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I often recall the deep cherry lip tint I wore on my first night in Paris. My dear Parisian friend complimented me, borrowed it, and planted a kiss on my cheek. Plenty of smiles came my way on the Métro, thanks to her lipstick stain on my face. On a cloudy day in Berlin, I applied a tinted suede shade of pink, kissed a cozy café’s free postcard, and sent it to my friend back home in NYC. In Manhattan's West Village, one friendly (and perhaps tipsy) stranger asked if she could borrow my NARS Hot Kiss lipstick to use as her blush. She was visiting from Italy—it was her first night, and tragically, she had forgotten to pack her entire makeup bag.
The power of this beauty agent dates back to ancient civilizations around the world. Early icons believed lipstick offered mysterious healing powers and favor with the gods. In Egypt, Cleopatra miraculously debuted a signature red lip, created by crushing ants and carmine. Ancient Sumerians are known to have crushed gemstones into a powder, and created a paste to smudge on their lips and around their eyes. Lipstick in China was more akin to lip balm and first used for religious ceremonies; it was sourced from minerals, plant juices, and animal blood. In countless cultures and spaces, the cosmetic uses of lip stains took off—and thus began a fabulous trend that is embedded in the fabric of human expression.
While browsing through Condé Nast Traveler’s print archives, I was mesmerized by a 1992 Beauty on Board article. The blurb read as a timeless ode to the revitalizing powers of lip colors when on the go—where the right lipstick awakens a traveler’s complexion “left wan and pale from a red-eye flight or taxing itinerary.” I was inspired by this charismatic love letter to the go-anywhere colors, the long-lasting mattes, and the hydrating shimmer glosses of the world. “The right red can be your best passport,” the 1992 article says. More than three decades later, I believe this still holds true.
Read my lips: Lipstick is an enhancer for any and all fabulous, savvy jet-setters. Traveling, another fine and fabulous tool for self-enrichment, can be exhausting. But a fun shade in a new place is an easy pick-me-up, and acts as an enticing introduction and confidence booster when meeting new people. How can you not be just a tad flirty with a sparkling, sensual, silk stain? And what better happy hour partner than your ever-reliable gilded rose gloss?
To travel with an intentional lip is to travel with grace, radiance, and poise. When heading to the following set of must-see destinations, a certain matte color can speak to a city’s history, culture, and ambiance. The right gloss acts as a cherry on top of your best daily travel apparel. To find the right signature shades for cities around the world, we asked two industry experts for their input: Sephora beauty director Melinda Solares and Keri Blair, a New York City–based senior artist at Mac Cosmetics. Here’s how your traveling lips can do the talking in some of the most sought after cities in the world.
Discover the best lipstick shades for your destination:
- New York City
- London
- Tokyo
- Paris
- Berlin
- Milan
- Budapest
- Mexico City
New York City
According to Solares, it’s imperative to rock Danessa Myricks Beauty Colorfix in New York City—as Myricks, herself, mirrors the Big Apple, disrupting the beauty industry with her imagination and passion. Though tons of shades and finishes hit the streets of New York, Solares says that Venus, a honey-pink foil, or Gilded, a bronzed gold metal, are the perfect shades to sport.
Blair swears by the Retro matte lipstick in Ruby Woo, calling it the “ultimate power suit for your lips”—and probably the most popular shade at Mac for over three decades. The Matte lipstick in Velvet Teddy, also from Mac, is a warm and subtle nude “that looks amazing on pretty much every skin tone,” Blair says. It’s no surprise that these two products are the brand’s bestsellers.
As a Brooklyn local, my personal favorite is the NARS Hot Kiss—the brand’s bestseller comes in a matte, satin, and dusty mauve. Whether I'm headed to the office or to after-work drinks, this shade is always in my purse.
Mac Cosmetics Matte Lipstick in Velvet Teddy
Mac Cosmetics Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo
Nars Lipstick in Hot Kiss
London
When Solares thinks of London, she’s reminded of Legendary English makeup artist and brand founder Pat McGrath. She once spent the day with McGrath herself, observing her and her team prep countless models as they lined up to strut through a grand, historical building filled with London’s most elite. For London visits, Pat McGrath Labs SatinAllure comes highly recommended by Solares, as it is the “perfect understated lip look” with a variety of nude shades to choose from, depending on your skin tone and personal preference.
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After living in London for half a year, I developed my own London look with Mac’s Retro Matte in the shade Flat Out Fabulous. In its long-lasting bright and flirty plum shade, it will perfectly accompany you to Camden Market (with Lily Allen playing in your headphones, of course).
Pat McGrath Labs SatinAllure Lipstick in Nude Romantique
Mac Cosmetics Retro Matte Lipstick in Flat Out Fabulous
Tokyo
All travelers are given permission to go bold in Tokyo, Solares says, especially considering the extraordinary beauty and fashion influence that comes out of Harajuku. However, she also recommends “an understated look to match the iconic skincare industry that also lives within the borders.” The skincare brand Tatcha is rooted in Japanese beauty rituals that show its rich history—and Tatcha Camellia Gold Spun lip balm is intensely hydrating, packed with camellia oil, and made with a hint of 23-karat golden shimmer. For 2,000 years, camellia oil has been treasured by geisha and Japanese women because of how it nourishes the skin and leaves it glowing.
When I finally visit Tokyo, I plan to arrive already wearing Merit’s Signature Lip in Soft Berry. Hydrating, lightweight, and buildable, the shade is fun yet rich with an undertone of a moody purple.
Tatcha Camellia Gold Spun Lip Balm
Merit Beauty Signature Lip in Soft Berry
Paris
Ah, Paris. Simple, elegant, and always très chic. Here, Solares says, “less is more—and flaunting your natural beauty is encouraged.” The brand Summer Fridays embodies that essence “and delivers good-for-your-skin ingredients in beautiful makeup formats.” For a trip to Paris, she recommended the Summer Fridays Lip Butter balm for hydration and shine. Especially in the Pink Sugar shade, the product is a silky balm with a light tint of color that soothes dry lips, creating a lovely sheen.
Fête, Glossier’s hot new Ultralip shade, is an alluring watermelon red, and acts as a standout juicy red balm à Paris. Buttery-soft like the city’s decadent croissants, Fête is a Parisian party on your lips.
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
Glossier Ultralip in Fête
Berlin
The ever-evolving German city is filled with history, culture, edge, and art. When choosing a lip for Berlin, Solares says a brand like Fashion Fair is a perfect fit. “Fashion Fair was the first international prestige cosmetic brand for darker skin tones,” Solares says—and today, it has evolved into a modern-day beauty brand filled with exciting formulas and colors. The Fashion Fair Iconic lipstick comes in both satin and shimmer finishes. The Pure Plum shade feels just as rich in color as Berlin is in history, Solares says.
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I was subject to complete tunnel vision when falling in love with Berlin during my brief stay. Thanks to Revlon, my lips matched my energy in its ColorStay Suede Ink lipstick. The highly-pigmented matte shade of Tunnel Vision lasts for hours, and granted me a fitting tinge of grungy glam that suits the city so well.
Fashion Fair Iconic Lipstick in Pure Plum
Revlon Colorstay Suede Ink in Tunnel Vision
Milan
From the Duomo to the Teatro, Milan offers travelers a wide dimension of fashion, architecture, design, and food. Milan has unmatched simple elegance, yet “offers much more than what meets the eye,” Solares says. That’s why Sephora Collection’s About That Shine sheer lipstick is perfect for visiting the city. In Beige Sparkle, the lightweight lipstick appears as a sheer flush of color, but “packs pigments with unrivaled power to reflect light for endless dimension," Solares says.
When I dream of Milan, I picture the arrival of spring in the city. Pink magnolias blow through the bustling streets and the city seems to blossom in romance. Why not top your lips off in the Lippy shade of Maybelline’s SuperStay Vinyl Ink? The long-lasting liquid lipstick is a comfortable wear yet adds a sassy, shiny finish.
Sephora Collection About That Shine Sheer Shine Lipstick
Maybelline Super Stay Vinyl Ink in Lippy
Budapest
When Solares envisions the lively Hungarian capital, she imagines “bouncing around from place-to-place, meeting new and interesting people around every corner.” For this, she says, the weightless air-whipped Lip Soufflé lipstick from Rare Beauty is perfect. Its “featherweight feel is comfortable all day with no drying or caking”—this way, any fabulous traveler in Budapest can explore the endless discoveries of the city without worry of a reapplication. I recommend the Kindness shade.
Though I have yet to visit Budapest, I’ve always been drawn to the aesthetic of this golden city—the intricately designed bathhouses and serendipitous art nouveau architecture. Of course, I plan to bring along the Dior Addict Lip Glow—its Coral shade will play delicately with the blue and gold hues of the city’s surroundings. Not to mention, coral adds a fun, flirty pop to any lip—which will always cater to the buzzy castle district or quirky ruin bars of Budapest itself.
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Lip Soufflé Matte Cream Lipstick
Dior Addict Lip Glow
Mexico City
As the first Latina beauty director at Sephora, Solares deeply resonates with the significance of a red lip in the Latin and Hispanic community. Historically, a red lip is “the embodiment of empowered femininity for many,” she says. Solares loves wearing red when in “demand of a room, or even a new city.” Currently, her favorite way to rock a red is to fill her lips with GXVE By Gwen Stefani’s Anaheim lip liner in Scarlet Red. She then tops it with GXVE By Gwen Stefani’s Dewyplump collagen lip gel in Berry. The all-over liner caters to a long-lasting pigment and the lip gel adds a sweet, plump, and luscious touch.
On a recent trip to Mexico City, I wore Glossier’s Ultralip shade every single day. In the colorful yet dry city, this one-step lipstick had a much-needed rich moisture to it—as well as a standout blood orange tint that proves flexible in complementing all of my daytime wear. Now that I've returned home, this shade serves as my material connection and gateway to Mexico City.
GXVE by Gwen Stefani Anaheim Lip Liner in Scarlet Red
GXVE by Gwen Stefani Dewyplump Collagen Lip Gel
Glossier Ultralip in Coupe