Beauty
I Wore Virgin x Wonderskin's New Red Lip Stain For An Entire NYC Night — & It Never Budged Once
New holy grail unlocked.
Work has been a whirlwind lately, so as a reward last Friday I treated myself to a 3:30 p.m. reservation at Virgin Hotels New York’s Everdene restaurant, a New American-style bar and social lounge that overlooks Manhattan’s NoMad neighborhood. And because I didn’t know where the night would take me, I made sure to arrive in my usual going-out glam — specifically the Headliner lip stain, a new limited-edition shade from Virgin x Wonderskin.
Inspired by Virgin's signature red Pantone, the new Wonder Blading All-Day Lip Stain reimagines the bold red hue as a vibrant lipshade with a subtle dash of pink for a softer, more wearable take on the classic red lip. And as someone who normally has an aversion to red lips, trust me when I say it delivers on that promise tenfold.
The product also promises up to 10 hours of transfer-proof and waterproof color, so naturally I had to put it to the test. I snuck into the bathroom before approaching the hostess desk to apply, since I was coming straight from my apartment and wanted to kick off my night with a fresh layer of stain. A few strokes of the wand and 60 seconds later, the glossy blue masque transformed into an eye-catching rosy pigment, and I emerged from the restroom a new woman ready to put this lip to the test.
The first trial came within seconds of being seated with my water; so far, so good. But how was the lip stain going to stack up against the Seoul Chicken Bites that I immediately ordered? Turns out, pretty darn well. The real challenge came with the Spice Dusted Potato Wedges, however, as the chili powder topping had me licking my lips near-constantly. And yet, once again, the trusty product did not fail me; all the roasted seaweed aioli in the world couldn’t get my lip stain to budge.
At five p.m. the work day was over, but my night was not. To keep the good times going, I proceeded to a second location: the Riff Raff Club, located on the top floor of the hotel. Here, you’ll find some of the best views of the city and cocktails worth traveling 39 stories for. I personally love a fruity drink, which is why I opted for the Velvet Night cocktail. To my delight, the blushing-pink hue complemented my lips perfectly, and paired nicely with my order of dry-aged beef Empire Sliders, too.
Around 5:45 p.m., the the locals looking for a post-work drink started filing in, which meant I was in good company. Sequined skirts and voluminous blowouts were the night-out uniform, though I never felt out of place with my peasant top and checkered bandana. How could I with a lip this good? Normally sitting alone would spike my anxiety, but that night my veins were coursing with main character energy, all thanks to the Headliner.
At 6 p.m. I realized we only had 30 minutes ‘til sunset, so I placed an order for the chocolate cake and settled in for an unforgettable skyline show. The waitress presented me with the dessert just as I was taking a selfie with my drink, but there was no lapse in confidence on my end; I could tell by the knowing look on her face that she would absolutely be doing the same if she were in my shoes (and lip stain).
By the time I got to the bottom of my cocktail, my phone was down to 25% (probably from all the selfies), and it was time to meet my friends. Stomach full and red lip (still) popping, I took in the view one last time — then headed out to wherever the New York night decided to take me.
