This is kind of cheating, because this little collection is a lot longer in development, but that being said it did come together pretty quickly.
Yes, I’m terrible; but they’re in there because I love them; and I must love them for a reason, right? Collecting in the bottom of my handbag over the past while, there’s definitely a theme happening. Mauve-y neutrals and rusty reds, and a variety of finishes and applications to suit your every mood.
My take on a neutral lip is less sickly skintones of 5 years ago, and more “my lips but better”. Sometimes I like to move a bit beyond “barely there” and more of a colour that will just tie everything together. I call them New Generation Neutrals. Patent pending.
Fresh sugar lip treatment in Berry has been a handbag staple since I picked it up in the States, delivering a gentle berry-stained wash and equally excellent nournishment. Similarly, Lancome’s L’Absolu Nu is a bare-lip sensation formula, this one’s a cool pink with a soft shimmer that just pulls a look together without taking anything from it. Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Roomiest Rose is about as pink as it gets with me day-to-day; it’s a classic, balmy tea-rose that never lets me down.
Stepping it up slightly, Benefit’s Fling Thing is one of my many mauvey-neutrals, along with MAC’s Plumful. The former gives light, moisturising coverage while the later, being an Amplified formula, packs more pigment but still maintains its chic, there-but-barely-there mystique. I wasn’t sure about the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvets until having seen Sinead of Viva Adonis include Nude-ist in a nude lip edit, I was converted. It’s a beautiful addition to any handbag; because it’s not going anywhere fast and the pink-toned nude shade doesn’t have anything on the anemic nudes I so infamously hate.
It’s at this point I will use my transition from every-day-neutrals to Emergency Reds to talk about my new obsession and Handbag Holy Grail. When Maybelline launched their Colour Drama lip crayons, there was a general consensus “Oh, a highstreet version of Nars”, but don’t be so flippant – these beauties hold their own! With a creamy, colour-ific formula way beyond their €8 asking price, Minimalist is my new favourite pink-mauve nude, with a satin-matt finish that just screams “Oh, I just threw whatever on (and yet look fabulous)” and Red Essential, a red that was genuine love at first swatch with it’s cool, dark tones that somehow manage to make a strong red very day-time appropriate. Let it be known – I will be buying every last one of these.
Then, it would be me if there weren’t a good number of reds. Brick-o-la from MAC is just what you’d expect; a soft, bricky-red for those who love the look of a red lip, but want to tone down during the day. Nars Satin Lip Pencil (I’m not a real fan of mat reds, I know, I’m an enigma) in Hyde Park is a rich cardinal red that has a subtle burgundy hue. And for when nothing but a bold, bright red will do – YSL to the rescue with a glossy stain, this is Red Flash; a more fitting name there could not be.
The Fresh Sugar balm and the two Maybelline pencils have already gone back in my bag. Tune in next time to see which products join them.
