It appears I am alive. Well, time to get those fingers blogging again. My life is dreadfully boring these days. Yes, I have switched boots for pumps and flats and my musky spicy wintery fragrances for a springy one despite the not-springy-at-all-temperatures (compulsory weather rant here). Other than that, no change to speak of. I still pretty much inhabit the lab more than my apartment. Fun, I tell you.
So, since there's really NOTHING to talk about life-wise or New York-wise, let's talk make-up. Makes sense, non?
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| Lipstick and gloss goodness. |
I have been battling a very annoying case or red eye these past few days. Nothing major, it's not an infection, but one of my eyes was swollen, red, photophobic and gross. A shitload of artificial tears have been consumed and, obviously, a strict NO EYE MAKE-UP rule was enforced. The situation is almost back to normal as mr. eye only gets itchy in the evening when I am really tired, but the NO EYE MAKE-UP rule is still in full swing, just to make sure the eye heals properly.
Leaving me to play dress up with lips instead. Not that I am complaining!
Since lippies have been in heavy rotation lately, I forced myself to make some sort of inventory and go through my stash. To keep with the "red" theme, I am sticking to lipstick only and red only. There are a few glosses in the stash and a couple muted mauve pinks and, of course, a tube of Clinique's Black Honey, but if you see red, you're definitely sensing a theme here.
I am a red lipstick girl, have been for a long time and I don't see how that's going to change any time soon. Even before the make-up free eye situation, red lips were my jam, now I am just choosing my red consciously. I do not have a large collection by any means, nor is it a small stash. I deem it pretty reasonable. But then again, when it comes to girly splurges, I am able to justify pretty much anything. Ooooops.
But let me tell you, putting my face on in the morning is fun again, despite the fact that only the "bottom" half of it is actually being put on.
Oh, and I apologise for the state of some of the tubes. They are battered and bruised. I carry them around a lot.
number of scratches = love of wearing * times worn + love at time of purchase
Duh!
Now, let's swatch away...
Left to right:
Kanebo The Lipstick in Geranium: the loveliest orangey corally red. Vivid and saturated, but never garish. Adorable in the summer, but I've also donned it in winter. I am fearless.
Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Striking: one of the newest additions to the family. I am a late adopter of the jumbo-pencil-sharpie-crayon-thing-for-lips frenzy, but I totally get the hype. Glides on easy, lasts pretty long, is as matte and bold as it gets and does not dry out the lips. The color is one of those saturated mature tomato reds that works with a mean pencil skirt or with jeans and a tee shirt. What's not to love?
Deborah Shine Creator in 12: Sheer, juicy but not glossy washes of colour are the bomb. This is technically a lipstick, although it feels more like a lip balm. Goes on sheer and gives the lips a beautiful, delicate but very red tint. It doesn't last, but it's soooo pretty and easy to wear. For no fuss looks.
Guerlain KissKiss in Sexy Tango: And oldie, but a goodie. I've had this lipstick FOREVAH. The tube used to be gold and bold, now it looks just old. The shade has been discontinued ages ago. And the lipstick is almost gone. Which makes me sad. I am aware that lipsticks can go bad, but this one hasn't yet. Which makes me happy. So, tons of mixed emotions around this one. Huh.
This one was my first high-end tube and I guess I'm still holding onto it due to nostalgia issues. The colour is a gorgeous, warm, almost brick red with a silky finish that warms up my face and makes me look nice and sweet. Definitely not a man eater lippie this one. And it smells like raspberries, people.
MAC Lipstick in Viva Glam Rihanna: MAC has this charity thing with their Viva Glam lipsticks where all proceeds go directly into a charitable fund that makes lives of HIV and AIDS affected people a bit easier and this year's launch was endorsed by Rihanna. So it's a no brainer the lipstick would be a bold red. It is a bit of an anomaly in my collection, since this has SPARKLES in it. Yes, freaking shimmer. Regardless, it does not look cheap or tacky. The colour is quite unique, a bright, but slightly blue-based, red that makes my pale skin look like porcelain. A sexy one and, well, pretty close to man eater material.
Chanel Rouge Coco in Gabrielle: Oh my. My favourite of the bunch. If I was only allowed one piece of make up, that would be it. If getting married with a cosmetic product was socially acceptable, I would seriously consider marrying this one. Gabrielle is gorgeous. It is a darkish true red. Like blood but in the best sense of the description. The colour is perfect for me, the formula is satiny smooth, but not slick or glossy or whatever. And not matte. Just perfect. Smells like roses and has really good staying power. It fades with that annoying red halo, so yes, reapplication is mandatory after a sandwich. Ok, now I am hungry.
Nivea Beaute Colour Passion Lipstick in Cardinal: Ha, if Sexy Tango is an oldie, this one is the Fred Flintstone of my collection. Nivea has discontinued its make-up range years ago. It was never really that good to begin with. And honestly, this lipstick is seriously lacking in the quality department. It might actually be the worst one of the bunch.
So, what is it still doing hanging out with Gabrielle and Geranium? Well, nostalgia at play again. This one is the very first red lipstick I ever bought. The year I got my BSc. Yes, it was a long time ago. But hear me out. This very humble tube opened up the world of juicy lips for me. I hardly ever wear it, mostly because the formula is quite crappy, but every time I do, I can't help but smile at the memories entangled with this one. And I still remember showing up at my grandmother's house one Christmas wearing this bad boy and one of my uncles scolding me for it, saying that it was too red and that although it looked good, it was still too red.
I still hold on to it because I am a nostalgic nut. But also because the color is just incredible. The truest of true reds. Rich, saturated, bright. Like the most perfect strawberries you can imagine. Classic.
Kisses (just this time, so I can stain everything red).
Jules
