Rant & Rave: Plum Lipstick
Tell us what you love and hate about...
Plum Lipstick
I don’t know if there’s a type of plum that I don’t enjoy seeing! I like warmer and cooler-toned plums, and I find finishes from matte to metallic intriguing.
— Christine
Plum seems to me to be (in some form or another) the most true-to-nature MLBB color for pretty much everyone. I mean that in the sense of picking a lipstick that looks like you’re not wearing lipstick, not like the colors that some call “MLBB”s that are berry or peach — I’m talking about natural, “no makeup” makeup. I believe this is true also for those who have naturally pink lips, as I think it’s a lot tougher to find a pink that is “greyed” or quaternary (and quinary) enough to be a natural lip color, whereas true plums have that quality built in. A fantastic color (range), that works for everyone, depending where you hit it in the spectrum (cool to warm, light to dark, etc.).
This holds true for blushes as well, and to some degree eyeshadows (though good plums are very hard to find in the eyeshadow world). I think plum is the unsung hero of makeup.
I meant “…quaternary (or quinary) and desaturated enough…” That last bit is key.
Except for the plum shades that are more purple, I love everything about plum lipsticks. MAC’s Plumful is one of the best colours in the world, in my opinion. I only wish it were longer-lasting.
Have you tried MAC’s Plum Dandy?
Plum Dandy is one of my favorites! The BEST for silver haired gals!
I’ll definitely have to order it! Thank you!
Mariella said, “Except for the plum shades that are more purple, I love everything about plum lipsticks.”
I even like the purple plums, though only occasionally; I wouldn’t sport a dark purple lip often.
I’m trying to think of my very favorite plum, but am finding it hard to single one out.
I love Illamasqua Shard, but it’s more of a “raspberry” than a “plum.”
Ah, well; off to Jane Iredale.
Thank you… I will have to try that. Its one from Mac that I don’t have.
Love more neutral to cool plums. Plums leaning very warm look dirty on me.
Nothing for me to hate, really, as my lips themselves are plum-brown! My one and only complaint is when a brand puts out a really deep vampy plum lipstick that applies as a patchy hot mess or feathers due to it being made too emollient. Otherwise, I love plum lips in all their glory! Warm, cool, dark, light, in between, etc. I also love its close “cousins”: rose, mauve and purple, too!
I love every shade of plum I have ever seen. I prefer cooler toned plums but will try almost any shade!
I’m so late for the plum but now i’m loving it. I mix Stone and Diva from mac and It gives me a beautiful plum.
Trying this!
That sounds genius! I struggle with wearing Stone by itself, so I’m going to try that combo. Thanks!
Yes Stone is kind of special … you’re welcome 🙂
I love many plum shades, but the one problem I have is that there are so many shades- brown, red, purple and pink tones- that all get called “plum”. It’s one thing with products I can test, but it makes it risky ordering things online very tricky.
I love plum shades. I agree with Alecto…alot of them show up as a MLBB color. Some look great in the tube (Revlon’s Plumalicous comes to mind) but turn an unflattering teeth yellowing brown on my lips…yuk! And it doesn’t morph until it’s on my lips for me to tell. I think there’s a plum shade out there for everybody, you just have to find it.
I have much love for plum-berry shades. Though I usually wear warm-toned lipsticks, I can wear either cool or warm in this shade range. I have difficulty wearing a plum shade has a purple or brown tone to it, in any finish.
I LOVE plum on everything but my cheeks. I’m super fair so it would look crazy. I just got the new #ELF matte liquid lipstick in a purple-plum. Super pigmented. It’s beautiful and my whole order was 50% off and took 2 days to get to my house. Amazing
I love plum lipstick in fall/winter!
Due to my coloring, I really can’t wear the rich browns and oranges usually associated with autumn, so I opt for shades like plums, dark reds, and berries for a fall “vibe.”
I find plums fairly easy to wear, though I do try to get my NW15 complexion looking as “flawless” as humanly possible, with the barest hint of blush, when I do a dark lip.
The only “reservation,” if it could be called that, I have about a plum lip is longevity.
When a deep shade begins to wear off, *everybody* knows it.
A good stain, like Silk Naturals “Vamp,” helps with that, though.
Like the rest of today’s commenters, plum is my favorite. I have more plums than anything else. Bobbi Brown Luxe in Hibiscus is probably my HG fave, but I’m always looking for the next one. 🙂 Maybe something one shade lighter…? But yeah, the right plum makes the eyes pop, brightens up the face, does everything a good lipstick should do!
Plum is such a beautiful shade.. I managed to get a hold of Kat Von D Everlasting liquid lipstick in sinner it was an exclusive limited edition, meaning three days XD. It’s beautiful !!!Any Plum lipstick can look good on anybody that’s if you like dark shades though, because Plum usually seems to be dark.
I have nothing but love for plums in all its forms. I think they’re extremely flattering on almost everyone, and they come in a huge variety of shades.
The only negative I can think of is like coral, plum has such a big range of shades that it seems to confuse people.
Love plum lipsticks though I tend to veer away from more purple/lavender lipsticks. Otherwise, I’m a total sucker for the spectrum of shades.
It ages me by at least 5 years.
Christine, I’m with you, what’s not to love about plum? Love them all…cool, warm, light or dark.????
Rave: I just love berry and plum coloured lipsticks – particularly those with a bit of a reddish tinge. I am not a fan of the purplish plum ones
Rants – none – it would be down to the lipstick formula if there are any negatives.
I love plums! I’ve been especially into sheer plums that can be worn as a stain or built up to an opaque dramatic colour.
My only complaint is that they’re often patchy an uneven.
Love plum! I think it is a color which suits just about every skin tone from very cool to warm. Love! Love! Every shade if it.
Plum lipstick is my all time favorite! I wear medium toned plum all the time for work, and the darker ones are very flattering on me (I’m mediterranean with medium olive complexion). Some people dismiss it as “old lady makeup”, but I think plum is the dark horse of lipcolors.
Love plum lipsticks, cooler ones are harder for me to wear but I still love them.
I especially love to wear them in fall to winter, they look especially fitting for those seasons.
Pretty much love them all. I don’t look as good in the super brown ones though.
Erin said, “I don’t look as good in the super brown ones though.”
Same here. I do best in plums that are red-based but still cool, if that makes any sense.
I have yet to find my HG plum, but looking is half the fun!
Recommendations, anyone?
Only cruelty-free companies, please.
Only loves for plums – especially cool toned ones; I’ve always considered it a MLBB color.