PAINT JOB

Art class finally pays off, thanks to customizable lip gloss.

For all those times you needed a lipstick just a bit redder, a gloss just a bit pinker, or a shine just a bit darker, there’s Lip Tar.

Like lipstick melted down into gloss form, the squeezable tubes from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics are meant to mix-and-match. In addition to the base colors that can be worn alone, like dusty pink “Melange”, there are shades meant for customizing. The opaque white “Feathered” turns “Safety Orange” into a soft coral, the vivid yellow “Traffic” makes the scarlet “NSFW” even brighter, and a bit of blue “Rx” turns the fuchsia “Pageant” into a sultry purple.

It’s a bit like being back in art class, only you’re mixing paints on your face, not a piece of paper. And because the vegan-friendly and cruelty-free formula is ultra-saturated with color pigment, a little goes a long way. And for all those lipstick tubes sitting unused on your dresser because they’re just a bit off, you can finally give them a bit of an upgrade.

The only problem? You’ll have so much fun making your own lip colors that you’ll never want to go out. Color me beautiful, indeed.
REBECCA WILLA DAVIS

$12.50 at occmakeup.com

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This story was published on June 15, 2009.