LipstickRules

18 Apr 2013 10 Comments

Fuchsia lipstick in the boardroom? Why not?!

As I was putting on my fuchsia lipstick the other morning, a question popped in my head? Will it be too much for a 9 a.m. meeting at the office?

As I looked in the mirror, I shook my head. Don’t be silly. It’s awesome.

A bold statement lip can look very appropriate in a corporate boardroom. Just don’t wear your clubbing wear or spandex, and you’re good to go. For me, it’s actually very empowering.

What about for a day out with the kids? Is a red lipstick too much? I’m asked this a lot.

You know my answer.

Embrace it. Own it. Love it.

I’ve had many discussions with friends who are worried that a new makeup colour will be too much. I think it can seem daunting in the beginning, but trust me, once you test out a few different things, it becomes a lot of fun. You’ll start to know what works or doesn’t work for you, and what you enjoy or don’t enjoy.

I know I am completely rambling. It is my four year blog-aversary!

Over to you, do you ever wonder if you’re wearing too much? How do you get over it?

14 Apr 2013 3 Comments

MAC Mineralize Rich Lipsticks: All Out Gorgeous and Everyday Diva

Did you know that MAC has a new line of Mineralize Rich lipsticks? And did you know that I am in lurv with these? Yessiree, I am. Truly, madly and deeply.

The two I tested out were right up my alley both in name and in colour. They are bold, beautiful and moisturizing. All Out Gorgeous is a deep berry, and Every Day Diva is a gorgeous warm red. Apparently, these lipsticks contain 77 different minerals. They are also very rich in pigment. If staying power is important for you, then give these a chance. I average between two to four hours of very comfortable wear. More

13 Apr 2013 3 Comments

Guest Post: Clarins Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm Saves the Day!

I love a good story about lipstick, and this, a contribution by the lovely Bon from Mathfour.com, is one. It’s about a Clarins lipstick, a brand I’ve always been curious about. Thanks for the post Bon!

“What?! You forgot lipstick?!” My husband exclaimed as we walked toward the convention center. “Lipstick is your signature! How can you forget it?”

He was right.

I’ve made the best networking contacts of my life due to great lipstick. I wore a fabulous red while giving birth. I’ve taught thousands of students math, armed with confidence bestowed on me by lipstick.And now, heading into my first social media conference ever, I was doomed because I was lipstick-less!

Did I panic? No.

Because every conference center is attached to a hotel. And every hotel has a gift shop. I did panic when I learned that the gift shop was just a few racks of workout clothes hanging around the hotel gym. There was a stack of face moisturizers, some foot scrub and a loofah. But no makeup.

“Surely they must have makeup,” I thought.

“Surely!?”

I found the gym attendant, who was also be the gift shop clerk. I held my breath and asked for lipstick.

“We had lipstick – once. Let me check.”

I said a prayer, crossed my fingers and quietly offered the bucket of KFC on the gym TV up as an offering.

“Please sweet baby Jesus – let there be lipstick.”

“I found one,” the clerk said coming out of the inventory closet.

“I’ll take it!” I blurted out, not caring what color it might be. At this point I’d smeared llama oil colored with raspberries on my lips.

I pulled out my credit card and asked for a mirror.

It was awesome! The heavens opened as I cracked the seal. Angels sang and babes wept as I glossed the shimmering balm over my neglected pucker. “What? Is? This?” I gasped.

I knew that every now and then people serendipitously fell across perfect things. But this was… well… unbelievable.

“Clarins,” I pronounced incorrectly as I read the box. I’d never heard of this brand.

“Clarins,” I let the word roll past my beautiful lips (only later learning that it’s pronounced “klair-een”).

Clarins Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm is a once-in-a-lifetime lipstick. I blew through this tube in two and a half months. It was so easy to wear, and perfect for everything. It has a core of color surrounded by an awesome lip balm – in a pair of mostly-concentric circles!

I headed to Macy’s to buy another.

It turns out the shade, Crystal Red, and the entire line of Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm was a one shot deal. They don’t make it anymore. And it seems they’re not planning to.

So now my pucker is a pout.

Please Clarins – bring back that magical lipstick!

The above blog post was contributed by Bon Crowder. She blogs about math education at http://mathfour.com.

07 Apr 2013 8 Comments

Lipstick Diary: L’Oreal Caresse Shine Stain in Endless Red

I love the idea of lip stains. But when push comes to shove, they are not products I tend to reach for on a daily basis. But regardless when I heard all the rave reviews about L’Oreal’s Caresse Shine Stains, I just knew it was only a matter of time before I caved in and tried one out. And cave I did, though I had some restraint and only picked up one colour: Endless Red, #190.

These lip stains have been heralded as a dupe for their more expensive sisters, the YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stains, previously reviewed here and here. I would have to say they are indeed very similar though I find the YSL to apply a bit more smoothly and feels a little less sticky. More

01 Apr 2013 19 Comments

Channeling my Inner Emma Stone…thanks to Revlon’s PhotoReady Primer, Shadow and Sparkle Palette

When I sat down to write tonight, I was ready to review Revlon’s Nearly Naked foundation. But as I wrote, I started to focus more and more on another product, the Revlon PhotoReady Primer, Shadow and Sparkle palette in Metropolitan. The foundation is going to have to wait. This is a product that I’m loving.

The palette came as part of a press kit, and honestly wasn’t something I thought about much initially. In fact, I was ready to dismiss it to the ‘highly-unlikely-to-review’ drawer. Well girls, I am glad I gave it a chance, and we have Emma Stone to thank for this.

As I was organizing my collection, I noticed an image of Emma Stone (love her!) in the Revlon press kit. The kit contained an outline of Emma’s look, including the Metropolitan palette, the Nearly Naked foundation, and Peach Parfait lip butter, which you know I love.

Wanting to channel my inner Emma Stone, I decided to copy the look. And wouldn’t you know it? I loved, loved the results. I felt instantly schmexy and a little bit more glam — but not overly so and still myself. Does that make sense?

I don’t typically put much eye makeup on but there was something about the colour combination of taupes, greys, and shimmery champagnes that worked so perfectly. Paired with Peach Parfait on my lips, it was in my opinion, a very pretty combination.