QOTD: Why do we like nude-coloured lipsticks?

Someone asked me the other day, why bother with a nude coloured lipstick if you're trying to achieve a "no lipstick" look or a muted look. Why not just go au naturel?

I thought it was a great question. My response? A nude lipstick completes a look and is not necessarily meant to look like you aren't wearing a lip colour.

I don't think I gave her a satisfactory answer and I tend to agree. I'm not really sure why I'm always looking for and buying nude lip colours. So ladies, over to you -- why do we wear nude lipsticks and why do we love them so much? 

Rediscovered: NARS Alhambra eyeshadow duo

The stash shopping continues in my household (yahoo!) and as a result, I've rediscovered a shadow duo from NARS called Alhambra. I just love saying the name, Alhambra. Very exotic sounding, no? Let's say it together. Alhambra.

This duo, the first NARS shadows I ever purchased, contains a peachy pink shimmery shadow and a gold/champagne shadow. I've worn both together with one used as a crease colour or I simply use one or the other as an overall wash of colour. Like many NARS shadows, these are super pigmented and long lasting (though I always wear Too Faced Shadow Insurance or another primer regardless of which shadows I use). These shadows can complement a number of different eyeshadows such as Galapagos from NARS or any other dark shadow for that matter.

Again, the swatches don't do the colours any justice. They are beautiful in person.  I would say these shadows remind me of MAC's All that Glitters or Naked Lunch. I would use them in the same way as those shadows.Here's a quick EOTD from last week using the duo.

And the completed look below taken in the wee hours of the morning.

What are your favorite champagne or pinky peach shadows?

Confessions of a Concealaholic - Benefit

In recent months, I've been on the hunt for products that conceal, cover and brighten. And so, I was more than excited to see a new kit from Benefit called Confessions of a Conceal-aholic, which contain Benefit's best-selling products that promise to - you guessed it - conceal, cover and brighten.. The kit is housed in a 'diary'-like box, which brings back memories of my thirteen-year old self writing in my purple diary that I used to hide under my mattress.

Leave it to Benefit to come up with yet another interesting packaging concept and a creative product name. This kit includes: a: travel-size "That Gal" brightening face primer, Bo-ing Concealer in 1 and 2, a travel size Erase Paste in No.2, Eye Bright, Lemon-Aid Colour Correcting Eye-lid Primer and concealer/brightener brushes. The kit also has a mirror and a complete step-by-step guide on how to use the products.

I've had many of these products on my wish list for a while and for me, it's a really convenient way of being able to try it all since it is in one package. Very handy.

So far, I've tested out Lemon-Aid and Eye Bright and I like the results. Lemond-Aid was able to cover redness on my eyelids and helped to act as a base for my shadows, without affecting colour. Eye Bright was a saviour for me a few days the past week helping to brigthen any dark areas around my eyes. A little goes a long way. The products are smooth and apply easily. I used the brushes provided in the kits, again very handy.

This week I'm testing out Bo-ing, Erase Paste and That Gal but will hold off on a verdict after a few more uses. I do think that the colours, particularly Erase Paste and Bo-ing, are more suited to fair to medium skin tones.

All in all though, I think this is a cool kit to have for those who are curious about Benefit's concealers and brightening products. The kit is priced at $44 Canadian and will be available in Canada in March 2010.

Have you tried any of the Benefit products featured in the kit? Thoughts?

Note: Product was sent by Benefit to Lipstick Rules for consideration. This is not a paid/sponsored post.

Beauty Blog Link Love

Rae falls in love with an amazingly pigmented violet eyeshadow -- for under $5! -- and tries it on as a blush.

Jeweled Thumb gives you the deets regarding a brand new line that may be popping up at your CVS by the ever famous Salma Hayek!

<Feast your eyes on this two-parter from Lipglossiping and see what happened when IMATS rolled into London Town last weekend.

In her constant search for a flawless complexion, Beautyjunkielondon reviews the latest foundation launch from Maybelline.

Check out "The EOTD Series: Color of the week" at xLovelyMakeupx.

Vex in the City shares her experience of the 2010 London IMATS.

Sophie from Melovemakeup talks about her collection of Sleek Palettes.

Maggie gets her rave on with these Rimmel blushes!

Krasey Beauty whips out Essie's matte topcoat and lets the nail polish fun begin.

Hell Candy Make Up attended the London IMATS show last weekend. Check out the various MUAs looks from the show.

A purple smoky eye with a pop tutorial from Lisa Kate at Sparkle is my Crack!

This week GlossQueen tells us how she loves her By Candlelight MSF.

Come discover 32 different nail colors in 32 days with Audrey.

This week at Get Lippie, Louise tries out a Kevyn Aucoin-influenced makeover.

Lisamarie at Beauty Crazed tests out eyerollers to see if they live up to the hype!

Honestly...

I have a rant. I'm getting a little tired of reading posts that say "this is my honest" view. I'm not pointing fingers because if I was, I'd be pointing it at myself as well. I've written these very words in posts or in disclaimers lately.We all know most of this is the fall-out from the FTC regulations which came into effect late last year. Clearly, it's made an impact on our community.

But I'm getting a little sick of having to justify and say that what I'm writing is honest.Who's with me?

One of my favorite thing about blogging is that I'm free to write what I want and how I want. I'll tell you if I like a product -- or hate it, whether the product was one I bought myself (majority of the time) or one I was sent. By writing "I was sent this but this is my honest review," I feel we are starting to sound apologetic for fear of judgement or repercussion. Come on people, let's chill out a bit.


Writing what I think is one of the reasons I blog in the first place.

Don't get me wrong. I understand why there are regulations. It's to protect consumers and ensure they are made aware of which reviews/videos are in some way 'compensated' -- whether the blogger received a product from a company or whether the posts were 'sponsored' or paid. Ok. Fine.

I think it's fairly easy to spot reviews that are paid or sponsored. I may or may not continue to watch the video or read the blog -- it all depends on what they are reviewing. Quite simply, I don't buy something based on just one person's review. If a product catches my attention, I will read as much as I can about it, and more importantly check it out on my own. It really doesn't matter to me if the person reviewing got the product for free or not. I also wouldn't likely follow a blogger who I didn't feel presented honest views. I mean, why bother?

Call me niave, but I like to think the majority of us are doing this because we are passionate about beauty products, writing and connecting with others.That's why I do it.

I'm not sure if my points make any sense. 

This is my honest view. I was not paid or compensated by any third party to write this post.

Good night.

Look forward to your thoughts.