To Nude or Not to Nude?

Nude lips is a classic yet trendy beauty statement of our time. The barely-there lip color is just gorgeous on anyone and everyone. The thought of it may appear non-complex, but there is actually an art to pull it off (beautyblitz.com). One has to keep in mind that in order to look good wearing nude lipstick, think FUSE - right Formula, right Undertones, and wear it with Strong Eyes. 

Right formula means nude lipstick should never be matte or opaque (Nick Barose, beautyblitz.com). Nude lipsticks need to be sheer with slight sheen. Right undertones means one should consider own skin tones and undertones of lipsticks. The key is to make sure the color is not lighter than your skin tone. For fair skin, opt for pink or cool undertones; If you are tan or have darker skin, go for one with orange or warmer undertones. To pull off the whole look, it is a must to have strong eyes! Alway pair your nude lip with smokey eyes or a bold cat-eye.

Here are some of my favorite Nude lippies. I am medium skin-toned so you would see that most of my nude lipsticks have orangey, peachy undertone or pinks with warmer undertones.

First off is my inspiration of this blog - Rimmel's Moisture Renew Lipstick in shade To Nude or Not to Nude. This lipstick is glossy, rich and balmy at the same time. Color is frosty rosy nude with brown undertone. It gives a sheer to medium coverage. Although, I feel like the sheen is too much for me, it actually looks nice. My problem with this lipstick is that it is not camera-friendly. My lips appears silvery on the camera, which I believe is because of the frost, but in person, it really looks nice. Also, like other glossy lipsticks, this does not stay long on the lips.

Milani lipstick in Shade #27 Dulce Caramelo is the exact color of my lips. Shade is a mauve nude color with gold shimmers, which give a  pearly finish. Coverage is sheer to medium. It is creamy and lightweight. Moreover, it is infused with Vitamins A, C and E, which is always a plus. Love it!

Up next is a make-up bag staple of mine - Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Liar. This is a pinky-brown nude color - warm, rosy, medium brown with a creamy and luminous finish. The creamy formulation can give from sheer to full coverage.  Color just glide on smoothly and evenly on lips and is buildable. I just love, love, love this lippy!

One of my all time favorite nude lipstick is from MAC in shade Jubilee. It is described as a pinky-nude lipstick, however, it appears peachy-nude on my lips. It has a lustre finish, just enough shine to make your lips look healthy. Jubilee is always my go-to lipstick when I cannot decide which one to wear. It works with a smokey eye or even neutral eyes. 

You guys know how much I love my YSL lipsticks, and this is of no exemption. YSL Rouge Volupte Shade #3 Ultimate Beige is just gorgeous! This color - mauve -taupe, would look beautiful on women of color, especially with medium tones. I absolutely love it! This has easily become a holy grail for me. It is creamy, pigmented, long lasting, moisturizing and packaging is to die for, hehehe! It gives a satin finish with sheer to full coverage. The only downside  to this is its price, but I would gladly do an overtime just for this, nyahahaha!

Another love of my life... Benefit Hydra-Smooth Lip Color in Nice n' Teasy. This is rosy nude lipstick with sheer finish. This is a perfect my-lips-but-better lipstick. Formula is creamy with some gloss to it and is super hydrating. What more can I say... I love it!

Ladies, meet my baby (hehehe!) ... Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait. One word: Perfection!!! I do not leave the house without this. I am terrified that it will ever be discontinued... Please no! I have repurchased this 3x already. This is a warm-toned peach pink color. Color is flattering. It gives a sheer to medium coverage. It may not be long lasting, but, I don't really care, haha! This is one of those lipsticks that you do not need a mirror to reapply. This will forever be my favorite! hehe!

So, what is your favorite nude lipstick? Let me know so I could try them too... Till next blog lovelies!

Stay beautiful!

I "Pink" I'm in Love

Spring time is coming! And I have been craving for colors that spring time can offer. What better way to start this season with the colors of universal love, tenderness and compassion--- Pink!

In color psychology, pink means unconditional love and nurturing. Pink, which is a combination of red and white, contains the need for action of red, helping it to achieve the potential success and insight offered by white. It is the passion and power of red softened with the purity, openness and completeness of white (www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com). Moreover, it gives the femininity feel, inspires romanticism, exudes intimacy and sweetness,  and has been a sign of hope. No wonder, this color has been a favorite of the many, not only for the ladies but also for the gents.

Speaking of favorites and pinks incorporated with the lipstick addict in me, I gathered my top seven pink lipsticks in my collection. So without further ado, here are the zeniths of my pink lippies.

First off, is Smashbox - Be Legendary Lipstick in  Posy Pink. This shade is a warm toned light pink making it flattering to ladies with warmer skin tone. It comes off like a peachy rose or pinkish nude lipstick but more on pink shade. This lipstick is on a pricey side but I tell you, it is all worth it! I love the formulation of this lipstick. It is creamy and highly pigmented. Its quality formulation includes Vitamin C and E. This glides on nicely on the lips leaving a smooth, sheen finish and is fairly long lasting as well. This is the perfect light pink shade that would compliment medium skin toned. So fab!

Up next is definitely the most expensive lipstick I have ever owned. My hubby gave this to me as a gift during our tour to South Korea. And I have two words to describe this lipstick - Glam Overload! This is the pinnacle of all my lipsticks, the YSL Rouge Voluptes. The packaging of this lipstick is ultimate luxury - gold tube with YSL logo on the base, with glass background on logo letting you peek through the color of the lipstick itself and the perfect gold lid that clicks into place. The formulation of the lipstick is great! These lippies are creamy, really pigmented, very moisturizing, has gorgeous smell and on top of that, it gives protection through SPF 15. I am so in love with this lipstick, if not for their price, I might have own all the color, hehe! Oh well, I own two shades of this lipstick and of course, both made it to my top pink lipsticks.

I have the shade #7, the Lingerie Pink. This shade is a lovely bright bubble gum pastel pink with a subtle warm undertone to it. This gives a creamy glossy finish. I use this color mostly when I do smokey eyes. This color may work to medium skin tones, but I believe this will absolutely look gorgeous in lighter complexion. This color is just sexy!

Another YSL Rouge Voluptes lipstick I have is in shade #8, the Fetish Pink. This shade is a vibrant blue-based pink with cooler undertones. For me, this is the perfect barbie pink. I super love this color!!! Even with just this lipstick on, you will look polished and seemed like you have spent hours in your vanity, hehe! Like all the YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick, this has a rich and creamy consistency that applies evenly and smoothly. So adorable!!!

Ofcourse, when it come to pinks, I just can't leave out MAC's Candy Yum-Yum. This shade is a neon blue-based pink with a matte finish. This color is definitely as show-stopper. This lipstick is creamy and applies opaquely. This is the longest lasting lipstick in my collection. It does stain your lips. What's amazing is that its formulation is not drying at all, as expected in matte lipsticks. This may not be wearable as an everyday lipstick, but one can definitely pull it off wearing it on spring season. Love! Love! Love!

Up next is a lipstick that has a packaging to die for. It is the Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips Lipstick of Etude House. Etude House is South Korean cosmetic brand owned by Amore Pacific that is the most famous beauty house in Asia. The Etoinette Crystal Shine Lips lipsticks are smooth with subtle shimmer encased in light pink tubes with princess-y gold detailing on both base and lid. The lipstick itself has an embossed Etude House logo. Very pretty!!! Formulation of this lipstick is good. It is moisturizing and gives a pearlized finish. It also has a subtle floral scent to it. First application may not give you the color coverage you want but it is definitely buildable. Due to its slick texture, staying power is not that great, but then, I do not mind re-applying this lipstick in public (yes! in public) due to its adorable packing, hehehe! I have four shades of this lipstick. The shade PPK003, which is a light rose pink, is my favorite. It is almost the same as the Smashbox's Posy Pink, but this one has more shimmer to it.

I recently discovered Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick and has quickly become a favorite of mine. Not only were they affordable, but their quality is comparable to Revlon's Lip Butter and Urban Decay's Revolution Lipstick. I went crazy over these lipsticks and bought all the colors I can see in the shelf in Walmart, hihihi! Rimmel Moisture Renew lipsticks are very pigmented and highly moisturizing. It is formulated to reduce lip dryness with vitamins A, C and E. It is very creamy, colors are vibrant and is simply beautiful. It comes in a purple colored  squared tube with its logo is engraved at the lid.

The shade that is worth mentioning is Rimmel's Back to Fuchsia. Hands down, the most gorgeous shade of pink that everyone can wear, everyday, all-season! I'm in love!

Pink Chic is another shade I love. This color is blue-based light pink. Even with its cool undertone, it still looks good on warmer complexion. There is something in this color that exudes playfulness. And I like how this color makes me feel happy even by just looking at it, hehe! Believe me, I  am attached to this color. This, for me, is a perfect spring lipstick!

Ok lovelies, this is pink overload! heheh! I hope you had a great time reading my blog. Tell me what you think. What is your favorite pink lipstick? :) 

Think pink and stay beautiful!