the power of the poppy pout

Poppy King

Psychologists claim that we remember the most intimate details of our first kiss. From the words that were whispered just before lips locked along with the lipstick shade that was worn.  If not construed as the language of love, then lipstick can certainly be hailed as the cosmetic of lust.

For many women, lipstick is more than make-up, it’s a lifestyle and an attitude. And that’s certainly true for Australian lipstick entrepreneur Poppy King aka the Lipstick Queen. Poppy has built a beautiful career (she started her first brand at just 18) out of her passion for lipstick, and believes that giving good lip can help women take on the world.

Collaborating with No7, Poppy has brought a whole new meaning to hip lips by identifying the top seven reasons why we love wearing lip colour and created a shade to match each reason. There’s History (red), Power (rose), Glamour (pink), Seduction (blackberry), Intrigue (pink nude), Confidence (nude) and Allure (peach). Her mission? To encourage us to introduce wearable glamour into our lives.

Here Poppy gets loose lipped with Dolly Mixture and talks confidence, colour and a little bit of retro cheekiness.

Dolly Mixture (DM):  Do you believe a girl’s best friend is her lipstick?

Poppy King (PK): I believe a girl’s best friend is her self esteem and lipstick can help with that. So, indirectly, yes!

DM: Who are your favourite lipstick wearers?

PK: American actress Chloe Sevigny and the best lipstick wearer of all time… the late American showgirl and silent movie star, Louise Brooks.

DM: What advice would you give the lipstick shy?

PK: To start sheer first. Today, there are a lot of options in sheer colour, so you can almost have a hybrid of a lipstick and a lip gloss until you get used to the idea of lipstick. This can often be the aspect that women have to get past.

DM: Do you believe lipstick wearers come in tribes? Such as natural, gloss or colour?

PK: I do believe that we get in a rut. Even I do and wear the same thing over and over again. Some people do swap over, but most women know what they like and why. The most important factor is that you feel good.

DM: What are you golden rules of applying lipstick?

PK: I always believe the best way is straight from the tube. Then if you want, use some lip liner AFTER you have applied the lipstick. Use to fill any gaps or to define the Iip line.

DM: Do you think lipstick should only be applied in private? Or do you love the theatre of applying it in public?

PK: Whatever makes you more confident. Personally, I would rather see a woman applying her lipstick in public than constantly being on her BlackBerry!

DM: Any tips for lipstick shopping?

PK: Don’t make snap judgements. Try something on and walk around in it. It takes a while to really know if something different feels right on you.

Glamour range

DM: Can you tell me about your collaboration with No7?

PK: I’m really excited about working with such an iconic British brand. What I wanted to bring to this range was some flirty attitude! In my mind, I wanted our collaboration to encapsulate a feeling of ‘elegant flirtation’, taking inspiration from femme fatales such as Marilyn Monroe who always managed to be cheeky yet dignified.

Available from 23^rd March, Poppy King lipsticks £12 and Lipglosses £11 are from 250 Boots stores nationwide and on http://www.boots.com/