Actually 'Wearable' Lip Colours

I have a gazillion lipsticks yet rarely wear any of them. It's probably a combination of not liking the feeling of something on my lips, not liking having something on my lips when I need to eat/drink, and not feeling the occasion warrants wearing lipstick. The other night, I went through most of my lipstick collection, trying on each lipstick with a bare face, and I set aside those I deemed acceptable to put into a daily rotation. I suppose you could describe them as the more "wearable", everyday colours that were more flattering than unflattering. Not too opaque, relatively comfortable on the lips, fuss-free and easy to throw on. What emerged were fairly similar colours and textures — warm pinks and rosy nudes in sheerer, glossier formulas.

l-r: L'Oréal Shiny Grapefruit, Revlon Pink in the Afternoon, Australis Jive, Face of Australia Sundae, Face of Australia Cupcake, Revlon Rose Nectar, Lancome Blush Classique

What I pulled out of my collection:

• L’Oréal NutriShine by Colour Riche Lipstick in Shiny Grapefruit
• Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Pink in the Afternoon (415)
• Australis Colour Inject Mineral Lipstick in Jive
• Face of Australia Sheer Gloss Lip Crayon in Sundae
• Face of Australia Sheer Gloss Lip Crayon in Cupcake
• Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in Rose Nectar (028)
• Lancome L'Absolu Rouge in Blush Classique (337)

The most amusing thing to emerge from all this is I've swatched and mentioned each of these before in separate posts (links are above). I guess lipstick is a favourite topic to feature, photograph and write about, just not actually wear.

Bottom to top: L'Oréal Shiny Grapefruit, Revlon Pink in the Afternoon, Australis Jive, Face of Australia Sundae, Face of Australia Cupcake, Revlon Rose Nectar, Lancome Blush Classique

l-r: L'Oréal Shiny Grapefruit, Revlon Pink in the Afternoon, Australis Jive, Face of Australia Sundae, Face of Australia Cupcake, Revlon Rose Nectar, Lancome Blush Classique

L'Oréal Shiny Grapefruit is a warm rosy pink with subtle silver shimmer. Revlon Pink in the Afternoon is a semi-matte medium warm pink, similar to the L'Oréal but a touch darker. Australis Jive is a dusty, retroish, slightly cool-toned medium pink. Face of Australia Sundae is a "my lips but better" sheer rosy nude. Face of Australia Cupcake is similar to Jive, but sheerer and glossier, slightly darker and more cool-toned. Revlon Rose Nectar is a coral pink with prominent gold shimmer. It has a jelly texture — lightweight, translucent and glossy. Lancome Blush Classique is even glossier than Rose Nectar, almost wet look. It's a brighter strawberry pink.

Will I actually wear these now I've picked them out individually? Well, that's the goal. Though the couple of lip products I've kept in my makeup bag that I bring to work have barely seen the light of day. I don't know about you, but these days, work is one of the last places I feel like wearing lipstick to. Unlike the rest of my makeup (foundation, eyes, cheek colour), lipstick to me is purely for the fun of it. It's that extra, finishing step that makes your entire look just that bit fancier and more polished, or becomes the focal point of your whole makeup (as in the case of a bright, dark, or unusual statement lip). These 7 shades I've picked out are more to enhance one's natural lip colour and to add a non-threatening, natural, plumping tint. Beginner's shades for those that prefer their lip colours to be conservative and unassuming. If I need something easygoing and foolproof on the lips that will complement whatever other makeup I have going on, I know what to reach for.

Where I Am with Makeup Right Now

You may have seen this meme on Instagram or Twitter:

Obviously, it's a bit tongue-in-cheek since it's not like if one stopped buying makeup, they would suddenly be able to afford a house or secure that perfect partner, but as in any joke, there's always an element of truth.

It gave me a moment to reflect on my relationship with makeup over the past few years, and more importantly, where I am right now.

Four years into the blog, it almost goes without saying I've accumulated a large makeup collection. Even though I regularly go through it all to see if I can donate or cull anything, I know objectively I have enough colour makeup to last me the next 10+ years, with the possible exception of foundation, mascara, etc. with more stringent expiry dates.

I recently thought about how much money I've spent over the years on makeup, skin care, hair care, nail polish, makeup brushes, perfumes, body care, candles, and everything else we categorise as “beauty”. The truth is, I have no idea. It's in the thousands of dollars, though how many thousands is the question.

It's not exactly that I feel that money was wasted, per se. I tremendously enjoy my makeup collection. Insofar as material things can generate happiness, I do get gratification from having and using makeup. Given the choice to do it all again, I don't know if I'd elect to spend my discretionary income any other way. At least that was true until perhaps the last half a year.

Don't get me wrong, I still really love makeup. I have fun playing around with it, I look forward to applying it in the morning, I continue to get a kick out of both the process and the end result. But I don't know if I can allow myself to spend on it as freely as before. Especially now, in my late 20s, needing to confront certain realities about my financial position and my future. This city I'm in ain't getting any cheaper. It's also about more considered consumerism, pardon the oxymoron. I need to think very carefully about anything I buy — makeup or otherwise. David Karp once said “liquidity is the new luxury”. It's a quote I resonate with but could do a lot better exemplifying. Stuff does weigh you down, though as humans, we also are comforted by the mere fact of having things. We identify with the things we own. We come to depend on them to maintain a certain standard of living, and often cannot imagine going without.

It's not so much deprivation that's the goal — but perhaps being satisfied increasingly with less, and appreciating what I do have more. Being mindful of and deriving greater utility from current possessions. For me, that means a big step towards actually finishing things before I buy replacements or alternatives. Really conceptualising how long it would take me to hit pan on an eyeshadow or blush before surrendering to that feeling of needing a new one.

What does that mean for the blog? There may be fewer posts about new stuff I've bought. There may be more posts on shopping my stash, or rediscovering underappreciated items, or finding connections or common themes between products I already have. There may be (as has actually been the case) more time in between posts in general. But it's all part of the natural progression of a live thing, and I'm still here (on the blog, on Twitter, on Instagram). Thanks as always for reading.

Bright Base

Lately I've been all about illuminating primers. They've now become an unmissable step in my makeup routine. Not only do they add that extra glow, they also help my makeup apply better and last longer. Combined with a powder highlight over the cheekbones, brow bone, and down the bridge of the nose, plus a generous dousing of MAC Fix+, the final result is an almost otherworldly luminosity. Here are the four primers/liquid highlighters I've been rotating.

l-r: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone, Nude by Nature Soft Focus Illuminator, MAC Strobe Cream, Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance

Excuse the dust...

l-r: Nude by Nature Soft Focus Illuminator, Becca Moonstone, Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance, MAC Strobe Cream

l-r: Nude by Nature Soft Focus Illuminator, Becca Moonstone, Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance, MAC Strobe Cream

Nude by Nature Soft Focus Illuminator
The most affordable option and relatively generous in size ($22.95 for 50ml), the Nude by Nature Soft Focus Illuminator has a thicker, slightly moussey consistency than the others. (Admittedly, that could be in part due to the fact my tube is 3 years old and I probably should have thrown it out by now.) As a result, I have to use a bit more product to cover over my whole face before going in with foundation. It's a peachy gold that blends out so that it becomes nearly imperceptible, but still leaves the skin with an unmistakable golden pearl (especially noticeable around the nose). I'm not a fan of the smell which I find too strong, though the length of time I've had it could be a factor in the unpleasant scent. One thing I do really like about the Soft Focus Illuminator is after I apply a layer of it all over my bare, moisturised face, it makes foundation go on smoother and more easily, and prolongs the wear time of my makeup.

Ingredients: Aqua, Decyl Oleate, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, GlycerylMonostearate, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Parfum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Citral, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, C.I.77019 (Mica), C.I. 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), C.I.77491 (Red Iron Oxide).

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone
For whatever reason I've always considered the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfectors as dedicated liquid highlighters, though the blurb on the back of the tube does say it can be used as a makeup base or mixed with foundation. Moonstone is a beautiful pale gold that doesn't leave any glittery or distinctively shimmery particles on the skin. It blends out to a pure reflective gleam that bounces light off the face. This is one of the more pronounced highlighters I have when used as a makeup base. I find it almost too intense, which is why I don't reach for it as much as the others. It's more manageable used sparingly and in targeted areas under foundation where you'd normally highlight, rather than applied to the entire face. It goes without saying it's also super effective as a regular liquid highlight over foundation. It has a floral scent but isn't anything too overbearing.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Homosalate, Glyceryl Stearate, Octyldodecanol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (Avobenzone), Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Propylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Hamamelis Virginiana Witch (Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water), Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Ceteareth-12, Ceteareth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Paraffinum Liquidum/Mineral Oil/Huile minerale, Glucose, Fructose, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Alcohol Denat, Dextrin, Sucrose, Urea, Propylparaben, BHT, Hexyl Nicotinate, Glutamic Acide, Aspartic Acid, Alanine, Aloe Barbadensis Extract (Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract), Butylparaben, Fragrance. May contain [+/-]: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77499), Tin Oxide, Mica.

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance
One of my all time favourite primers. The texture is superb — not too thick and oily, not too thin and runny. It blends into the skin effortlessly, absorbing quickly and leaving the skin softly moisturised and prepped for foundation. It also helps to prolong the longevity of makeup and wards off disintegration and fading. Like my experience with all Laura Mercier base products I've tried, it feels like a high quality product that's been carefully formulated and tested to actually do what it says and make a real difference.

This is what I reach for on special occasions like weddings or when I want to give my skin a perfecting, luminous boost. The glow it gives is refined but unmistakably there. A colleague once asked me whether I'd done anything different to my skin on a day when I was wearing this with Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk. Need I say more.

The only thing I will say about the Foundation Primer Radiance is that it cooperates better with hydrating, oiler/thicker moisturisers. Occasionally if I don't moisturise my skin adequately, or if it's drier than normal, or if I pair this with the wrong foundation, I will experience some issues with the products reacting together poorly (i.e. the primer balling up in places, catching on dry patches, being a bit harder to blend out around the edges of the nose).

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Hydrogenated Didecene, Glycerin, PVP, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Sorbitan Stearate, Mica (CI 77019), Cetyl Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/ Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Propylene Glycol Isostearate, Glyceryl Isostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Boron Nitride, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Oleth-25, Ceteth-25, Tocopherol Acetate, Polysorbate 60, Retinyl Palmitate, Tin Oxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Triethanolamine, Tropolone, Butylene Glycol, Plankton Extract. May Contain (+/-): CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxide).

MAC Strobe Cream
Featured in my last favourites post, there's been no change in my position since. I love this stuff. It's the most comfortable feeling on the skin — closest to the feel of skin care that really plumps the skin, soothes and moisturises. The texture isn't thick, gloopy or heavy on the skin at all. It's lightweight and you only need a small amount for the whole face. It is heavily scented which is a bit off-putting, but I can live with it. Strobe Cream is unique in that it isn't yellow/gold/peachy, but rather gives a pearly, pinky-white, ethereal glow. When this is applied to a bare face, it makes an immediate but subtle difference. The skin just looks better. More radiant, more evened out, halo-lit. Dullness is dialled down, brightness cranked up. As an added bonus, of the four primers here, Strobe Cream boasts the most skin care ingredients.

Ingredients: Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Glyceryl Distearate, Trisiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cholesterol, Jojoba Seed Oil, Steareth-10 Cetyl Esters, Cetyl Alcohol, Vitis Vinifera Fruite Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Morus Bombycis Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyalauronate, Panthenol, Ceramide 2, Xanthan Gum, Sucrose, Glycerin, Cyanocobalmin, Caprylyl Glycol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hexylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Metabisulfite, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Linoleic Acid, Isohexadecane, Citric Acid, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Red 4.