A smear, a smudge and a stain

Ahhh lipstick, love lipstick… Well really is there any makeup that I don’t like? I’m giving that a resounding No. Lipstick can be tricky for me though. Way, way back when I was dancing, I didn’t wear it for most of the day. Then, when I owned my Pilates studio the story was the same…. I think I’d look pretty silly wearing bright red lips with my sweats while yelling at people to work harder. I have to say though I’m drawn to lipsticks of all kinds (except sticky gloss, can’t bear that). I love deep red lips the best. There I said it. I Iike a bold red. Yes, I go through a whole range of emotions and don’t always have the guts to wear it, but there’s just something about a beautiful red lip. Striking.

Before I even think of applying any kind of colour I make sure that my lips aren’t flaky and dry. There’s nothing worse than flaky colour, it just enhances a dry lip and looks like a mess. Therefore, I moisturize constantly. I rotate between Kiehl’s and Smith’s Rosebud Salve. Since finding out that Rosebud comes in a tube (I don’t like sticking my fingers in a jar) it has quickly become my go to moisturizer. It feels really soft on the lips and as a bonus makes them look super plump. Can’t live without this. I’ve been battling a cold all week and I need to point out that the salve has been a lifesaver, my lips didn’t get chapped at all and I was even able to use it around my nose, it’s that all purpose goodness.

Armani is one of my splurges. The consistency of the lipstick is really rich and apart from lasting  a long time they have a great selection of shades. The purple on the far right fits this season’s dark lips perfectly and doesn’t make me look vampy.

Chanel, the iconic brand. No good reason but I just don’t buy that much from them. These two are older lipsticks that had their time. I don’t wear them anymore but I feel kind of bad throwing them away.

YSL, they’ve been coming out with some really nice shades lately. My favourite of these is the one on the right in the silver packaging. The texture is very smooth, moisturizing and goes on quite sheer so it looks more like a stain, kind of like when you eat something that stains your mouth a pretty colour.

Yes Dior. I’m going to say it…they have the best reds….I’m always looking for a nice red that I can wear during the day without it being too intense. I have fairly pale skin and dark hair so if I’m not careful it’s really easy for a red to look way overdone. Due to it’s sheerness that one in the front is perfect, I can control exactly how much I want. For a night out that doesn’t involve dinner (I’m usually too lazy to reapply) the one in the back is my go to shade! It’s an in-your-face red, not for the feint of heart!

I’m really liking this new lip pencil trend. I know a few companies have jumped on the bandwagon and it’s definitely working for me. They are so easy to apply and take up zero room in my bag. I also like the hydration factor and staying power. Pretty impressive.

What can I say, I’m not that loyal to just one brand….always searching for the perfect shade, the perfect texture and the perfect packaging!

I think what it comes down to is that I’m lazy. I want slim packaging, I want lots of moisture, I want it to stay on until I decide to take it off and I want to be able to change the intensity as my mood dictates. Yeah, I know that’s a lot to ask and some of those wants cancel each other out, but a girl can dream and until I find that perfect combination I suppose I’ll have to keep trying them all out…it’s a tough, tough life.