These Light-as-Air Lipsticks Are the Makeup Version of the Perfect Spring Cardigan

There are three ways to determine the beginning of spring. The first is the official day as dictated by the vernal equinox, the second is according to the timeframe laid out by Punxsutawney Phil, and the third is the first day it's warm enough to be outside in a T-shirt.

When the third happens, it starts a domino effect that leads to spring cleaning, refreshing your seasonal wardrobe, and adjusting your skincare routine. When it comes to spring makeup, the first thing I want to do is find light-as-air formulas in soft, easy textures, as is the case with the lip mousses that will dominate both spring and summer. I would think that you'll start to see many of these pop up in the coming months.

The products I'm writing about can go by many names: lip mousse, powdered lip, blotted lip, and velvet lip are some of the many. The idea behind this lip, regardless of what you want to call it, is not new. I was first introduced to it in 2018, but it wasn't a single product delivering results; it was a process that required technique and a handful of products (lip liner, lip balm, setting powder, lip stain, etc).

In the last two months, one-and-done blotted lip products like Ultra Suede Cozy Lip Creme from Makeup by Mario and Love Swipe from Kaja have emerged. They're both highly pigmented yet subtle lip products that feel so light, you barely know you're wearing something. A swipe goes on like a cushioned kiss; it's diffused and soft rather than the harsh lines and definition typical of a traditional lipstick.

I am so entranced by the physical texture of these products, as well as the born-in-the-Swiss-countryside vibe of it all that I have pared down my five- to six-step lip routine to just two steps thanks to this new class of products. First, I apply the Lawless Overnight Lip Plumping Mask to prep and plump my lips, and then swipe on one of these whipped mousses.

Although the Makeup by Mario and Kaja products are the newest of the bunch, YSL, Hourglass, Peripera, Nars, Revlon, and Cle Cosmetics have their own similar offerings.