Get your lipstick customised thanks to Chennai's first lipstick parlour, The Custom Lab

How often have you found yourself, standing in front of a mirror, mixing in a little brown to your too-red lipstick; or adding a little pink to your nude shade to give it some colour? Yes, we have all been there. So when customised lipstick parlours opened up all over the world a couple of years ago, we thanked the old Gods and the new, with a silent prayer. 

Closer to home in Chennai, The Custom Lab, started by Swetha Jain, provides its clients with a personalised experience, allowing them to customise their favourite lip shades according to their skin tone and preference. Started in November 2017, the lab provides good quality organic lipsticks with add-ons like flavours and additives. “I wanted to come up with something that is worth the money,” says the 22-year-old who adds that she took up a professional course online, to learn how to make the perfect lipstick. 

With plant-based ingredients and beeswax infused with oils (like jojoba and tea tree) being the main components, Swetha says that a lot of thought goes into the whole customisation process. “We first begin by understanding the shade our clients are looking for. Then we ask them their preferred finish – creme, matte, butter, gloss or lip balm texture. Next, they choose from the 12 flavours we offer — including coffee, hazelnut, peach sorbet, raspberry truffle and pink champagne. The final stage is mixing in optional additives like sunscreen, moisturiser and lip plumper. All this is blended and then moulded into lipsticks,” she explains. 

With a shelf life of three years, these lipsticks also come in regular shades like reds, pinks, browns, maroons and nudes, but they aren’t made in advance. “All our lipsticks are made on the spot,” says the Ethiraj College graduate. 

Sometimes getting the right shade can be a time-consuming process. “Also, moulding the lipstick in the tube can be tough, as they tend to break if too much additive is added or if the customer requires a lot of pigment. We have to balance both the customer’s needs as well the limitation of the product, which can be difficult,” she signs off.    

Available online. Prices start from Rs 1,000 onwards.