Recently I bought 3 NARS Lipsticks on Ebay, because here in Brazil, specially in my city, I don’t have NARS =PPP

The Colours: Belle de Jour, Honolulu Honey and Blonde Venus. All of them are nude shades =)))

Before talk about the colours, lets talk about the impressions I had about the lipsticks themselves. At first I thought them very very dry, hard to pass on the lips. I got really surprised as the lipstick is one of the best buys of Sephora and is the favourite brand of many celebs. As the time goes, though, I notice that they start to smooth out, but if your impatient like I am, you might need the help of a lip brush to pass on the lips, which is going to benefit you in 2 ways: first, its going to smooth out the lipstick faster than you pass directly on your lips and second, when you use lip brush to pass the lipstick the result always looks better and more natural =))

The lipstick quality I can say that’s average to good, considering what I said on the up lines, but its very good as its long wearing, doesn’t disappear in a few minutes. I think that’s why they make it sort of dry. I prefer that way because I hate to keep retouching the makeup, specially lipstick.

Well, now lets go to the colours. Belle de Jour is a light beige that on my lips looked like a bit like a concealer, I like this effect specially with dark eyes or smoked eyes. Honolulu Honey is a light rosy beige that also lights up my lips, I bought it more because of the good reviews I read around some websites, and I don’t regret buying it. Both of them are going to be good to light up other lipsticks or wear with neutral lip pencils, like Spice, from MAC. Blonde Venus is the one I liked the most. It’s a flesh orangey rosy colour, it’s a beautiful mixture of beige, orange and rosy that combined made a perfect nude/natural lipstick for everyday use! Its absolutely GORGEOUS!!! Certainly a BEST BUY for olive and brunette skins like me, as you know I’m NC42, like I said in the other post.

XxX

 I was looking forward this collection, because of course, I love Nudes! But I didn’t write about it before because I wanted to look the colours properly, so I searched and I found some blogs with swatch pics.

I have to say that I still don’t know if I am disappointed or not with it. Clearly the makeup items I love the most (lipstick and gloss) were the ones I was impatient to see… but I don’t know anymore. I think they didn’t pay attention much to the girls who have pigmented lips. The first 3 shades, 1N, 2N and 3N are almost colorless for pigmented lips and tanned skin. The 4N is the only one, so far, that I can tell it will work for people like me. The 5N shade is a nude for dark colour skins, and I thought it would have more a bit of mauve in it, but its too brown looking in the pictures. The 1N people are saying that’s almost transparent, who likes translucent colorless only sheer lipstick, that’s the one. I kind of like it as well, but for pigmented lips, is it going to work? I’m not so hopeful. For pinkish lips, the 3N will look lovely, but I don’t know for pigmented ones…

The glosses I loved the shades 1N (creamy light beige - people, I’m using my particular description of the shades, I’m not using the MAC ones), 2N (creamy light rose - similar shade of the 3N l/s) and 3N (neutral beige/brown with golden pearl). I think its easier you get right with glosses, because they are sheerer and lighter than l/s. The 4N I thought very dark for me, but it’s a beautiful nude colour for darker skins.

I consider myself I light to medium tanned skin colour person. My perfect complexion in MAC is NC42 and NC40 in the winter. So for me the medium shades are going to work much better.

The eyeshadows I liked all the colours, its impossible to pick just one. I think I’m going to get 4 or 5 shades: Modest Tone, Remotely Grey, Rich Flesh (I was looking for a matte brown like that for ages), Neutral Pink and Nanogold to light the brow bone, specially. The favourite Paint Pot was the Groundwork.

As the N Collection for the skin I liked the idea of natural Mineralize Skin Finish, but I just got more attracted to the normal ones: Warmed (bronzed colour - I expected a bit more of golden shine in it, but it doesn’t have much) and Light Flush (light pink perfect to highlight the cheeks).

Anyway, these are my first impression of the N Collection so far. I need to analyze carefully first before I do any orders, because I don’t have MAC stores in my city: I either ask my friend to bring for me or I order online to be delivered in a friends house and sent to me via post.

Please, MAC, bring your gorgeous store to my city!!!! =PPPP

XxX

  Well, as I said in the first entry about makeup, I love nude lipsticks. But also I love nude shades in all sort of makeup: I’m a fan of all nude complexion! That’s why I’m looking forward the new MAC collection, N, that’s going to be all about nudes! I also have been finding so many beautiful shades of beige lipsticks on ebay that I’m getting crazy!!! Whats funny about that is most of the beautiful shades I’m finding with asian sellers, so now I make a question: Why only in the Asian countries they launch the most interesting nude shades? =PPPAnyway, I have bought 2 more nude lipsticks, apart from the Chanel #30 Rêve, that I told you in the first makeup entry: Chanel Rouge Allure #29 Troublant (Limited Edition and the same collection of the Rêve one) and YSL Rouge Pure Shine #25 Natural Brown, of The Naturals Collection, only launched on Asian countries =(((( I’m also intending to buy other 4 lipsticks, but I’ll just tell you their names when I actually buy them =PPP

BTW, my obsession about nudes is so huge that today I bought 2 l/s of the same colour, because the shade got out of the store’s catalogue. It’s the same Brazilian store I bought my red l/s, Boticário, the name of the shade is Demi Canela, a sheer beige/brown colour.  I love it, so I asked the salesgirl seaches for me in all stores and she found them =))) I got so happy!

But its important to tell you that the nudes have different shades: the orange-peach nude; the beige nude; the rosy-mauve nude and the brown nude. A perfect example of the 4 shades you find in the Limited Edition Nude Collection Dior launched: the Dior Addict Ultra Nude. I absolutely loved the collection, so I bought all four lipsticks. Here they are:

*orange-peach nude: #540 Stripped Orange;

*beige nude: #220 Skin Beige;

*rosy-mauve nude: #380 Undressed Mauve;

*brown nude: #520 Naked Brown.

Each one of them matches with an specific skin colour or lip colour. Because we cant forget our lips has got different colours: some of us have rosy lips; other has got reddish lips; others has got brownish lips (my case); others have got beige lips. Depending on your lip colour, the lipstick can get completely different shade as you see in the tube: that’s why you need to try some nude shades until you find the one that matches you. Or, if you want to wear all shades, you simply use foundation or concealer over your lips, to “erase” them and make them a complete neautral colour, and then you can apply any kind of shade you wish! Luckily all shades of the Dior Ultra Nude Collection fit on me, I think its because it’s a sheer collection, so with sheer l/s you hardly get wrong. The pigmented l/s are the ones you need to be careful.

I can give you some other examples of gorgeous nude shades separated by the categories. I hope you like my suggestions =)) Here they are:

1) orange-peach nude:

*Chanel Rouge Allure #30 Rêve;

*MAC Lipstick in Freckletone;

*YSL Rouge Rouge Pure Shine #27 Natural Honey;

*Chanel Rouge Hydrabase #41 Sahara Beige;

*Bourjois, Pour La Vie, #44 Beige Eternel;

*Revlon Super Lustrous Flashstone.

2) beige nude:

*MAC Lipstick in Jubelee;

*L’Oreal Star Secrets Aishwarya Beige;

*L’Oeal Made for Me Naturals (an excellent collection as well) #240 Dune (this one has got a touch of gold);

*Lancôme Rouge Absolu #270 Ambre Cuir;

*Bourjois Pour La vie #43 Beige Chic

*Clinique Long Last Lipstick #03 Creamy Nude.

3) rosy-mauve nude:

*L’Oreal Glam Shine Cream #100 Sweet Nude;

*Clinique Moisture Sheer Lipstick Sweet Violet;

*Lancôme Rouge Attraction #200 Beige Nude;

*Clinique Long Last Lipstick in Blushing Nude;

*MAC Lipstick in Hug Me;

*Chanel Rouge Allure #06 Silhouette.

4) brownish nude:

*Shiseido 05 Macadamia Beige;

*Shiseido M3 Natural Brown (matte);

*Guerlain Divinora Matte #482 (I believe that this one is out of catalogue, but worth checking);

*L’Oreal, Made for me Naturals collection, #231 Sepia/Silk;

*Dior Rouge #515.

P.S. I believe there is a sub category of brownish nudes: the brown-grayish nudes - this one are very dangerous, so I suggest you wear a neutral lip liner to balance the shade or apply other l/s shade, such as rosy-mauve nude one, to look healthy and not a corps =PPP Examples:

*Bourjois Lovely Rouge, #06 Praline Desiree;

*Lancome Rouge Absolu, Romance Satin (LE).

I think I have passed to you all the secrets that I use in a daily basis with my nudes. I hope you all enjoy reading this post as much as I enjoyed write it =)))

XxX

I decided that this 2008 I would do some changes, so for a girl the color of the lipstick is also categorized as a change! At least for me =PPP

I LOVE nude and beige lipsticks. I never get enough of them. Today I’m going to pick up an order at the post office, my so anxiously waited Chanel Rouge Allure #30 Rêve. And its only the beginning as I ordered some others on ebay, waiting to arrive, and already settling my eyes into other ones over there. I think I’m becoming an ebay addicted (I’m not going to say: I hope my husband doesn’t read this, but he will anyway, so… =PPP).

But for this year I decided I will no longer be afraid of RED lipsticks. But I’m taking baby steps, as the colour, despite the fact its gorgeous, is also very dangerous if you don’t know how to wear it.

An example? Here it goes: my sister. She loves red l/s, but I don’t think she wears it wisely. She just applies it on without caring much with the shape of the lips, most of the time gets uneven and ends up a disaster.

I think red lipsticks you need to apply very carefully, using a lip pencil, that can be red or neutral, like Spice from MAC (I prefer the last one). If needed, a lip brush to apply on the borders of the lips to look perfectly shaped. Also you need to have your skin in order, flawless and looking fresh and pretty, because red l/s calls a lot of attention not only for the lips but for the whole complexion. If you do all that, I’m pretty sure you will rock in red =)

I used to think only fair skins could wear red. It looks so beautiful the contrast! I saw pictures of a local model wearing a bright red with white dress in New Years Eve Party and she looked fabulous! But I think that all skin tones can wear red, you just need to find the right shade of red for you. And also find the right shade that matches your personality as well (this is the most important, in my opinion).

Yesterday I bought a red l/s for myself. I decided to buy a not very expensive one, because if things go wrong, my pocket wont feel much. It is from a local cosmetic brand that Brazilians loves but I just like: Boticário. Some products are lovely but others are not very much for the prices they put on. The name of the lipstick is Vermelho Diva (translating: Diva Red). Couldn’t be more appropriate, the red colour of that l/s is bright and lovely, just reminding the Chanel Rouge Hydrabase New York Red. I tried on at the store and I just got “oh, is that me?” reaction. But I liked it, and I even left the place wearing the colour itself. Turns out I got very happy with my purchase! =))) The first makeup purchase of the year! If your not a red lipstick person, or if your not used to it or too afraid, you can always start with a red lipgloss. My suggestions:

*Bourjois Effet 3D #11 Framboise Energetic;

* Diorkiss #858 Caramel Apple.

Or a lighter version:

*Lancôme Juicy Tubes #30 Groseille.

At first they look strong red in the tube, but once you apply, it goes lighter and you can just control the intensity by applying as many coats as you wish!

Or, if your not that scared (like me) but still a little precautious: buy a red l/s and apply it with your fingers. Just so it makes your lips looking flushed and healthy and not too marked red lipstick version. The night version: just apply a clear lipgloss over it.

I also think that red l/s calls so much attention, so go easy in the rest of the makeup: neutral eyeshadows, black eyeliner (if you want a 50’s version: so glamorous!), lots of mascara and light blush. You will just look like a Diva! And what else is the best way to start a new year? =))

XxX