Just a Few of My Favourite Red Lip Products for the Upcoming Winter

Right (from top): Clinique Chubby Stick 'Two Ton Tomato', Tarte LipSurgence "Fiery",  Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil "Red Square"
Left (from top): MAC 'All Fired Up', Charlotte Tilbury 'Red Carpet Red', Benefit 'Benebalm'

Let's be real... Red lips are totally timeless. They look damn good when done right and have been on trend since the mid 1930's and there's a reason for that. Red lipstick looks good on just about anyone and depending on which one you choose, it can do wonders to really bring out your skin tone, eyes and hair colour. Also, red lips look great all year round and you can wear them wherever you like, whenever you like. I've taken full advantage of this and I wear them to school, work or around town. Here's a few of my most favourite ones that I've picked out just for your viewing pleasure! I have quite a neutral, very fair skin tone so I can pull off reds with both blue and orange undertones and they won't make me look totally strange. I've got a variety of tones, finishes and consistencies that I absolutely adore.

From left to right: MAC 'All Fired Up', Tarte 'Fiery', Nars 'Red Square', Benefit 'Benebalm', Charlotte Tilbury 'Red Carpet Red', Clinique 'Two Ton Tomato'.

While I was in high school, I always thought about wearing red lipstick but it never seemed to look any good. This was partly because my skin was quite bad and wearing red brought out the redness in my face. It was also because I just had not quite acquired the confidence to wear it yet, nor had I discovered the right techniques and tools to make wearing red lips look effortless and chic. If you are looking for a great online tutorial, check out Lisa Eldridge's beautiful guide to making your lips look brilliant. This being said, I do believe that bold lips are a more matured makeup look and do often look out of place at a high school, so I don't regret not forcing it to happen.

As for the confidence, that is something I had to work on my own. There is no YouTube video that will truly show you step by step how to feel great whilst stepping outside of your comfort zone, especially when this stepping out of one's comfort zone is occurring on your face for everyone to see. This is a reason why I love sheer red lip products (Benebalm and the Clinique Chubby Stick), they are moisturizing, lightly pigmented and give your makeup look a bit of extra oomph, which out going overboard on days when you just aren't feeling it. I wore these a lot when I started experimenting with lip colour, but I still enjoy them even now. The first few times I wore truly red lips out to work or school, people tended to comment. Though it made me feel like I was being put on the spot a bit, but I persevered through it and now I wear bright lips nearly every other day to one place or another without a care in the world. Also, when people get used to seeing you in something, it ceases to become a conversation piece, which is a relief. Let me wear my lipstick in peace, goddamnit!!

Currently I have some of the Nars Audacious Lipsticks on my wish list, and boy, do they look divine. Cannot wait to get my hands on some of those. Reviews say they have great colour payoff and even colour distribution. Delicious. Shades Marlene, Lana and Grace look bloody amazing.

Which reds do you like? Are you a frequent wearer or only once in a blue moon? I wanna know!

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Rave Review: Clinique Chubby Sticks for Lips

Since the season of dry skin (and therefore chapped lips!) is upon us, I find my obsession with 'chubby sticks' of every variety completely justified. In my opinion, the ones that blow all of the others out of the water are Clinique's. They are creamy and dreamy, and have a surprisingly good colour payoff despite being quite sheer. I have yet to try the 'Intense' range that Clinique has released, but that is mostly because I prefer a softer colour on the lips for everyday wear rather than louder hues.

From left to right: 06 Woppin' Watermelon, 07 Super Strawberry, 05 Chunky Cherry, 11 Two Ton Tomato

I love wearing these year round because of their amazing moisturizing capabilities, but they are especially nice to have around during the winter. I've been using the shade 'Super Strawberry' for a while and it is a beautiful pinky rose colour that goes with pretty much everything. I've recently purchased the three other shades shown above and I am beyond glad! These have got to be the most perfect lip colours ever! I skip using a lip brush and apply mine straight from the tube, which works just perfectly. Since the colours are pretty sheer, you don't have to worry about a perfect application. I love bringing them to work with me because they are super easy to reapply sans a mirror, if need be.

Woppin' Watermelon

Super Strawberry

Chunky Cherry

Two Ton Tomato

Just check out those sweet colours! I find that wearing Clinique's Chubby Sticks give me confidence to explore lip colour more than I usually would. Often times, I find lipsticks looks so unnatural and precise on myself and unless I feel its the perfect shade for a fancy event, I won't ever wear it out. These are a great way to start branching out your colour palette without feeling too overdone or obvious. These chubby sticks also come in a huge variety of lovely nudes, browns, honeys and even a few plummy purple shades too. Check them out on Sephora's page right here! These are definitely a cult classic beauty product!

Death Before Overdone Black Nails! How About Blue Instead?

There is an effortlessly chic older lady who lives in the same town I live in, who shops at the same shop I work at. The other day, I caught a glimpse of her strikingly dark blue perfectly manicured nails and instantly fell in love. Rocking the inky blue mani for the winter months is the perfect way to wear a darker colour, but still keep things a little more interesting than opting for the usual black (its 2014 and therefore long overdone) or other dark hues that can come off as a bit matronly and childish at the same time (anything with a yucky 'satin' finish or a garish sparkle).

The final result!

For the spring and summer this past year, I have been absolutely loving muted and understated cool pastels like minks, creamy grays, milky lilacs and high sky blues, which are great colours for a huge variety of skin tones. Now that the winter has arrived here in Canada and the holidays have come and gone, I found myself looking for a colour that was seasonal but not festive. A gorgeous ink pot blue is elegant, understated, adds a bit of interest and I knew it was perfect the moment I saw it.

I will say that I looked in several places before I found the perfect shade. Many brands have infused their dark blue nail polishes with silver glitter or a strange green iridescence which makes me think of reptiles. Although glitter and duo-chrome are not necessarily bad things, I just personally have never liked the look of them and prefer a flat colour. Coincidently, flat colours from high quality brands paint on delightfully well and you can almost get away with just one coat (though I doubt I will ever be able to not paint on two). I looked in Sephora's 'Formula X' nail polish selection in store and although they were sold out, the shade 'Centigrade' seemed to be perfect; a dark arctic blue sans any pearl effects. The following day, I went to Winners and happened upon a bottle of 'Rituals'(a great Dutch brand) nail polish in the shade 'Sky Line' and it is PERFECT! You can buy your own bottle here.

Though matching your nails to the season of the year is to some people a 'rule', I have absolutely no qualms about breaking tradition and going for an airy pastel even when its a-snowing outside. Here are some honourable mentions which are all fantastic!

From left to right: Sally Hansen 'Complete Salon Manicure' in ' I Lilac You', Essie Nail Lacquer in 'Mint Candy Apple', Ciate Paint Pots in 'Cream Soda', L'Oreal Nail Color in 'Royally Yours' and Nicole by OPI in 'Stand By Your Manny'.

All in all, nail colour does not matter too much, but it sure is fun. And its especially fun when you have nails that are a totally bangin' colour for a few days. I'm sure 'Sky Line' will get a lot of use in 2014 and my collection of blue polishes continues to grow.