Corals and peaches and pinks, oh my! And let’s add some violets and berries in there, too, while we’re at it, shall we? It’s more than time to trade the deep hues of winter for something bright and springlike. (Sorry about this much-delayed Lipstick Monday, but better late than never.)
Although I’m a red lipstick lovin’ girl through and through, I’m grooving on some of the pinkish-lavender-violet beauties around this season, but there are lots of other cheery choices, too, for those of you who like the orange/brown/neutral end of the spectrum.
Right now I am torn between Nars lipstick in Funny Face and their Audacious lipstick in Janet. Confession time: I already caved and splurged on Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in La Romanesque (photo at right), a great matte violet-pink shade. I was actually scoping it out for a Posse pal who wanted to try it, and then wound up falling for it myself. It doesn’t look quite as deep on me as it does on the model in the ad, but pulls slightly lighter and more pink on my lips.
On one of my visits to Nordstrom as part of my Lipstick Monday homework, I tried on and wanted to love Nars Angela (a snappy violet hot pink), but it was just too much, too bright for me, like I had neon lips — although two SAs raved about it on me. But if you don’t feel comfortable in a color, what’s the point in spending $$ on it, right?
While at Nordies, I had a peek at the Clinique Pop lip color (pretty intense color payoff and sleek new packaging); also their Chubby Sticks Intense. Plushest Punch and Heftiest Hibiscus caught my eye, as did Mightiest Maraschino as the standout brights in the Intense line. I have the original Chubby Stick in Super Strawberry and I wear it by itself and as a base sometimes, but I really do like having a bit more color on my kisser and these new Chubby Sticks deliver but still keep the moist feel.
As I passed another makeup counter I saw an SA happily applying something that looked so oversize and fun that I nearly did a double-take. So I scooted over to investigate. Soon enough I found that playing with Bobbi Brown’s Art Sticks brought out my inner child; it was all I could do not to grab two or three of the big, chunky crayon-like 
sticks and start coloring away on any paper within reach. BTW, for you ladies who like some citrus-bright pop in your lip shades, I thought Sunset Orange and Hot Orange looked pretty sharp.
On a swing through Walgreen’s later in the week, I spied an easier-on-the-budget crayon-pencil experience: Revlon Colorburst pencils offer not one but three formulas: balm stain, matte balm and lacquer balm. Out ofsheer curiosity, I was tempted to buy several untried just to get an idea of what a lacquer balm and a matte balm might feel like. No testers, alas, but some fun hues on the shelf from what I saw (see left).
And several of the CoverGirl Colorlicious lipstick shades I passed looked promising as well.
So pucker up and share on this Lipstick Monday: What are your go-to shades for spring? Or what goodies are you eyeing for your lips? Remember, next Sunday is Mother’s Day here in the U.S., so why not treat yourself? You deserve it!!
I was on a quest for the perfect red and I’ve ended up with some other colors along the way. Funny how that happens. I love Dior Fluide Stick and got two, Rieuse and Vertigo. I really like the Maybelline Lip Elixirs too and have a few of those. As far as pencils I like the ones by Tarte. The are the Lipsurgence ones and come in a variety of finishes like matte, sheer tints, and luster finish. I’ve got a bunch of those and like that they aren’t dry feeling. I’d love to find a matte red that doesn’t suck the life out of my lips but matte with moisture is a very hard to find combo. I don’t follow color rules either. If I like it that’s all that matters. As long as I’m comfortable with the color that’s what matters.
Howdy, Poodle! Great suggestions you’ve got there — must try some of them. The Chanel mattes aren’t too drying, somewhat better than some others I’ve tried, but guess it’s the nature of the beast and you really need to start out with well-hydrated lips to pull any of them off really well.
LIPSTICK!!!! Woohoo!!! I’ve been asked by a friend to take her lipstick shopping, lol. The struggle, I tell ya. My first rule is: it doesn’t matter how great the color is if you hate the formula, so we’re going to work on that. MAC lippies are my cheap splurge but often they’re too dry and I end up giving them to my (delighted) daughter. I tried the WetnWild MegaSlick Balm Stain chubbie — it was a dollar on sale! — and it’s my new favorite, I understand the kudos. It’s very emollient and I like the stain it leaves. Generally I don’t do stains/balms because (as I’ve said on here before) my lips are so deeply pigmented in a not-that-fabulous purple, unless I’m going to cover that up first, I need the lippie to be fairly opaque. I also call BS on skin-tone rules and “redheads can’t wear pink” or whatever. Your perfect lipstick shade is the one that makes you happy.
Hey, March! Sounds like a fun trip — can I come? 🙂 I know what you mean about the MAC lipsticks being a bit drying so I tend to steer clear of them. Thanks for the fun budget suggestion, and I second you on the lipstick rules: Wear what you like and be happy!
I’m another one like Lynne Marie that has really dry, sensitive lips. I tend to prefer gloss over lipsticks. My favorite moisturizing gloss that doesn’t make them feel too sticky or exacerbate peeling is Marvelous Moxie in Rebel, which is a My Lips But Better mauvey pink.
Howdy, Dina! Glad you found something that works for you; and I like the sound of mauvey pink. 🙂 I’m not familiar with that brand though; where can you find it? Thanks!
It’s at Sephora. I believe it’s made by Bare Minerals folks?
Great — thanks! Will look for it next time.
I wear Fresh tinted lip balm in Sugar Rose, or if I want more color in Peony. I can’t stand lipstick, or mascara. They both make me feel claustrophobic. I also have some sort of big fat lip crayon from Cover Girl that’s nice and greasy for my poor dry lips, when I really feel like goin’ to town.
Oooh, yes — I like the Fresh balm, too. I only have one but it’s nice. Love your “big fat” lip crayon — sounds fun!
I wear MAC Ladybug when I have ballroom competitions and that is actually the only lipstick I own. Much more of a fan of eye makeup.
If any of my fairy godchildren from last month are reading, so many apologies for taking so long, my last final exam is tomorrow afternoon, and I’ll be sending things out the day after!
Too funny, Connie — I was just swatch-testing on my hand at MAC the other day, swiped Ladybug on and thought it was so pretty. Just didn’t get a chance to try it on the lips, unfortunately. And how cool that you compete in ballroom dance! BTW, good luck on the exam!
Thank you! I love ballroom and am mercifully done with my final! Let summer begin!
Ann,
In my mid-fifties, I’m still looking for lipstick that feels good on my lips. My lips are sensitive and dry so, so easily. So far, the closest I’ve come to wear-ability is Maybelline’s The Elixir Color Sensational. Nice color, not too glossy and I can wear for short periods. I would love to find a lipstick that doesn’t feel like “goop” or armor on my lips and also doesn’t suck all the moisture out of them. Any suggestions, lovely Posse’ers?
If you don’t think $37 is too much to shell out, the Guerlain Rouge Automatiques feel great on, and are unscented–for some reason, prefer them to the Kiss Kiss collection.
Seconding Caroline on the Guerlain, also the the regular Chanel Rouge Allures feel pretty good on. Actually from what I could tell, you might like the Chubby Stick Intense; didn’t seem too goopy and decent color. Worth a try at least. What seems to help my poor old lips the most is slathering them with Kiehl’s lip balm before bedtime, but I’ve heard good things about Fresh Sugar’s lip treatment, too.
And the new Chanel Rouge Cocos are supposed to be a dream on, but I’ve yet to try one.
Lynn-Marie, I do not usually wear much lipstick, but I find Laura Mercier Stickgloss Lip Color to be incredibly smooth and comfortable. Okay, it is sheer like a gloss, but NOT sticky and it doesn’t smell weird, which is a problem I have with most glosses. I wear it in Brown Sugar, which is not too brown, but more of a “my lips but better” color–brownish pink. Good luck with the search!
Have you tried any of the chubbie balms/stains? I always thought they were dumb and childish, for people younger than me who don’t want “real” lipstick. But many of them apply like a dream, they often leave a nice stain, the pencil gives more precision than a regular balm tube, they’re easy to stash in a purse, and they’re not sticky like a gloss (sticky is my nemesis). I will say some of them seem more emollient and some of them seem drying even though they’re called “balm” Going to Sephora or Nordstrom to sample wouldn’t be a bad idea. Some of them are much more sheer than others, a swipe on the hand ought to help you out there. It’s impossible for me to tell just looking at the color. Cheers!
Chanel Rouge Allure or Chanel Rouge Coco are both formulas which do seem to keep my lips hydrated ( in addition I use EA Eight Hour cream on my lips at least once a day because I have generally dry, senitive skin and lips). I find the Chanel lipsticks easy to use and with better staying power than similar products from Clarins. Unlike most of my friends I feel much more at ease with a visible lipstick than with mascara, so I am willing to pay for the high-end brands of lipstick if I find a good, versatile colour.
Hi, Ingeborg! Glad to see another Chanel lippie here. They can get a bit pricey but I’ve always been pleased with their colors, feel and staying power. I haven’t worn mascara in years — A) not much in the way of eyelashes anymore to put it on, and B) I’m afraid I’d poke my eye out with the wand, ha!
Ooops — that should have been “Glad to see another Chanel lippie fan here.”
Like your game spirit, Ann! I’m too attached to my rosy berries to branch out to other color families, esp anything in the red-orange warm tones! Following March & Patty’s success, I did some research & found a color in the TF Shine collection I’d like to try, appropriately named Lust. Off to check out La Romanesque…
Hiya, Caroline! I love looking at lipstick shades — even the ones I could never wear! I need to check out that TF line, too; just ran out of time and couldn’t get over to Neiman’s to take a peek. I’m a sucker for the Chanel mattes; even if you don’t care for La Romanesque, there are some other lovelies (I wear the darker, plummier La Sensuelle in the fall and winter).