Lipstick, a year in review...............

This year, its been a CRAZY ride - busy and inspiring are two key words. One thing that has really transpired this year, is my settling into a makeup routine that I fell comfortable and inspired by. Perhaps some of that has to do with the Deep Autumn Palette that I've been wearing - It just seems to fit so well. I also think that my look has matured over the years - I know what works, what doesn't, what I like, what I don't............. its really about finding a personal style, which is the key to true beauty and elegance!!! Find YOURSELF amist the makeup chaos :) ANyhow, as promised, here are some looks that I've been inspired by lately and I'm finding that I've really settled on 3 lipsticks which I wear consistently - MAC's Mocha and Taupe and most recently, Revlon's Rum Raisin:

Lets start with my favourite shade, perhaps of ALL TIME which is a 'huge' statement coming from me, considering that my journey throughout this blog has been on finding that perfect, signature shade. For everyday, Taupe has everything I need - the right depth, the right colour, the right consistency, the right price :) - the 'only' thing that I could change about Taupe is the name - it deserves a more sophisticated name!!!

Ahhhh, Mocha, what can I say about this shade - its been by my side the entire time I've been playing around with all the autumn shades and it still works. Its got that beautiful balance between peach-brown and a hint of pink! Its an everyday staple for me!!!

Finally, for that richer, more dramatic shade, Rum Raisin by Revlon is simply divine. It's like a 'day into night' shade, one that works with 'everything', yet it also seems to pull everything together - maybe because it leans deeper, but still quite natural/neutral looking! Its not a bright red or even in the red family, but it has that elegant effect!!! So, here is it, my top lipstick picks, the shades that have been by my side this year. I can't end this post, by also writing about the other makeup that I've been wearing - I've been sticking to the SAME routine and loving the freedom of having 'signature shades' that work with everything. So here is goes - in every photo above, I'm also wearing the following: Physicians Formula Gold/Bronze Highlighter Sunbasque blush by MAC, its by new 'holy grail' blush - its actually the ONLY one I wear these days - I love it!!! Smolder eyeliner smudged with Brun eyeshadow by MAC (this is literally ALL I use on my eyes, other than a light swipe of the Physicians Formula highlight - I guess you can say I'm taking a break from heavy shadows these days) Black Mascara - I'm wearing MAC mineralize mascara, but my absolute favourite is my standard Loreal Voluminous mascara!!! I would love to hear from you - what are some of your stand by shades? What new things that you discovered this year? I look forward to blogging A LOT more in the new year!!! :) Merry Christmas to all those Celebrating today - Tis the Season to be MERRY!!!

READER QUESTION

I haven't written a post in about a month, but please don't get discouraged - I did put this blog 'on-hold' a while back, but I am back in business and I have so many new ideas and things I want to write about. With everything going on at work and home, its sometimes hard to find the time to complete a post, but I've been playing around with so many new looks - stay tuned for some great looks. Before I start posting my looks, I have a question for all of you - HOW MANY LIPSTICKS DO YOU THINK A WOMAN REALLY NEEDS??? I look forward to hearing your responses to this question!!!

Taupe Lipstick - MAC

I love rediscovering a classic lipstick shade. Its like tasting a great wine and knowing that you've experienced this before, but now it just seems better for some reason. That is exactly how I feel about Taupe lipstick by MAC. Its a lipstick I often dismissed before because, lets face it, the name is kinda 'borning' - its not an alluring or sexy name, its 'taupe'! I sometimes wonder why this shade is even called 'taupe'? Its not a blah colour at all, in fact, its one of MAC's most complex and polished shades. Its a sophisticated mix of red and brown, but its fairly neutral - its not overly deep and dramatic, yet its very classic and chic. Its my personal opinion that this lipstick deserves a a chic name. However, the philosophical me also understands that 'taupe' can suggest a kind of 'neutrality', a simplicity, which is the key to a euro-chic look! Regardless of why taupe is 'taupe', its one of my newely re-discovered favourite shades. In this photo I'm wearing it as it is, yet for evening, taupe is beyond 'stunning' with paired with a spicy red liner like brick or auburn (perhaps that will be my next post). In this photo, I decided to stay with the polished up neutral theme - I did a classic natural eye, using Bronze eyeshadow by MAC from lid to crease, Marcelle's 'dark brown liner' smudged with MAC's 'Brun' eyeshadow - black mascara to finish. I applied a mix of refined golden bronzer and coppertone on my cheeks (both my MAC) and applied a swipe of Taupe lipstick! I really love this look for everyday 'polished'! It takes no longer than 5-10 min, and the makeup harmony is perfect! If you've wanted to try taupe, but feel its a borning shade, give it a chance, it may end up being the most 'chic' lipstick in your case!!!

My Most 'Desired' Makeup Look

If there is one makeup look that is symbolically me - its the subtle smokey eye/quasi-natural lipstick look. I don't know if its because of my warm, rich skintone or just preference, but I've never really looked good in a nude lipstick - it just looks chalky and unrealistic, but put me in a soft brownish shade with a hint of red/peach, and its neutral perfection. These days, Touch lipstick is my go-to shade!!! It my neutral 'perfection' shade!!! I decided that I wanted to play up the deep autumn colours and stay true to my smokey/neutral lip style! I decided to create a look that really embraced both elements, starting with my 'basic face'. I usually start with a concealer and tinted moisturizer, but I really wanted to play up the richness of 'deep autumn' by using a bronzer. This would be awesome for many of the warm seasons, but particualarily 'natural' for the deep autumn. I continued with my favourite 'Coppertone' blush by MAC. For the eyes, I decided to try something a bit different. I used a cooler toned base by Sephora that would be in the 'deep category' - its a shadow stick called 'deep taupe' - I applied this to my lid and smudged it with my finger into the crease. I then used MAC shadows in soba and goldmine, mixed the two shades and applied this to the lids only. I lined by eyes with Smolder eyeliner by MAC and used the bronze shade in the Dior 'amber design' palette to smudge into the upper lashline before finishing with black mascaera. I swiped on 'Touch' lipstick to complete the look. I have to admit that so far, this is probably my 'favourite' look - its the ideal combination of my best season and my best style. I'm at the point in my makeup journey where I've come to terms with what I feel is my 'BEST' version of myself and now its just a matter of fitting all the peices together. The puzzle is almost complete and I'm so inspired with the next step in my makeup/style evolution!!!

Deep Autumn Envy

Kristin Kreuk is often the celebrity highlighted as a stunning Deep Autumn - her features are warm, deep, rich, yet leaning slightly neutral into cool. She's most definitely an autumn, but not 100% true warm. I noticed this similarily with myself after comparing multiple true autumn photos to deep autumn photos. I'm 100% certain than I'm an autumn, but I'm not uber-warm. I think that after looking at the deep autumn palette, the words that come to mind are deep, rich, stunning. There is something 'etoxic' about the deep autumn. I wanted to compare a photo of Kristin and myself - not because I think we look alike, but because our features have that similar deep and rich effect! I think I'm 'REALLY' going to enjoy claiming this season as my own - the palette is so rich and elegant and I'm already thinking what colour combinations I can play around with! I've always been envious of Deep Autumn, so claiming it is a pleasure!!! :)

Balancing Deep Makeup Shades

I'm finding that now that I'm revisiting Deep Autumn, I'm going back to some of my absolute favourite lipsticks - particularily the rich, warm reds. Recently I've been playing around with the deep orange-brown/red shades. I have to say that right now one all my all time favourite combination is Mahogany lipliner with So Chaud listick by MAC. This morning I was playing around with a warm look, but trying to balance the eyes with something a bit more neutral. I ended up applying coquette shadow by MAC, lining my eyes with MAC's liner 'Raven' and then smuding that liner with a cooler brown dior shadow (if I had to compare it with a MAC colour, it would be very similar to 'concrete'). I think that finding balance between cool/warm is key, especially if you fit somethere in the neutral category. I tend to have 'cooler' eyes, so I find that the deep blues, black and aubergine shades suit by eyes, but I can have fun going 'warmer' on my skin with bronzer, blush (such as coppertone) and then going with a 'va-va-voom' lip shade like a true red or orange-red! Right now some of my all time favourite products are: MAC Ruby Woo lipstick MAC SO Chaud Lipstick YSL #10 eyeshadow quad Marcelle Dark Brown eyeliner MAC Smolder eyeliner MAC Mahogany Lipliner MAC Coppertone BLush NARS Mambo eyeliner and last but not least DIOR amber design eyeshadow palette!!!

Style Looks - Casual

I recently read in a style book that there are essential 4 different types of looks: casual, polished day, evening glam and cocktail elegant. I've decided that I want to create a look for each style type. Today I'm starting with a basic casual look. The makeup I'm wearing here are colours I keep coming back to and it literally takes me less than 10 minutes to put this looks together - its great for a casual weekend look, going for lunch, shopping with friends etc.

I started this look with my basic face of concealer, tinted moisturizer, bronzer, then added Coppertone blush by MAC, a classic eye of soba shadow, Marcelle dark brown eyeliner smudged with espresso by MAC and black mascara. To finish off, a swipe of Mocha lipstick and Voila!!! I love the classic casual look, because you can really make it your own depending on your personal style - romantic, city chic, dramatic, natural, creative, classic etc - the possbilities are endless!!! For someone a casual look can be lipgloss and mascara, for someone else, its a red lip stain and bronzer - the key is to personalize the look for you!!!