RUBY WOO - I love you!!!

I've been getting a few personal emails and requests to try a cooler winter 'red lipstick' look.  Today my school is having their Athletic Banquet and what better occasion to dress up than today.  Since it's still day-light outside and our office is practically empty, I thought, perfect opportunity to put a look together and take a pic:

The base of my makeup is a cool toned foundation - the l'oread true match in C4.  I then applied NARS angelika blush - I wanted something cool toned, but not something that would overpower the red.  Angelika was perfect!!!  For my eyes, I just smudged MAC Phone number on the upper lash line and applied to the lower lash line as well and some black mascara.  The star of the show - MAC RUBY WOO!!!  I'd love to hear your thoughts :)

Blue and Pastel Pink

The combination of various blues and pastel pink is pure 'pretty'.  To me its such a 'happy' colour combination.  I decided that I wanted to create a makeup look that is simple, natural and that you can wear with any blue/pink combo.  I started with a pink foundation base (L'oreal true match in C4 is perfect for my skin tone).  For a pretty pink blush, I went with NARS Mata Hari - NARS Angelika is another great option, but this morning, I just gravitated towards the Mata Hari shade :)  For my eyes, I decided to actually go for a charcoal grey instead of a blue toned liner because I wanted to create a defined and neutral eye look.  Since I'm wearing blue, I wanted something to compliment, not overpower and blend.  I used MAC Phone Number liner and then smudged Copperplate eyeshadow into the upper lash line.  I finished the eye look with black mascara.  For the perfect pastel lip - I went with NARS chubby liner in Roman Holiday.  I really wish they still had the lipstick, but the liner is uber pretty too :)

I took two photos of the same look.  One in more natural light without the scarf, and one at my work place with full accessories.  I think both looks really work well and the charcoal-grey eye with the pastel lip is perfect to compliment the blue/pink palette I'm wearing!

Chanel Enigmatique #135

Chanel really makes beautiful shades of makeup.  I know that there are some people who don't like the price of Chanel makeup, especially since there are many cheaper drugstore/makeup company options.  However, there is something to be said about quality.  Chanel makeup is very high quality and you feel the difference every time you apply their products.  Enigmatique lipstick is a stunning raspberry neutral-red.  It's not a pink-red that is overly bright, but rather 'delicate'.  It's the first lipstick I've ever purchased that my own mom 'raved' about.  She usually just says that lipstick is lipstick, but she couldn't get enough of this colour on me.  That says a lot :)  I wanted to create a pretty everyday look using this shade.  I'm still suffering from allergies this spring/summer, so I'm not applying my regular concealer/foundation.  However, I've decided that perhaps it's time to find another tinted moisturizer, all in one product.  That being said, for this look I'm wearing Laura Mercier's violet orchid blush and a shadow/liner combination for the eyes.  The shadow I'm wearing is very similar to MAC Swish.  It's actually a Mary Kay tester, so I'm not sure of the exact name, but it reminds me so much of Swish.  For the eyeliner, I swiped on MAC Prussian (on the upper lash line only, and very lightly).  I finished with some black mascara by Estee Lauder.  For the lips, Chanel Enigmatique :)

Enigmatique is a very rich shade.  It definitely leans towards a cooler berry shade, but again, it's still quite neutral, which makes it 'perfect' for everyday!!!

Sometimes Things Get Cooler - Summer Discovery

Yesterday was a day filled with surprises from the 'Colour Universe'.  It all started when I created a look in the morning based on some softer, warmer shades.  I was quite happy with the look and ventured out for my favourite Saturday routine - grabbing a Starbucks and then meeting my friend and god-daughter for a coffee and some shopping.  One of the things on my shopping agenda was to go to the Chanel counter.  I had written to the Chanel head office because a few years back, I used to wear a lipstick shade called 'Bois De Iles' that they discontinued.  I got an email back and was so happy to hear that they suggested another shade similar to what I was looking for: Enigmatique #135.  I was really excited to check out their recommendation.  While I was at the Chanel counter, I had such a positive experience with the Makeup Artist.  We were so 'aligned' with how we saw makeup and colour, that after about 10 minutes of trying out different shades (Enigmatique was an instant winner for me), she told me that knowing your best colours is very important and it's 'not an 80's thing', but rather something every elegant woman knows.  I asked how if she ever had her colours done and she then told me that she has been a colour analyst for over 15 years, studying under some of the best and original colour analysts.  I was so taken aback because I've been so confused about colour analysis, was experimenting with the soft autumn/autumn palette, but still feeling that something just isn't right.  I, of course, had to ask her "so what season do you think I am?".  She began by telling me that although most colour analysts don't just give out an answer because they need to see you without any makeup and that usually people have their hair coloured and there are many elements that can distract the eye from seeing the 'real season'.  However, that being said, she told me "With you, I have no doubt that you are a classic summer".  I have to admit that I wasn't expecting her to say I was a cool season.  I was set on either soft autumn, light spring or true autumn. We started to talk about cool vs warm seasons and with her experience as an analyst, she told me that it's not uncommon for a cool person to be mis-read as a warm season.  She then began to explain to me how I really am a true cool season.  I asked her how is it that I can wear a lot of warm shades and her answer was that they may look 'okay', but they won't be my best'.  After this amazing experience at Chanel, I went home and reviewed this blog.  I spent hours last night looking and studying all my experiments and I noticed something very interesting - the cooler, brighter, summer shades were bringing out my best features and eye colour the best.  The warm shades, although seeming natural, created this muddy tone to my face.  The cool/Summer colours bring out that healthy glow - here are some of my favourite photos of me (at my best).

I honestly never expected to wake up yesterday and meet such an awesome and talented person who was able to see the truth in my colouring.  It gave me confidence not to give up just yet on colour analysis.  I'm really looking forward to playing around with the cool colours again.  I did sort of like the soft autumn shades, but they were energetically starting to 'drain me'.  I look at these photos and I realize that I am full of energy and I 'feel good' looking at them :)

Summer Neutrals - Polished Look :)

Although it's not 'officially' summer, it sure does feel like it :)  For those who read my posts regularly, you'll know I'm currently really loving the softer warm palette, particularly neutral shades of warm peach, champagne, light rose etc.  I think these are perfect summer lipstick shades that pair well with a soft smokey eye.  My current favourite eyeshadow is MAC club.  I love wearing it on its own as a sheer swipe over the lid with some mascara or blended into my eyeliner.  For this look, I decided to blend Club into MAC's Phone Number eyeliner:

For the rest of this makeup, I went with Laura Mercier Rose highlight shimmer as an eyeshadow on the lid and Bobbi Brown Tawny blush.  For the lipstick look, I used Chanel Natural lipliner and then used L'oreal Crystal Praline lipstick.  I'm really enjoying perfecting this look - I'm enjoying experimenting with the warm-soft palette again :)

L'Oreal Color Riche Lipstick in Praline Crystal

I'm so happy that I discovered this beautiful lipstick today.  It was actually one of those 'accident' discoveries.  I was uber excited about my Estee Lauder Tiramisu discovery, only to find out that this colour will soon will discontinued.  It's just my luck that the moment I finally 'settle' on one colour I love, it gets discontinued lol.  Anyhow, I had this on my mind while I walked passed the L'oreal makeup section in my local grocery store.  The Praline lipstick grabbed my attention because it sort of reminded me of the Tiramisu, except ever so slightly more pigmented and shimmery.   It was on sale, so I picked it up :)  I'm not saying that Praline is an exact dupe for Estee Lauder's Tiramisu, but it's a nice alternative.

The rest of my makeup is the same as the look I created in the last post.  I'm wearing MAC Club eyeshadow and Phone Number eyeliner, l'oreal brown-black mascara, Bobbi Brown Tawny blush and the Praline Crystal lipstick by l'oreal.  If you're looking to put together a nice chic look with a subtle smokey eye and a neutral lip, definitely give these shades a try :)

My Favourite Natural Everyday Lipstick - Estee Laduer Tiramisu

It's taken me a very long time to get to the place where I can say that I literally have a 'favourite' everyday lipstick.  In the past, it's been so hard for me to just stick with one shade or wear one colour, but I am so in-love with Estee Lauder's Tiramisu Lipstick.  I think what I like the most about this shade, is that it's sheer with enough neutral colour to layer over your natural lip colour and create the perfect 'Your Lips But Better Look'.  I've been searching for a lipstick that can do this for a long time and I realize now that Tiramisu is exactly what I've been looking for :)

For this look I wanted to create something that was soft and elegant, so my inspiration was 'pearls and blush'.  I'm really loving that light pink blush shade and it goes so perfectly with pearls.  It's classic, but also perfect for spring.  For the makeup, I used Bobbi Brown Tawny blush, MAC Club eyeshadow on the lid into the crease, MAC Phone Number eyeliner (and then smudged the upper lash line).  I finished the eye look with a brown-black mascara.  For the lipstick - Estee Lauder Tiramisu :)