Rosy Lipsticks for Brown Girls

Hey everyone,

I know I have been away for a while but today I figured it's about time I show the world my sick sick obsession. Rosy-hued lip products.

It's hard being a brown girl in a world where cosmetic companies cater a majority of their products to Caucasian skin, especially the more affordable brands. So finding any product, let alone lipstick that worked for me was always a challenge.

Over my years of exploring higher end brands though, I have come to find some excellent MLBB shades for in-between skin tones like my own. For skin-tone reference I wear Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B40 and Laura Mercier Mineral Powder in Natural Beige

Some of my favourites are as follows:

From left to right: Dior Addict Extreme 667 Avenue, Dior Addict 666 Icone, Chanel Rouge Coco Mademoiselle, Nars Dolce Vita Lipstick, Nars Dolce Vita Lip Pencil, Mac Lipliner in boldly bare

1. Dior Addict Extreme Lipstick 667 Avenue - A very warm bright and glossy pink

2. Dior Addict Lipstick 681 Icone - Slightly more blue based compared to Avenue but just as pigmented. Less glossy.

3. Chanel Rouge Coco Mademoiselle 05 - A satin finish and brownish-pink that seems to have equal parts warm and cool tones.

4. Nars Lipstick Dolce Vita - A glossy mauve-brown-pink that has light to medium coverage of the lips. 

5. Nars Matte Velvet Lip Pencil Dolce Vita - The matte version of the Dolce Vita lipstick. Probably my favourite one and has featured many times on this blog.

6. Mac Lipliner Boldly bare - The perfect nude lipliner which can be worn as a very matte lipstick. A slightly less pigmented version of Dolce Vita. 

See lip swatches below. Note that these were taken in daylight with no flash to try and capture their truest colour.

Left to Right, 1 to 6 (as numbered above)

Some tips for when you're testing out lippies in store:

* Always check the lipstick either on your lips (if it has been properly sterilised by the attendant) or on the inner side of your finger tip and hold it up to your lips. This is the most accurate way to assess what it will look like with your skin tone. The back of the hand is usually a different colour to your face.

* Wear the colour in daylight before purchasing. The colour may look fabulous in shop lighting. But when you walk outside, the Rose Huntington-Whiteley lips you were looking for may actually be truer to Nicki Minaj.

* Try on the colour as deeply applied as possible.  If it looks good like this it will look good any time including when it has worn-off/dabbed/stained.

* You know your face the best. That insistent sales person is NOT the expert here, you are. If you feel a colour isn't right for you, speak up and don't be forced to buy something that doesn't make you feel a hundred percent fabulous

I have to give prop's to these high-end cosmetic companies. They are universally appealing brands and I think their success is largely due to their ability to cater to every woman, no matter her colouring.

People always ask me why I am willing to spend so much $$ on "just makeup." I think if something can make you feel good and you can afford it, be that a round trip to Europe, a $2000 bag or that perfect red lipstick, why not? Work hard. Play equally hard.

New Post's coming soon!

Love always,

Beauty Doc
xo

Top 13 of 2013

Hey Everyone,

I figured a round up of my favourite skincare, makeup and haircare products of 2013 might be a nice way to reflect this last year of beauty.  These are all items I have used religiously over the year and will probably continue to do so in 2014.

 Here goes, in no particular order:

1. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Ethereal Light

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder - Ethereal Light

2013 was the year of a new breed of face powders. The Ambient Lighting Powders are incredibly finely-milled powders that come out translucent but make your skin glow. They have multiple uses and a variety of shades. I use the very lightest shade Ethereal Light under my eyes and sometimes over my whole face which makes my skin look like it does at sunset, absolutely radiant. I have read other blogs where girls use these as highlighters since the other colours seem to have more shimmer. Although it is the lightest shade, on my brown skin it never looks ashy.  The next shade I would love to try is Diffused Light which is slightly warmer toned.


2. Nars Matte Velvet Lip Pencils

Nars Matte Velvet Lip Pencil
L-->R Dolce Vita, Dragon Girl, Red Square

I couldn't pick just one colour to feature on my top 13 so picked all three of my favourites as a collective. These are the best lip colours I have ever used. Drugstores no matter how hard they try have not been able to dupe these. These provide the right amount of pigment, moisture and blendability. The "Dolce Vita" a natural rose-pink I use for work; while "Red Square" an orangey-red and "Dragon Girl" a pinky-red are my go to party colours. I'm pretty sure by the end of 2014 I will have the whole set!






3. Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

This stuff is my holy-grail skin pick me up. My very first blog post was about this serum and I am still to this day relying heavily on it. Have a read as to why I love it so much in my in depth review

4. Bioderma Sensibio H2O Solution Micellaire

This cleansing solution must be Holy Water because it is divine. It is the best way to remove face and eye makeup for my skin because it doesn't exacerbate eczema which other cleansers tend to do. I know that the hype for this product is huge and I completely agree with it. As proof, I have been through two x 500ml bottles over the course of this year and onto my third.

5. Benefit Benetint

Benefit Benetint

This was an unexpected love. Here is the back story behind this product. Stop reading if anatomy scares you...Back in the 70's the Benetint was created for an exotic dancer to give her *nipples* a pink flush....weird I know. But now it is has a cult following for use as a cheek and lip stain. This honestly gives my cheeks the most natural rosy flush. Similarly my lips look super healthy when I stain them with this. I haven't come across any other brand that does a product like this, it is definitely unique.





6. OPI Exfoliating Cuticle Treatment

This stuhas reduced my need for regular manicures. It keeps my cuticles in check. Since I'm constantly washing and drying my hands at work I need something that keeps my cuticles from drying out too much. This allows me to push them back easily minus the snipping.

7. Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment Plus

Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment Plus

This year I had my hair balyaged again. This meant even drier ends. So I was on the search for a deep conditioner. Ojon Hair Treatment Plus is a solid balm at room temperature. You take a small amount between your fingers which allows it to melt to an oil consistency then rub it into the ends of your hair. Leave it on for as long as you like then wash it out as usual. It leaves my hair so super soft. The concept reminds me of what my nana and mum used to do with coconut oil.





8. Moroccan Oil

Yet another product to hydrate my dehydrated hair is fine by me. This is a staple in my haircare routine and I did review it here.

9. Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip Balm

I cannot get over how soft my lips have been since using this. Come winter or summer I have not had any chapping. My most recent post was a review of this product

10. Nars Albatross Highlighter

Nars is a brand that has really taken 2013 by storm for me. I am so impressed by their lip and face products. The Albatross Highlighter is a beautiful champagne gold colour. In the sunlight is reflects stunningly. I use this over my cheek bones and under my eyebrows. Some highlighters on tanned skin can look chalky and chunky glittery. This ones shimmer is so super finely milled that it doesn't have that problem.

Nars Albatross 

11. Tangle Teaser

I was late on the bandwagon with this one. But now that I'm on it, I'm not getting off. This innovative hair brush has managed to tame my tangled hair without the tears.

12. Kheil's Creme D'Elegance Repairateur

Loving this moisturiser, no surprises I guess since it is a Kiehl's product afterall. This hydrates with out irritation or congestion, leaving skin smooth and healthy. It is like the facial version of Creme De Corps Body Butter.

13. Laura Mercier Mineral Foundation

When I was in Hawaii I picked this up in Sephora as a spur of the moment purchase. I was looking for a fairly light coverage foundation that would let my skin breathe. The colour selection is extensive. I love how this foundation doesn't feel like anything on my skin. Over the course of the day it blends with your inherent facial oils and looks even more natural. Best part, it doesn't clog pores. I use it with the Sephora Mineral Powder Brush which gives a lovely even finish.


My beauty resolutions for 2014 are:
- To use sunscreen regularly, especially over summer
- To use heat protectant on my hair regularly
- To incorporate a chemical exfoliant into my skin care routine

Let me know what your beauty resolutions are for the new year too!

I wish you all a very successful and joyful 2014 and may all your dreams come true!

xo

Beauty Doc