Backstage at the Jeremy Scott fall 2012 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Milk Studios on February 15, 2012 in New York City.Craig Barritt/Getty Images
"Blue lipstick is coming on strong," says makeup artist Jackie Gideon, owner of The Jackie Gideon Beauty Bar in Toronto's Ritz-Carlton Spa. "We're seeing it more and more during fashion weeks, in magazines and at nightclubs."
Seen most recently on the pouty girls at Jeremy Scott's fall show in New York, blue joins bright pink, orange and purple as popular everyday colours this spring, although red and nude also remain cosmetics-bag staples.
So how do you go from classic to crazy-hued without looking like a wannabe Nicki Minaj?
Gideon suggests trying a darker shade first, but one with blue undertones (such as a blue-red – Tom Ford makes great ones) or, if you want to jump straight to bright, try orange.
"Orange is underrated," Gideon says. "Whether coral or neon, it looks good on most skin tones."
The most important rule when painting on a bold new shade is to go easy on the rest of your face, Gideon advises. "Bright lips make a big statement on their own; add a bit of mascara and you're ready to go."