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Poppy King in New York City
Is it true you wear red lipstick every day? I wear Red Sinner pretty much every day. It’s based on Courage from my very first lipsticks back in 1992, and is a part of the continuing story of my life in red lipstick. I love every shade I make and occasionally wear others of mine, but Red Sinner is me.
Where do you stand on lip liner – imperative, optional, or never? Lip liner is a tool not a rule. If you feel it enhances your experience of lipstick then please go for it, but if not, you don’t have to.
Medieval Tinted Treatment has attained cult status – did you know you were making something special with that one? I have customers to thank for that. It was all the women who told me they couldn’t wear red lipstick that made me want to create a red that every single woman could wear, because Medieval is a red that naturally occurs in the naked lip.
You’ve managed to make non-traditional lip colours wearable (stay tuned for a green lipstick coming our way soon) - which shade is next on your list? I have many non-traditional colours in the works. I’m exploring lipsticks that act like filters on a camera, where placing a special-effect sheer film of colour on top will help bring out certain elements of the natural lip contour. Each one of these is tricky to get right, but when they are, they’re nothing short of magic.
You and your brand made a huge impact on the Australian beauty industry in the 1990s – how do you look back on that time? I could never have started my career anywhere better than Australia. Australians are so adventurous; they are such early adopters of newness whereas other cultures are more conservative. Australia taught me so much about the ups and downs of business that has helped me be strong enough for a place like New York.
How has living in New York impacted your beauty/health/lifestyle routine? I have been in NYC for 12 years and it has made me appreciate that glamour is a state of mind whereas beauty is a physical attribute. I see so many glamorous women here and that glamour comes not from their beauty but because of their spirit. The big difference between Australian and New York beauty is the difference between an outdoor culture and an urban one - New York is a metropolis so the beauty look is not as natural as that of Australia.
How would you define glamour? Glamour is a mind body connection. It’s making the best of your flaws as well as your strengths, and that is why I identify with glamour more so than beauty.
Any tips on the next big trends? Unique – this is the key trend I am seeing emerging. The homogenized look of nude lips and smoky eyes has become just another option instead of the only option, and women now are making a statement with their own look whether it be red lips or nothing at all. It’s all about being you.
What’s got you excited? I am excited about how fine you can get with the details in formulas now. Back when I first started you could only achieve a few different formulas in lip, but now it’s limitless!
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