Can duo-toned lipstick lift me out of my makeup rut? | Anita Bhagwandas on beauty trends

The hack
Emulating the catwalk trend with duo-toned lipstick.

The test
It’s easy to lose the joy of self-expression in makeup, especially as you get older. It stops becoming playful and can start to focus on covering, concealing and fixing. That’s why this catwalk trend, a multicoloured lip look, as seen on the Dsquared2 spring/summer 2023 catwalk, could be perfect inspiration for exploring and expressing ourselves.

Since the pandemic, things have been, well, hard, and my usually bold makeup has definitely become far more tame. But I’m hoping this trend may lift me out of my makeup rut.

Simply take two lipstick shades – they could be two different reds, or red and pink, or orange and green, whatever you like. Then apply one to the top lip and the other to the bottom. I used red and hot pink, which worked well, and started to blend into a raspberry shade after a while.

It was subtle-ish, but definitely a source of low-key intrigue to friends who noticed. I did it again, but with blue and green lipsticks. Very aquatic, much less subtle, and a little out of my comfort zone. But also pretty fun.

The verdict
It’s easy to try at home, with no extra cost involved, so go for it I say. To keep it in place and neat, an invisible lip liner (Kiko Milano has one for £5.99) works wonders.