MAC Nymphette vs. NARS Orgasm {Dupe!}

If you've read my blog before you know I love the color gold.  Love.  And another one of my favorite colors is peach, so put the two together and naturally you will create the most beautiful shade of lip gloss ever.  Since I love these colors so much I sometimes find that I have very similar products in my collection...

Nymphette was the first gloss I ever bought from MAC and it's still one of my favorites.  Its the perfect top over almost any pinky/ nude lipstick and yet beautiful on its own as well.  

NARS Orgasm blush is a cult favorite.  So much so they extended their Orgasm line to include an illuminator, lip gloss, nail polish, and one of their famous multiples.  When they reformulated their lipglosses and Sephora offered a deluxe sample of their Orgasm gloss as a Beauty Insider 100 Point Perk, so naturally I snatched it up.  Once I brought it home, swatched it next to Nymphette and found their almost exact dupes for each other.  If you own one you probably don't need the other.  

Direct Comparisons

	MAC Nymphette	NARS Orgasm
Color	Nymphette is a true peach color with finely milled gold micro glitter running through it.	Orgasm is more of a pinky- coral (so a tad brighter) with the same gold micro glitter.
Texture	Like most MAC glosses Nymphette is quite sticky, but the stickier the gloss the longer the wear time.	Orgasm has a much smoother and silkier texture.
Scent	That delicious MAC vanilla smell but a more muted glossy version.	I can’t really place the scent here.  It smells to me like that generic lip gloss scent.
Price	$18 CDN	$29 CDN
Availability	MAC counters, stores, and online	NARS counters, Sephora, and online

MAC Nymphette, NARS Orgasm

MAC Nymphette, NARS Orgasm

What do you think?  Dupe or not?  Have you tried either of these glosses?

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xoxo

Lorac PRO {The Original}

Everybody and their mother has been talking about the Lorac Pro Palette 2 and here I am all like "hey everyone take a look at my brand new original Lorac Pro Palette!"... but seriously! How did I miss out on this the first time around?

If you, like me, never picked up the Original Lorac Pro Palette when it was first released, please read for all the reasons and pretty swatches as to why you should now.  

First of all, let me say that since Sephora stopped carrying Lorac, this product (or any other product from Lorac Cosmetics) is not easy to get a hold of if you're a Canadian.  I did find out that it is available on the Kohls website (and they ship internationally through a third party site) but fortunately for me my beautiful friend Karen from KPSays offered to send me the Lorac Pro (and by minor miscommunication also the Lorac Pro 2 haha) all the way from Georgia so I would be lucky enough to get my hands on what is now my new favorite palette.  For those of you in the United States this palette is available at Ulta, the Lorac website, and any other Lorac retailer.  It retails for $42 USD.    

On to the good part...

Let me just say that when I first opened this palette I didn't want to use it. I didn't want to swatch it, or touch it, or ruin it in any way, it is that gorgeous.  

Both Pro palettes house 16 extremely soft, extremely pigmented shadows.  The palette is organized so that the 8 matte shades are lined up along the top row, and 8 shimmer shades along the bottom.  While it is a neutral palette I found there is a great range from the brightest to the deepest of colors. 

The packaging is veryyyy slim, I was actually quite surprised!  It is the same length as the Naked palettes only a little bit taller and half the width (yes, half).  It is a rubberized cardboard palette so I do find that shimmer and powder from the shadows, my fingers, and just regular wear and tear clings to the packaging but can be wiped off easily with a damp towel or makeup remover wipe if you really need to.  Side note: Wouldn't it be nice for all of us OCD organizers if all eyeshadow palettes were the same dimensions? Storage would be a dreammm.

Matte Shades:  Light Pink, Taupe, Cream, White

Matte Shades:  Mauve, Sable, Expresso, Black

Matte Shades:  White, Cream, Taupe, Lt. Pink, Mauve, Sable, Expresso, Black

Overall, the majority of the shades in this palette are very warm in tone which I absolutely love; shades like Sable, Expresso, Gold, and Garnet stand out to me the most.  However there are  select cooler shades that round it out nicely and make it very versatile; such as Mauve, Pewter, and Slate.  

Shimmer Shades:  Nude, Champagne, Gold, Light Bronze

Shimmer Shades:  Pewter, Garnet, Deep Purple, Slate

Shimmer Shades: Nude, Champagne, Gold, Lt. Bronze, Pewter, Garnet, Deep Purple, Slate

Like I said, the shadows themselves are extremely soft, pigmented, and easy to blend.  They're especially easy to work with if you're a novice such as myself.  But because they're so soft they can make a small mess of the palette (see below) when you dip your brush or fingers into them.  This being said I don't find that there is a lot of fall out while blending these shadows into my eye looks.  With a soft hand a little goes a looong way; if you're generally an aggressive blender, these shadows may not get along with you!  

I've been experimenting a lot with this palette but my favorite look so far is to buff Taupe into the crease (which is actually a really great everyday blending shade), then pack Gold all over the lid.  I then deepen the outer v and crease with Garnet and lined/ smoked out the waterline with a black liner and the shade Black.  This is a look I can see myself replicating a lot, especially as we transition into some cooler months.

Another one of my favorites is to build up the matte brown colors in the crease, starting with Taupe, then moving to Sable,and Expresso and then applying one of the lighter shimmer shades all over the lid.  I just happened to use a mixture of all three.  It's easy to start with just Taupe and Sable in the crease for a more day time appropriate look and then build the intensity up with Expresso to transition into an effortless yet more intense evening/ going out look.

Original Lorac vs. Pro Palette 2

Finally, since Karen did send me both palettes I took the opportunity to snap a side by side comparision.  As you can see the Lorac 2 is much cooler in tone but again has a few warm shades rounding it out like Nectar, Rose, and Cocoa.  While equally beautiful it's too cool for my personal taste so I actually sold it to a friend, which is why I didn't dip my fingers into it as well.

Since this is my first time using any Lorac product and I have to say that I am so disappointed I didn't take advantage of having access to the brand while they were still in Sephora *kicks self* I honestly think that the Pro Palette(s) give the Naked Palettes a run for their money.  The shadows are equally pigmented, and maybe even softer than Urban Decay's formula.  Not to mention that it cost me less to buy and ship the Lorac Pro to my house than what it costs to go to my local Sephora and pick up any one of the Naked palettes ($56CDN bought/shipped vs. $64CDN retail)   Have you tried both?? Which do you prefer?

I want to thank you Karen 100x over for taking the time to send these to me.  

If you can't already tell, I am in love.

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xoxo

{NEW} Makeup Geek Blushes

On June 15th this year, Makeup Geek released thirteen brand new permanent blushes in their line; each one of them uniquely beautiful. There are four shimmer shades and nine mattes in the collection.  Since my love  affair with MUG Eyeshadows I couldn't pass them up, so only three days after the launch I chose three of the warmer peachy shades; Bliss, Romance, and Infatuation.  The collection is so diverse and honestly has a shade (or three!) for everyone.  See/shop the entire collection here. 

Claims: "Perfect for every skin tone these blushes are made with only the finest ingredients, as they blend effortlessly into the skin for a natural radiance. Talc free, cruelty free, and made in the 

U. S, these finely milled powders guarantee a creamy, smooth consistency that glides onto cheeks and blends with ease. The fade proof formula promises long lasting color and the rich pigmentation offers a buildable custom shade every time."

Finish/Texture:  Bliss and Infatuation are both considered matte shades, but remind me more of a satin as they have a very natural and skin like finish whereas Romance has a beautiful shimmer throughout it.  All three have an unbelievably silky, soft texture just as they claim.  But because they're so soft, and similar to some of the eye shadows, there can be fall out if you're too aggressive with your brush so I definitely recommend using a light hand! 

Price/Availability:  You can purchase these blushes on the Makeup Geek website either in a pan for $9.99 or a compact for $12.99.  I chose to order the compacts because it's easier to throw them in a bag and take them with me on the go (and also because Infatuation was already sold out in a compact and the OCD part of me couldn't bring herself to order two pans and one compact LOL)

Packaging:  This being said I'm actually glad I chose to go with the compacts.  The compacts themselves are a sleek gunmetal gray.  For a size reference, the pans are the exact same size as a MAC blush pan but the MUG packaging is about half the width.    

Pigmentation: I cannot rave enough about the quality of MUG products.  The swatch below is only one swipe of my finger, and when blended out they're so easy to build up.

How I Used It:
Bliss is a true peach shade.  I've been wearing this swept over the apples of my cheeks and brushed back into my temples.  I've never had a shade this color and it gives the perfect balance of pinched color and warmth to the face.
Romance has been compared over and over to the infamous NARS Orgasm. To quote Jaclyn Hill it's "Orgasm on steroids!"  It's absolutely beautiful, again on its own, or what's even better is pairing it with Bliss and using it as a highlight shade focusing on the top of the cheek bones.
Infatuation is a gorgeous terra cotta shade which is unlike any other blush or bronzer in my collection.  It creates a gorgeous warm, bronzed flush on the cheeks which I am loving this summer but on fairer skin tones could be used as a contour shade as well.  Infatuation has the softest texture of the three, so I do expiration the most fall out with this shade.  

Bliss, Romance, Infatuation

Bliss, Romance, Infatuation (blended)

Likes:

• Beautiful finish
• Silky texture
• Bold pigmentation

Dislikes:

• My only dislike for the compact form of these blushes in that the actual pan seems very loose within the compact.  On the website it says "they are designed to open easily and also easy to de-pot in case you want to put the blush in a palette" so they may be loose to make them easier to depot.  This being said I chose the compact because I didn't want to depot them.  But we'll see!  
• The fall out.  I debated whether or not to even include this as a dislike because I find it is give and take when a product is so incredibly soft.  

Overall: ★★★★★

I am yet to be disappointed with a Makeup Geek product and these blushes are no exception.  I've been reaching for them every single day since they arrived.  I can not wait to see what Makeup Geek has in store for the future!

10/10, do recommend!

Did you pick up any of the new MUG blushes?  Are any shades on your wishlist?

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xoxo

Back2MAC {Diva Matte Lipstick}

Who doesn't love hearing the term "free lipstick"?

No seriously! When all you have to do is hoard your empty packaging for a while? Count me in.

As "cliche" as some may think, MAC is one of my favorite makeup brands.  They have what seems like unlimited selections of finishes, products, colors, and collections.  It was the first place I went when I wanted to splurge on some nice products and to this day some of their products are my go-to, ride-or-die favorites.  

It seems like it takes forever to hit pan on those beloved eye shadows and blushes, but when you do make sure to save them.  MAC has a recycling program where you can return any six empty packages and exchange them at any MAC counter for a lipstick, or online/ in any store for a lipstick, lipglass, or eye shadow.  The only items excluded from exchange are pencils that you sharpen, and the eye shadow/ blush refill tins.  But if you use MAC brush cleaner, or eye makeup remover save those bottles too!

Look for the Back2MAC stamp on returnable items

Just last week I was lucky enough to do my second ever Back2MAC exchange!  And thanks to my mum gifting me all her stored up empties I'm only one empty away from my third.  This time around I chose Diva, an "intense reddish burgundy" with a matte finish.  Admittedly, it is more of a fall appropriate color than summer but I'm so in love with it- and we all need to break the rules every once in a while.  

And how great is it to bring in a bunch of garbage, and get a free lipstick?

Pretty damn great.

What lipstick would you pick for a free Back2MAC exchange? 

I have my eyes on Lady Danger or maybe Heroine for next time.

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xoxo

Ordering Makeup Geek Eyeshadow {First Impression}

In case you didn't know... The Makeup Geek website is amazing.  It is such a comprehensive site with video tutorials, forums, reviews, etc.  When you're shopping for eye shadows they have photos of their shadows swatched next to others within a similar color family.  This allows you to easily chose the right colors to create certain looks or perhaps even the perfect palette.

I have heard so many great things about Makeup Geek products so I started looking around for fun. I wasn't exactly planning on making an order- but, once I started looking I found it difficult to narrow my shopping cart down to only 10!   You will hear these eyeshadoes being compared to MAC cosmetics over and over but they retail for literally half the price.  You can purchase them in a pan for $5.99 (American) or in a compact for $7.99. I also found a page on the MUG website where Marlena (creater of Makeup Geek) shows an in depth comparison with side by side swatches to various MAC eye shadows allowing you to find similar colors for much less.  It's a great resource and if you're interested you can find it here.  

Since a little while ago I purchased a MAC 15 pan palette insert (and only two shadows to go in it at the time) I was hoping that these pans would fit into it.  I found it was really difficult to find a straight forward answer reading other reviews and even when you compare their weights MUG is heavier, meaning you receive a little more product in a MUG pan.  If you're reading this asking the same question then:

YES- Makeup Geek pans fit into the MAC palette inserts however, they are not magnetic so you will need to attach a magnet to the back in order to adhere them safely into the palette.  If you are using a ZPalette (which I recommend) you do not need additional magnets.  Read about my ZPalette here. 

MUG Single Eyeshadow Pan in Burlesque

"As Makeup Geeks, we stay true to who we are. Cosmetics are not used to change ourselves but to enhance the exquisite and unique people that we are. To be a Makeup Geek means to be a reflection of our inner beauty.
XOXO, Marlena"

Ordering to Canada:

As I mentioned above, the Makeup Geek website is extremely user friendly.

Shipping was affordable (around $7 to Victoria, BC) but it took around 3 weeks from date of purchase to receive my package.  Three days until I received my shipping notice/ tracking number and another 2 weeks it was in my hot little hands.  Another thing worth mentioning is that when the charge went through onto my Visa the total cost was converted to American dollars- which is fine- but it wasn't something that I was aware was going to happen  or had even thought about before my purchase.  The conversion increased the total cost of my order by around $12- food for thought if you're planning on doing the same.

Despite it all, I was so pleased when my package finally arrived! It was in a small box with both foam peanuts and bubble wrap to ensure none of my shadows were broken (nevermind that I dropped my phone on 3 of them after recieving them- cries real tears).  The pans themselves came in small windowed cardboard envelopes with white and pink design and a note/ mission statement signed from Marlena.

What I Bought:

Beaches and Cream
(Kind of) Compares to: MAC Bisque
Beaches and Cream is much warmer than Bisque, I wouldn't personally consider them to be dupes. On the Makeup Geek website it is described as a "creamy matte natural beige with just a hint of peach," I put this shadow in my cart last minute when I saw the photo of it swatched next to Cinderella- the two shades compliment each other beautifully!  I also think it will serve as a great wash of color during the summer with a light warm brown in the crease.

Cinderella

Not only does it look beautiful paired with Beaches and Cream. I thought this color would compliment my Naked3 palette, it's beautiful.  I would describe it as a pale pink shadow with peach shimmer.

Creme Brulee:

Compares to: MAC Tete a Tint (now discontinued)

When I recieve this color I was a little disappointed at first glance because I thought it looked too similar to Beaches in Cream, however, to my (pleasant) surprise it swatches a lot deeper than it first appears in the pan.  A follower on Instagram also told me that this is the perfect everyday crease color. It is described as a "medium sand color with a soft matte finish."

Hipster

Compares to: MAC Patina

"A dark sand and light taupe tan with slight shimmer." I love taupe shades and I know that this is a color I will get a lot of use out of.  Adding a shade with some shimmer into an otherwise all matte look can really complete the look and give it some dimension.

Latte

This shadow is just a touch darker than Hipster and of course matte. It is the perfect neutral brown.  I have plans to wear this as a quick and easy crease color.  Love. 

Cocoa Bear
Compares to: MAC Brown Script 
I was very hesitant with this color because I'm not usually drawn to warm colors and in certain lights Cocoa Bear is a very red-toned brown.  It is also one of the most talked about and popular Makeup Geek shadows and after playing with this a little bit today I understand why!  I know it is going to be such a versatile color in my palette.

Brown Sugar:
Compares to: MAC Twinks

This is my kind of color! It's a warm toned shimmer shadow, described as a "copper brown".

Prom Night 

Compares to: MAC Satin Taupe and Urban Decay Mugshot (Naked3)
This color is almost identical to Mugshot so if you have the Naked3 palette you may want to pass on this one.  This being said, it is beautiful and extremely pigmented.  

Burlesque

Compares to: MAC Cranberry
I died when I swatched this color. I'm in love. It's described online as a "deep metallic burgundy" or "the perfect color" (go ahead and quote me).

Sea Mist
I'll admit- I'm a neutral kind of girl and I don't stray far from browns and the occasional purple so this shadow was a bit of a wild card.  However, the day I was shopping online I had just watched a Jaclyn Hill Spring Makeup Tutorial and was feeling inspired.  It's a beautiful green- teal and I'm excited about incorporating a little more color into my eye looks (baby steps).

Collection of Makeup Geek shadows

First Thoughts:

After swatching these shadows I am so impressed the formula- her matte shadow in particular are so buttery and creamy which is how I know that they will be easy to blend.  I can't wait to begin using them to create looks.  I did notice that two of my shimmer shades, Cinderella and Sea Mist, were a bit powdery when I swatched them so it will be interesting to see how they translate on a brush.

Overall, I'm really pleased with my choices and I'm excited to use them and create a more formal opinion.  Make sure to stay tuned for a more in depth review of these shadows, as well as a Prom 2014 look and a DIY on how to magnetize and organize your palette!

What is your favorite Makeup Geek eye shadow? 

xoxo

* UPDATE: I tried to magnetize my MAC palette but ended up switching to ZPalette! If you're curious about more information or a direct comparison- you can find it here.

#BLOGGERSDOITBETTER: MAC Dupes

Bargain:
noun

Something bought or offered for sale cheaper than usual or expected.
Creating a look for less 

 Or... my first thought: dupes.

Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm vs. MAC Matte Lipstick

Revlon (left) vs. MAC (right)

One of my favorite drug store products are the Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balms, they're pigmented, they last a long time, and they're crayons! I'm a big fan of crayon style lipsticks or balms because they're not only cute but easy to work with. My sister introduced me to the Matte Balm line when she bought me "Shameless" for my birthday around Christmas time last year and when I went in to swatch the rest of the line I couldn't help but recognize a lot of similarities between them and some iconic MAC matte colors.  I chose five of what I believe to be the closest color dupes.

Starting from the left:
Revlon Standout vs. MAC Viva Glam I
Standout tends to be a bit brighter on first swatch but you can build the color up to be almost a dead ringer for Viva Glam I, which has been sold by MAC since 1994(!)  A deep dark red which is classically beautiful, especially when paired  with a bold winged liner.
Revlon Sultry vs. MAC Craving and Twig
This is the shade that inspired this post. I picked it up from a local Shopper's and when I got home I noticed it was similar to my MAC Twig lipstick (far right), but I also thought it seemed similar to Craving (swatched directly to the right of Sultry and on my wish list.) Craving, even though it is an Amplified finish, is a much closer match because they are both more rosier- pink whereas Twig, a satin finish, is much more of a muted brown pink.
Striking vs. Lady Danger
I'm loving this red- orange shades especially for summer.  I find Lady Danger to be a bit bolder and orange-r on first swipe but once again Striking is easily built up for a bolder color.

(Striking/ Lady Danger repeated)

Shameless vs. Heroine

I've seen these two compared before and although they are similar were the biggest stretch for a match in my opinion.  Shameless is a tad darker and it is the only one who's texture is a bit chalky and uneven. 

Showy vs. Candy Yum Yum 

Finally, this is the match I was most excited about.  The colors truly are an exact match.  Showy is everything cult followed Candy Yum Yum is famous for a bright, neon, matte, blue- based pink.  It just may be my next purchase as I have been dabbling with Candy Yum Yum for a long time.  

Direct Comparisons:

	Revlon	MAC
Pigmentation	Bold and buildable	Bold
Scent	Peppermint	Vanilla
Longevity	Long wearing	Long wearing
Price	$6.99- $11.99 CDN	$19 CDN

My only dislike of the Revlon Matte Balms is the scent.  It throws me off to have such a bold color smell like a peppermint chapstick.  However, considering the price difference, I think I can get over it or at least work around it.  One final note is when washing the swatches off my arm I couldn't help but be impressed with both brand's staying power.  I took this photo after scrubbing them with a makeup removing wipe!

Don't forget to search #Bloggersdoitbetter on Twitter to find out how other "Bloggers Do Bargains Better"!

xoxo

Lip Duos! {Tag}

 A few weeks ago on Instagram I did my first ever photo challenge! It was created by @ahxo0209 and simply asks you to pick a different pair of lipgloss/ lipsticks everyday for a week! I loved that it challenged me to dig through my lipsticks to find/ rediscover some beautiful combos.

I thought it would be fun to do a recap and include swatches of each of my picks from the week as well as a swatch of them layered together! 

Day One: Nude

In the past I haven't been very comfortable with nude lips- but I finally found something that works with my olive skin tone.  MAC's Naked Bud is a lustre finish neutral that is easy and comfortable to wear.  MAC Nymphette layered on top gives it a pinkier- golden sheen.  Both of these swatches photographed a little oranger than they appear in person.  I consider them to be peach-y. 

Left to right: MAC Naked Bud, MAC Nymphette, both layered

This being said I usually prefer a darker nude! Revlon Sultry is a beautiful rosey- brown "my lips but better" color that when paired with NYX Tiramisu butter gloss (another perfect my lips but better color) creates an amazing day time color suitable for class, work, running errands, and everything else in between.  Tiramisu is one of those glosses that is just an all around star- it pairs well with almost every peach, pink, brown, and nude lip color in my collection.

Revlon Sultry, NYX Tiramisu, both layered

Day Two: Light Pink

Light pink is a little out of my comfort zone but this lip duo is perfection.  MAC Fabby has a frosted finish that the MAC website describes as a mauve. However, I feel like its a true golden- pink.  It's almost Nymphette in lipstick form (although that doesn't really translate in these photos).  I usually layer it with Revlon's Color Stay lipgloss is Crystal Lilac.  This color is so unique- a light pink with tiny purple micro shimmer within it that catches in the light.  

Mac Fabby, Revlon Crystal Lilac, layered

Day Three: Coral/ Orange

MAC Coral Bliss is one of my favorite lipsticks, it's the perfect balance between coral and pink.  For the purposes of my Instagram photos I paired it with my well loved Arbonne lipgloss in Posh, which pulls out the pink undertones.  But after I posted the photo I stumbled across my Maybelline Color Elixir Gloss in Breaktaking Apricot, which looks very pink when swatched alone however when layered with Coral Bliss they create a true coral color.

MAC Coral Bliss, Arbonne Posh, layered, Maybelline Breathtaking Apricot, layered with Coral Bliss

Day Four: Bright Pink

I included a lip swatch of MAC Pink Nouveau on my Instagram so I really felt like this Elizabeth Arden gloss deserved the spot light.  It brightens any lipstick and is gorgeous all on its own (which is not something I say about many glosses).

Elizabeth Arden Pink Pout

Day Five: Red

I talked about these two colors recently in my "Secret to Long Wearing Comfortable Red Lips" post so you won't be surprised about why I chose to include them in this tag. They're my favorites! Both are blue based reds. Rihanna's Viva Glam is frost finish and Viva Glam I is matte. 

MAC Rihanna Viva Glam, MAC Viva Glam I

Day Six: Purple/ Berry

Shameless is perfect on it's own.  It does tend to bleed so I usually line my lips with MAC Currant lipliner.  For the odd time I want to pair it with a gloss I found two options for two different looks.  Revlon's Sugar Violet isn't very pigmented on your lips therefore it gives a beautiful sparkle and shine without altering the color beneath it drastically.  My other gloss is Maybelline's Color Elixir Raspberry Rhapsody which lightens Shameless and pulls out fuchsia tones in the color.  

Revlon Shameless, Revlon Sugar Violet, layered, Maybelline Raspberry Rhapsody, layered with Shameless

Day Seven: Your Most Unique Color

Finally, my most unique color.  I love these matte lip crayons by Bite Beauty (I feel like I've said that about every product I've mentioned).  The shade Grape is a violet shade but in the right light or layered with the right lipstick or gloss is can be such a pretty pinky-purple.  I mentioned on Instagram that I don't usually pair this with a gloss- but if I were going to Sugar Violet plays with the pink undertones in Grape and adds a beautiful sparkle.

Bite Beauty Grape, Revlon Sugar Violet, layered

What are your favorite lip duos? Leave a comment down below or tag me on Instagram!
@theloveoflipstick

xoxo

My "Secret" to Long-Wearing Comfortable Red Lips

Red is my go-to for lip color, especially at work.  I actually wore a more neutral color recently and had a co-worker take a second glance before saying she barely recognize me without it.

My favorite reds of the moment are MAC Viva Glam I, which is a deep almost burgundy red with a matte finish, and the limited edition Rihanna Viva Glam which is another blue based red with a beautiful frosted finish.  It's the perfect  ruby-red slipper color. 

Viva Glam I (left) Viva Glam Rihanna (right)

However, since I often work 8 hour shifts I find that both of these colors can start to feel dry about half way through my shift...  I know some prefer a more "dry" matte lip and while I do both love and appreciate a matte finish there's a fine line between beautifully matte and uncomfortably dry.  I'm sure I'm not the only one who has a habit of rubbing my lips together which with a matte lipstick can result in a cake-y looking lip color- and nobody likes that... So sometimes my cherry pout needs a bit of a kick start!


I don't  like layering lip balm over lipstick because I find that it removes some pigment, and can move lipstick around creating an uneven look- that is UNTIL I discovered a solution to all my (first world) problems.

Its so simple, and kind of foolish but I swear by it.  What you need to keep your red lips looking fresh and feeling comfortable is actually a red tinted lip balm (duh Danielle).  I use my Clinique "Almost Lipstick" in "Luscious Honey" almost everyday now.  

  

I received  it in a free bonus gift with purchase from the Bay and I just may have to repurchase a full size when its gone.  The color is buildable and the texture is silky which adds moisture, but not a lot of shine.  Tons of other lines also have moisturising lip products that provide that sheer wash of color as well so I'm sure many of you probably already have a similar product at home or wouldn't have a hard time finding one in either the drugstore or department store.  I find that the tint of color just adds enough moisture for me to carry on happily without moving around and displacing the pigment from previous applications. 

Left to right: Viva Glam I, Viva Glam Rihanna, Luscious Honey

While I'm sure I'm not the first one to make this realization it was a game changer for me.

What do you do to keep your matte lips comfortable during long days/ nights?

xoxo