LANEIGE Two Tone Matte Lip Bars

LANEIGE's popular Two Tone Lip Bars are now available in a matte formulation!

I'm a fan of both the original satin/creme formula, as well as the more balmy and glossy Tint formula, because both boast intensely vibrant colors in a fun format for creating ombre lips. But I'm obviously excited about the launch of a matte series since this is by far my favorite texture.

The Two Tone Matte Bars come in gorgeous pink matte-chrome tubes but the lipsticks themselves have the same slanted cut as the original Two Tone Lip Bars.

LANEIGE Ideal Shadow Quads: Swatches and First Impressions

LANEIGE updated their eyeshadow collection this month, and relaunched 10 quads in mostly new color combinations, repackaged in sleeker silver-lined cases. These are all currently available at LANEIGE counters and boutiques, as well as Lazada.sg and Zalora.sg.

I've been quite a fan of the older Pure Radiant Eyeshadow quads and had likened some of the color compositions to Tom Fords before, so let's get the head-to-head comparisons out of the way. The Ideal Shadow Quads:

• have 6g of product (1.5g per shadow, same as standard MAC/MUG pans), same as the Pure Radiant quads
• are S$42, $2 more than old Pure Radiant quads
• have updated formulas
• come in a mix of neutrals as well as a few more edgy color options
• have more mattes interspersed among the quads, so you have more options and textures

Shade overview - new LANEIGE Ideal Shadow Quads

The older compacts are smaller, and it looks like there is more product in the new quads, but they actually contain the same amount. I'm not complaining though; they've been quite good about keeping the price stable instead of taking the chance to jack the price up with this revamp.

The new quads DO look a lot nicer compared to the older ones which have a tendency to look a little "cheaper", not as grown-up, and a bit outdated.

"Old" Pure Radiant eyeshadow quad

New LANEIGE Silk Intense Lipsticks

LANEIGE has updated their Silk Intense Lipstick range recently with revamped formula, packaging and shades. The new lipsticks come in sleek white and silver magnetized tubes that are more sturdy and grown-up looking than the original.

Compared to the original Silk Intense Lipsticks, the new formula is similar in intensity and coverage and share the same lightweight creme texture. However, I find the new formula less "slippery" feeling and easier to build up. The shades also contain ultra-micronized pigments so they go on more evenly and can be built for opaque coverage or worn sheer without looking patchy.

I've worn these a few days now, and I'm pretty happy with the feel and performance. I have not had issues with them making my dry lips flaky or uncomfortable, which ironically happens with some thinner, more slippery creme lipsticks. In fact, when my lips got quite parched and wrinkly in-between swatches these lipsticks just plumped them right up once I applied the next shade. Despite the creamy hydrating texture, they do last pretty well and a simple wet wipe is surprisingly not sufficient to remove it completely from skin. 

Silk Intense Lipstick 335 Get the Red

There are 35 shades available in Singapore at S$36 each, which is a good price point considering the luxe feel of the formula. They do somewhat remind me of Rouge Diors and Rouge Cocos in formula, with the exception being that the shades are obviously designed to suit Asian/pale-to-medium skin tones.

I've swatched them all below roughly separated by color category or the effect they have on the face, and marked LANEIGE's Star shades with **.

Soft peachy/pink Silk Intense tones

These softer tones look quite soft against the skin but have somewhat "natural" undertones. My personal pick here is 430 Pink Garden. These colors will probably look like pink-nudes or peach-nudes on most people.

430 Pink Garden

The next group are more typical Korean "It" shades. Coraly pink tones with a touch of juicy vibrancy.

I especially love 147 Raspberry Pink, which I'd describe more like watermelon pink, and 142 Love Me New Me, a classic K-style pink coral. Both shades look great worn ombre-style with minimal makeup, for a glowy stained lip effect.

As for the pinks, there are a couple of great ones as well. I personally would not use 101 Neon Pink or 350 Peony on their own but I do love 149 Cherry Popcorn and 362 Urban Jungle especially. I'm usually not a fan of pearlescent pink shades but I also found myself really liking 145 Glam Pink. I suggest applying a tiny bit and pressing your lips together for that rosy baby-lips "no makeup" effect.

LANEIGE Two Tone Tint Lip Bar Swatches and Review

LANEIGE started 2017 with the launch of 8 Two Tone Tint Lip Bars, the tinted-balm versions of their bestselling full-coverage Two Tone Lip Bars.

Over the past two years, I've pretty much tried every single shade in their line, and I love how pigmented they are. In fact, most times I'll wear them like regular lipsticks with both shades blended together. The pigmentation and texture (for me) far outweighs any fun of getting a two tone effect. They just happen to be really good lipsticks. Period.

I do occasionally find the regular Lip Bar formula just a bit drying. They're not matte, but they also won't add enough hydration when my lips are feeling a bit ragged. So it was kinda cool that the brand launched tinted balm versions.

The balm portion is made of up the same yummy berry-flavored formula as their Lip Sleeping Mask, which I use as a daily balm. (It's a huge pot, and I get 4-packs for cheaper when I travel.) 

The tips also have a V-shaped cut instead of the original slant, in order for there to be a higher proportion of the clear balm for nourishing the lips.

To call them tinted balms would be slightly inaccurate, simply because most tinted balms are super sheer. When I first swatched them I was expecting a translucent sheen, so I was quite surprised. These give significant pops of color to the lips and you actually have to blend them out a little if you want a sheerer softer look.

I received 4 shades out of the 8 to swatch in my press box, and the rest of the shades can be viewed on laneige.com. As you can see above, the colored section is pretty intense, and once you try it you'll realize that despite there being a translucent balm section, the choice of shades is on the vibrant side, so they give a bright and made-up look to the lips even when sheered.

If you are looking for "barely there" natural balm tints, these are not it. If you want something that you can smear on without a mirror, I think these may not be it either. If you are prone to messy applications, these are a bit too bright and obvious to hide that.

I will say I enjoy these for casual days when I want to wear minimal makeup and colorful lips, but am not feeling up to a more drying formula. They do feel super silky and hydrating, and you get to enjoy your favorite K-trend colors without sacrificing on lip care.

LANEIGE Two Tone Tint Lip Bars retail at $34, the same as the regular Lip Bars.

K-Beauty Tips and Takeaways from LANEIGE Beauty Camp 2016

If you've been keeping up on dayre, you'll know I was away in Seoul, Korea, last week at LANEIGE's annual Beauty Camp, where they fly in a group of bloggers, press, and lucky customers for three days of Korean beauty, fashion, inspiration, and as it turns out - a number of celebrities!

Themed "Sparkling Beauty", this year's beauty camp included a motivational talk by speaker and author Sooyoung Kim, a styling session featuring celebrity stylist Hye-Yeon Han, and makeup session by LANEIGE makeup artists. 

Like LANEIGE's mission in 2016 - the camp was focused around helping everyone to rediscover their inner sparkle and finding different ways to bring out our inner and outer beauty, and maximize our unique charm and confidence. One of the sessions I enjoyed the most was probably the detailed professional color-matching session where an expert helped us identify very specific color groups and shades that complimented our individual skintone best.

Winter-Clear colors

There are 4 seasons, and within each category, there are 3 sub-groups: cool, clear, and deep. I was identified as being in the "Winter-Clear" group. Because of my high-contrast coloring (light skin, very dark hair) I can wear both icy and deep Winter shades, but the colors that really make me stand out and "sparkle" belong in the intensely vivid Winter shades like Cherry, Violet, Indigo, Plum and Deep Rose.

And because Cherry is my top shade, here's my very own K-style glam makeover using a lip shade based on my color results. (You can recreate this using Two Tone Lip Bar No 1 and Radiant Eye Color palette No 2 Shine Gold.)

Throughout the entire trip, I did get the chance to really "immerse" myself hip-deep in LANEIGE products, from skincare to makeup, and discovered quite a few new favorites along the way, some new like the Time Freeze Firming Sleeping Mask to help tighten and firm the face - especially around the jaw and cheek areas overnight, and some I already owned but only really got into on the trip itself, like the entire Water Bank line and the All Day Anti-Pollution Defensor SPF30, which repels micro particles of pollution which can harm the skin.

I also really got into the BB Cushion Anti-Aging, which feels somewhat like a cross between the texture of the hydrating whitening cushion and the more satiny pore control one. It contains the same active ingredients as the Time Freeze skincare line, which help to repair and protect skin.

But without further ado, I'll get into a listing of the various tips and tricks I learnt from the Sparkling Beauty Camp!

LANEIGE New Two Tone Shadow and Lip Bars

I have a bit of a strange fascination with LANEIGE's popular Two Tone Lip Bars (SG$34) - those strange rectangular tubes of crayola-like dual-colored lipsticks that allow you to create ombre lips in a couple of swipes.

Nevermind that I actually never wear them out as intended, as ombre lips. I do wear ombre lips quite often actually, but I like them subtle. Meaning the two shades are no more than a few tones apart, so there is dimension but it's not "obviously two colors" on my lips. LANEIGE's lip bars pair very deep/strong and pale shades together, and if you're not careful it can look a bit crazy.

My preferred way to wear LANEIGE's Two Tone Lip Bars is to hold the two sides horizontally side-ways - as a single combined shade.

Because they're all frikkin' nice mixed together. They definitely gave thought to how the two shades in each bar combine and blend together.

The release of 4 additional new shades in 2016 is no different.

I kinda took my time to post a review because I popped one of the shades right into my purse the very day after I received them and never got down to swatching.

No 11 - Coral and yellow mixed to a warm papaya
No 12 - Red and nude mixed to a soft warm cherry
No 13 - Tangerine and beige mixed to a soft orange
No 14 - Rose and beige mixed to a rich fuchsia

As with the original 10 shades, these have a gorgeously creamy and pigmented texture and go on like butta'.

I have a bit more of a mixed response to the Two Tone Shadow Bars.
They're equally fascinating to me - I just love the bars and they seem like they would be a great idea. Two in one cream shadow sticks. But somehow, after the initial excitement, I'm not entirely sure they're the greatest idea ever.

Unlike with lipsticks, it's not actually troublesome to blend two shades together on your eyes quickly. In fact, it's very, very easy. Ironically these Two Tone Shadow Bars - pretty as they are - ended up making it very, very hard.

Firstly, the flat rectangular tips make it extremely hard to apply across the lids. In fact they are downright uncomfy if you want to get a full swipe across your eye. Good luck trying to get both shades evenly across your eye in one or two swipes. Eyes are curved, and a straight edge is just not going to be able to get two colors on quickly.

Also if you like to apply lighter shades on the inner half of your lids and darker shades in the outer corners, you can't do that with these sticks. And never mind that the socket is curved away from the lash line in the center of the eye. These sticks will give you a stripe cutting straight across your eyeball and socket. 

This somewhat reminds me of those L'oreal One Sweep Shadows from a few years back. (Read: someone who obviously doesn't apply makeup thought those palettes would be a really clever idea.)

I somehow feel if they had split the two colors into a double-ended stick with one color on each end, it would work a bit better. Putting it together ombre style is a new and fun idea - but in the end, it's just feels like something created to ride on the coat-tails of the successful ombre lip bars, and not because it's actually a great idea for the eyes.

Unlike the Lip Bars, the pigmentation is not quite strong enough for the two tones to have enough contrast against each other and if you go back and forth to get a noticeable ombre effect on the much smealler lid area, and you mostly end up with what looks like a single shade.

The colors themselves are actually pretty darned nice, if a little lacking in options - there are 4 all-warm colors currently:

No 1 - coral and peachy champagne

No 2 - rose-gold and champagne

No 3 - orange and champagne

No 4 - chocolate and champagne

There are no cooler-toned or deeper options aside from No 4, which isn't all that deep once blended on the lids. Also the formula is not designed to be budge-proof, and you're kinda supposed to apply a thin layer of translucent powder over them to set, or use them as base for other shadows. Which kinda mutes the sparkle and defeats the purpose. If you have crease-prone lids, I would skip these.

It's not easy to apply these as an eye base compared to the typical cream shadow sticks or pots because of the awkward shape and the slightly less creamy texture. And on their own they aren't as pigmented and don't set and last as well as many other shadow sticks on the market. 

 I say all this - but I remain very fascinated and I keep using them despite the slight hassle of working with that oblong top and the slightly finnicky formula. Maybe I have an undiscovered fetish for crayons.

LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask and Lip Sleeping Mask

LANEIGE'S cult favorite overnight hydration mask, the Water Sleeping Pack, is one of the brand's bestsellers, having sold 16 million units since 2002.

If you've never tried it before, it's a fresh gel moisturizer that you apply over regular skincare right before bed, it's designed to deliver continual non-greasy hydration to help perk up dull, tired skin. Technically, I don't think your skin is going to differentiate between moisturizer and a sleeping mask. This can be used as an extra boost over your existing products every other night, OR used in place of moisturizer if you have oily skin. (But that's just me.)

The concept of using sleeping masks is based around the skin's repair and detoxification cycle. At night is when skin regenerates itself and skincare has the biggest effect. However, it's also the time where your pores are open and you lose the most water. So sleeping masks are designed to help boost that repair cycle while minimizing moisture loss.

The Water Sleeping Pack formula has been updated this year, so it is now called the Water Sleeping Mask (SGD$42), and works in three ways:

1. Detoxify and repair with Hunza apricot extract and Evening Primrose Root. Both ingredients are antioxidants and also help the skin to discharge contaminants that accumulate during the day. According to a clinical study done by LANEIGE, the product supposedly reduces pore size and boosts radiance after a week's use. 
2. Hydrate without being heavy or occlusive, with a beta-glucan mineral complex. Apparently, tests showed that after a week of use, this had a more noticeable effect on those who had had a bad night's sleep. Not that you should be using a sleeping mask to replace sleep, but if you don't have a choice, then slap this on you won't look quite as bad as you usually do without rest.
3. Aromatherapy with natural orange flower, rose, ylang ylang, and sandalwood oils to prolong deep sleep by 36% (according to LANEIGE'S clinical data). Improving quality of sleep in turn strengthens your skin's natural regenerative abilities.

I can't in all honesty say that it's been a magical cure for my skin. I do enjoy applying the fresh texture; it absorbs instantly and feels cooling on the skin. And it's nice for a quick boost of moisture. But for people with dry skin or dry patches like me, this might not be sufficient to make a huge difference in terms of hydration levels. I can see this being great for oily to normal skins though.

I also am not 100% certain if it boosts sleep because the scent disappears after application, once it sinks into the skin. It does smell very pleasant though.

I haven't given it enough of a test to say if I see any noticeable differences in my skin but I think the biggest draw for me would be the detoxifying and antioxidant properties of some of the ingredients, and how it can complement your natural repair processes. 

Besides the face Sleeping Mask, LANEIGE has also launched another product which I am actually MUCH more excited about, lip balm junkie that I am.

The Lip Sleeping Mask (SGD$27) is a gorgeous, gorgeous pot of soft treatment butter for the lips. It contains a concentrated Berry Mix Complex including 8 berries (strawberry, blueberry, cranberry, gojiberry, soapberry, cloudberry, and coffee berry), and we all know berries contain a load of antioxidants and are great for the skin, both consumed and applied.

But it's really the sensorial experience that I love. This smells fruity and sweet, and just melts into the lips like you wouldn't believe. If you are a makeup artist, you might want to pick up a couple pots of this to condition your clients' lips before applying makeup because it smells SO good, feels SO good, and it actually smooths the lips quickly without being all waxy and thick.

The little silicone spatula is just darling too. But I just get in there with my fingers.

And I use it as a lip balm anytime of day. Not just before bed. And at $27 a 20g jar (a typical pot of Philosophy Kiss Me Goodnight lip balm has 9g of product), this is not a small pot! It will last a good long while, and do a lot more good for your lips than the typical wax 'n' oil lip balms around with much cheaper formulations.

(Too early to say but this might just creep into holy grail lip balm territory for me. All I can say is - I highly, highly recommend this if you have a chance to check it out.)

The LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask and Lip Sleeping Mask will be in stores in Singapore on 7 May 2015.

For those of you in the US, LANEIGE skincare is available at Target. I'm not entirely sure how soon these 2 products will be released, but the original Sleeping Pack is definitely being sold. Fingers crossed that the updated formula - and especially the Lip Sleeping Mask - will be on the shelves soon.

Laneige Two Tone Lip Bars: Swatches and Best Way To Apply Them

Ombre lips have been a big thing for a few years now, especially in Asia where the preferred style of "ombre" is more of the "stained" look, where there is a deeper or more intense color on the insides of the lips and a lighter, more muted shade around the outsides. 

This is not the same as the more dramatic style of ombre lips featured more commonly on social media among Western communities, where the top and bottom lips are different colors, and fade into each other in the center. 

Most of us bring two lip products out to achieve that effect, so a few brands have more recently come up with two-toned lipsticks to help reduce clutter in makeup bags. Laneige is the latest to create a series of Two Toned Lip Bars (SGD$34), that aim to to make ombre lips a one-step one-produce process.

The bars come with 2 shades stacked diagonally, and what you're supposed to do is to apply them vertically, with the deeper shade towards the center of your lips. (Or outside if you want your lips darker outside.)

Just remember to flip the bar upside-down when moving from top lip to bottom lip, cos otherwise you end up with a very strange striped effect instead of an ombre look.

The cons?

I'm not entirely sure you can get a seamless ombre effect in a single stroke without doing some other things to tidy up. Even when applied neatly and perfectly, the difference between the two shades can still look a bit harsh. The fact that they stacked the two shades together diagonally helps a bit, but doesn't blend the shades together enough without a little extra effort in my opinion.

And several of the shades in the range have a pale shade which is so muted and nude that when applied, it can make your lips very thin and mean, like in a press visual of Song Hye Kyo which actually looked a bit scary. But almost anyone can wear ombre lips, unless your lips are really extremely thin, or very mature and lined.

I'm using duo No 4 below to illustrate. 

This is a scarlet and white/clear duo, so the shades should blend together to give you a vibrant rose. But for most people, it can look harsh and geisha-like because of the huge contrast between the red and the white. In some cases, it looks like you simply applied lipstick in the center of your lips and forgot to blend.

So this is what I do to get the effect I want with ombre lips.

1. Apply the lip bar vertically on both lips (like shown above).
2. Flip the lip bar horizonally sideways and run it across the center of each lip just where the 2 colors meet. (When you hold it sideways, you get an automatic mix of both shades, and this allows you to blend out the pale and deep shade on your lips so they fade into each other more beautifully.)
3. Run a nude lipliner lightly along the borders of your lips to add some definition to the shape if your lips look very thin wearing ombre. The liner won't look obvious but it will help to make the edges of your lips more visible. 

Voila, no more harsh line between the white and the red. And I don't look like a geisha. 

If you prefer the more dramatic contrast between the two shades, just follow Step 1.

For me, to get the softest, most kissable, fullest-lip effect, the "mixed shade", the medium color you get when you mix two colors, should take up the most space on your lips. Only the outer edges and the very center where your lips meet should be very deep and very light. And you can only achieve this effect if you apply the lip bars vertically first, then horizontally to blend the colors. 

That said, I do actually like these lip bars a lot. They take the hassle out of bringing two colors out with me, and the textures and pigmentation are amazing. Every one of these is extremely intense and creamy, and I have 10 swatches below. Some of the shades are quite hard to remove from the lips actually. The colors do cling and stain a bit, but that also means they last.

Apologies for an error in the shade numbers; the print was too tiny; No 3 here is actually No 8.

(Apologies - just checked a press document and realized that I labeled No 3 and 8 wrong. The print on the bottom of the tubes is so tiny and the manufacturers like to stamp serial codes ON TOP of them. Couldn't see through that!)

As per above, shade marked No 8 is actually No 3!

What are my faves here? Just initially, I like No 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Yeah I'm no help narrowing things down. It's fun experimenting with these!

LANEIGE Collagen Drink

Following on the Asian craze for skin tonics and collagen supplements, Korean powerhouse LANEIGE will be launching their own once-a-day Collagen Drink in Singapore on 31 March 2015, which contains 5000mg of marine collagen peptide, which is exactly the amount of collagen the average person metabolizes and needs to replenish daily. 

Collagen is necessary for maintenance of skin, hair, nails, joints, mucus membranes, and even our bones, and after the age of 25, our ability to generate collagen starts to deteriorate, which is why our skin starts to dull and sag, our hair becomes less lustrous and lush, and we also eventually start to experience joint pain and arthritis as we get older.

But just taking collagen supplements aren't always helpful. Many formulas aren't synthesized efficiently by the body after consumption, and our bodies just digest and burn them as expensive sources of energy, which is why I've always hesitated to try them.

The newer generation of supplements seem to have many of these concerns in mind though. LANEIGE's collagen peptide is synthesized from tilapia fish, which has a lower molecular weight than other sources. This is meant to enhance absorption and synthesis. While you can technically eat tilapia regularly for skin benefits, most of us are unlikely to eat a whole fish daily. (1 bottle of this Collagen Drink contains the collagen peptide found in an entire fish).

Besides collagen, the formula also contains: 

• elastin extracted from bonito fish to improve elasticity and radiance
• Vitamin C from Italian oranges and pomegranate extract, which is critical for collagen synthesis (if you lack vit C, it doesn't matter how much collagen you consume), and also other repair functions in the body

The formula is also free of artificial coloring, preservatives, and sugar, and each bottle contains just 25 calories of pure protein, so you don't need to worry about it impacting your diet.

It's also easy to stash a little bottle in your bag when you're out, although it's recommended that you consume this at night. There's only about a mouthful or two of liquid in each serving, and the generic fruit flavor makes it easy to mix in your juices. I actually find it a tad too saccharine sweet, so if you're in the habit of making your own veggie or fruit juices, it might be a good idea to mix everything in.

The only catch is each box of 10 will not come cheap, and is priced at SGD52, so it's really up to your discretion whether you want to drink it daily or take 3-4 bottles a week as a boost to your regular diet.

7 Great Ruby Red Lipsticks

If you missed my post last week on Dayre, here is a recap of 7 great reds that I'm currently loving.

L'oreal Colour Riche in Bloody Mary

L'oreal Colour Riche in Bloody Mary

L'oreal Colour Riche is a great range for satin-textured, high-coverage lipsticks. And it seems the updated range is also packaged a little better (I haven't experienced any smooshing against the insides of the tube yet, as the older range frequently did). 

Bloody Mary is a very deep scarlet creme lipstick that is a true red. Not too brown, not too blue, not too orange. 

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm 250 Standout

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm 250 Standout

I'm a long-time fan of Revlon's Colorburst Matte Balm range, and one of the very first shades that I grabbed for when they launched was the deep red, 250 Standout. These aren't as intense as the Super Lustrous mattes but they sure do the best job of marrying matte intensity with hydrating comfort.

Revlon Super Lustrous Matte in Revlon Retro Red

Revlon Super Lustrous Matte in Revlon Retro Red

You can't mention drugstore mattes without mentioning Revlon Super Lustrous Matte lipsticks. And while the darling for the last few years is the classic Really Red, my personal fave is actually the newer shade, Retro Red.

This is a deeper blue-based red which is much more intense and creamy than Really Red, which is a waxier, thinner, older formula that actually doesn't build up very well. Retro Red is less brown-toned, opaque enough to stay truer on dark or brown-pigmented lips, and and will not look orange on darker skins.

Laneige Serum Intense Lipstick in R17 Red Flame

Laneige Serum Intense Lipstick in R17 Red Flame

Laneige is better known outside Asia for their skincare items, but if you ever get the chance to try out their Serum Intense lipstick range, make sure you check them out because they are the most gorgeously glossy and hydrating lipsticks. And the best thing is they don't go on all sheer. The color actually builds up to a good intensity.

MAC Russian Red

MAC Russian Red

No lover of deep matte reds can be unfamiliar with the queen of deep reds for long. Russian Red was created in the 90s by MAC founder Frank Toskan for the Material Girl herself. Madonna wore Russian Red throughout her Blonde Ambition tour and that helped kickstart MAC's journey from a little-known artists' brand into the mega-brand it is today.

This is one of those deep reds that never looks garish and bright. It's just a touch darker than crimson, and there's a certain regal beauty to it. Whether you have dark skin, dark hair, red hair, or are as platinum as Mads herself, this is a shade that will probably look good on you.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture 55 Rouge Anonyme

YSL Rouge Pur Couture 55 Rouge Anonyme

On the slightly lighter and brighter side of things, there's Yves Saint Laurent's Rouge Pur Couture No 55 Rouge Anonyme. This shimmery red has both warm AND cool undertones, so it manages to be vibrant and neutral at the same time.

It's not as opaque as many Rouge Pur Coutures but it is a great, creamy, easy-to-wear shade for those who don't like things too deep and serious.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Charlotte

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Charlotte

One of my absolute favorites this year has been NARS' Audacious Lipstick in Charlotte. Actually there are LOTS of shades I love in the Audacious range. But for Fall/Winter, Charlotte is it.

This dark cherry-oxblood shade is so chic. And when reds go deep, they actually work like neutrals and go with most hair and skin colors. I love wearing these with soft shimmery taupes and soft greys on the lids.

Tom Ford Lips & Boys in Leonardo

Tom Ford Lips & Boys in Leonardo

The last shade I've been loving recently is Tom Ford's Lips and Boys lipstick in Leonardo, which is a re-release of Smoked Red, a subtly shimmery deep cherry red. It's not as intense or opaque as Nars Charlotte but it's a gorgeous cool-toned red that looks very sultry and makes the teeth look white.