance while you indulge in Sunday brunch. Make like Brigitte Bardot with matte nude lips and the remnants of last night's smoky eye.
You should also check out:
Pucker Up: The History of Red Lipstick
25 Most Iconic Red Lips in Film
Lauren Valenti is Vogue’s former senior beauty editor. Her work has also appeared on ELLE.com, MarieClaire.com, and in In Style. She graduated with a liberal arts degree from Eugene Lang College, The New School for Liberal Arts, with a concentration on Culture and Media Studies and a minor in Journalism.
-
Prince Andrew's Business Advisor Accused of Being a "Spy" and Banned From the U.K.
"We found a way to get the relevant people unnoticed in and out of the house in Windsor."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Kate Middleton Allegedly Rejected Idea to Seat Prince Andrew "Behind a Pillar" at Her Christmas Carol Concert
"Although very much a family affair... there was no space for Uncle Andy."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
32 Celebrities Who Got Their Start on Reality TV
Believe it or not.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Why Dyson's New Airstrait Ad Ignited a TikTok Controversy
"They said y'all can buy the product but it is not meant for you."
By Hanna Lustig Published
-
Burberry Beauty's All-Time Classics Finally Relaunched at Nordstrom
Here's how to shop reviewer-vetted products first.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Contrast Makeup Theory Is the Viral TikTok Anti-Trend Everyone Should Try
Here's how to find your signature makeup look with this makeup artist-approved technique.
By Hanna Lustig Published
-
Maed Beauty Gives My Lips a Three-Step Skincare Routine—And They've Never Been Softer
Maed Beauty’s inaugural launch delivers a three-step system.
By Samantha Holender Published
-
13 Best Drugstore Concealers That Feel Surprisingly Luxurious
Great things *do* come with small price tags.
By Iman Balagam Published
-
Urban Decay's Relaunched Naked Palette Is Just as Iconic as the Original
All the nostalgia, plus a silky new formula.
By Brooke Knappenberger Published
-
TikTok Is Making "Unsexy" Beauty Products Seem Very Appealing
There's more to worthwhile products than pretty packaging.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Hailey Bieber Has a New Rhode Baby on the Way, Too
The brand's first color cosmetics launch is pretty and pink.
By Samantha Holender Published