The name Deborah Lippmann is practically synonymous with nail lacquer. For more than 20 years, the sought-after manicurist has been creating colors found on the fingertips of celebrities, models, and regular, everyday folks who appreciate a polished look. But Lippmann is ready to branch out — or up, rather. Her brand has turned its attention to the face, and more specifically, the lips.
Launched earlier this month, Hydra-Cushion Balmy Lip Gloss is a first for Lippmann, though she tells Allure it felt like a natural next step. “I have always dreamt of and planned to hop into makeup. I mean, my last name does have ‘lip’ in it,” she says. “Launching lip gloss is simply a natural extension of my passion for color, and it’s also about giving my customers what they want.” She adds that she wanted to wait until she’d figured out the perfect formula: a medium-coverage lip color that would hydrate and heal lips like a balm.
Although lip gloss may be a new endeavor for Lippmann, the colors it comes in are not. Fans of the brand will recognize the shade names: Cake by the Ocean, Touch Me Tease Me, Naked, Modern Love, Lay Lady Lay, and Tickle Me Pink. The only gloss that doesn’t have a corresponding Gel Lab Pro nail polish is the clear Suck My Kiss.
“Not all nail colors look great on lips, so I did some cherry-picking,” Lippmann tells Allure. “I chose shades that effortlessly complement my best-selling Gel Lab Pro Colors and that would work with a wide range of skin tones, from nude and mauve to pinks.”
I had the opportunity to try four of the seven shades, all of which are formulated with plumping hyaluronic acid and vegan collagen to condition lips so you get more than just some shine and color.
Naked