BITE Lip Lab Goes Virtual
A couple of years ago, Canadian brand BITE opened Lip Lab in Toronto and New York. There, you could work with a consultant to design a unique lipstick and have it created in minutes on the spot. The one problem? It was only accessible to those who could make it to the store. Now, thanks to COVID, the service is available virtually, too.
How it Works
Booking a time slot on the website connects with a colour expert via video chat. All the experts have strong groundings in colour theory. Consultants such as Deanne Terrell—an artist and makeup artist—will guide you toward a shade that will suit you best. She does this by asking about preferences, skin tone, and the kind of occasion. She may also ask you to switch on a light or stand by a window so she can better discern your complexion’s undertones.
Terrell says the most common request is a perfect everyday shade—something clients can throw on in the car without even checking a mirror—and second on the wish list is a going-out colour. “I find most women have two or three shades that they’d love to have in their lip wardrobe, and they just can’t find them,” she says. “I personally have all my favourites in each of the four finishes so I can match them to my mood and what I’m wearing.”
The Lip Lab then blends the perfect hue from 200 pigments and applies the selected finish—buyers can choose satin, sheer, luminous, or matte. The custom lipsticks even come in six flavour options, including mint, mango, and berry crush. The bullet is engravable, and you can select your own font. The lipsticks are made on the spot (it takes just a few minutes) and are shipped out a couple of days after each appointment. If it doesn’t work for whatever reason, you can send it back and change it.
The service is still available in real life for those who are close enough to one of the four Lip Labs, and whatever medium you choose for your consultation, your shade’s details will be kept on file so you can restock when you’ve used it all up (which you will).
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