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Q&A with Lipstick Queen’s Poppy King

by on ‎01-21-2011 07:29 PM

Poppy


Poppy King is a genius. By breaking away from everything we know about lip color, she has completely reinvented the medium. Her focus on lips — and lips alone — for more than 20 years has resulted in smooth, flattering glosses; whisper-sheer and pigment-rich lipsticks that glide on gorgeously and wear comfortably; and true innovations like Oxymoron Matte Lip Gloss, Invisible Lip Liner, and Black Tie Optional Lip Gloss (yes, it’s black!). Each one seems somehow “wrong” and yet, oh so right.


Oxymoron is precisely that – a lip color that feels like a gloss, but looks matte like a cream lipstick.


Invisible Lip Liner is made from completely colorless wax and silicone, so it glides on super-smooth and keeps color safely corralled within the confines of your lips. No more bleeding!


Black Tie Optional Lip Gloss looks like a pot of black ink, but wears like a very deep cherry. The lipstick version can be worn under another shade to deepen the color.


Black Tie


Before trying the Black Tie Optional gloss, I told Poppy that it looked cool, but a little intimidating. She put my mind at ease, saying, “Don’t let the look of these throw you off! Both the Black Tie lipstick and lip gloss are very, VERY sheer, and I designed them to deepen your natural lip tone in the same way that very sheer black stockings have a super flattering effect on the legs. These have a super-flattering ― not gothic! ― effect.”


 


Here’s more of what she had to say:


Q:  Do you have any tricks for making lipstick last all day?


A: Yes! Apply one coat, blot with a tissue, and then apply another “top” coat — like nail enamel.


Q:  What about tricks for making lips appear fuller. Should those of us with thin lips stay away from dark or bright colors?


A:  No. Bright colors are fab on thin lips as long as the color is see-through or sheer, like a tint rather than a full lipstick. That is very flattering for all lip shapes. Also, smile a lot! That is the most flattering thing anyone can do!


Q:  Red is back in a big way. Do you have any tips for choosing the right red?


A:  The general rule is that the deeper your hair and skin tone, the more pinky-based reds suit; and the lighter your skin tone and hair color, the more orangey-based reds are best. A sheer red like my Medieval is sheer enough and a natural-enough-looking red that it suits everyone!


Q:  Your Saints are sheer and Sinners have 90% pigment. Do you ever layer them together?


A:  I know many women who like to layer them together with the Sinner on the bottom and the Saint on top for extra sheen and moisture. I also know a lot of women who wear the Saint version during the day and the Sinner version at night. That is the beauty of having the same shade in two strengths.


Q: Your 3-piece Discovery Collection has been very popular and was nominated for a QVC Customer Choice Beauty Award. Why did you decide to feature these three colors as your Intro to Lipstick Queen? Why do you think they’re so universally loved?


A: I chose these shades because they are the perfect “lip wardrobe,” meaning that there are enough differences between them to suit many occasions and enough similarities that they will suit all skin tones. I think they are universally loved because they are the perfect hybrid between gloss and lipstick with the best of both worlds.

Q:  Tell me more about your Invisible Lip Liner. How does it work?


A:  It is a silicone- and waxed-based lip liner that you line the edges of your lips with and it stops any lipstick or lip gloss from bleeding over the edges. The beauty is that because it is invisible/transparent, you don’t have to worry about matching it to your lipstick or gloss color. It goes with everything and avoids that harsh lip-liner look.


Q: What’s the difference between Hard Core Gloss and Pop Art Gloss?


A: Hard Core Gloss is very thick and patent-leather like. It’s very long-lasting but sticky, so make sure you wear your hair off your face with this one — but it will last on the lips. Pop Art Gloss on the other hand is not sticky at all and is more like a serum than a gloss, but with a super sheen and no shimmer.


 


Have a favorite from Lipstick Queen? I’d love to hear about it. And don’t forget to check out her latest arrival, the vitamin E-packed Buttefly Ball Lipstick Trio.