Dear Chanel Rouge Hydrabase Creme Lipstick in “Energy”,
Listen, I know it’s been a long time since you’ve heard from me. Ever since you discontinued yourself and ruined our relationship I haven’t really had the emotional strength to try to be friends again. We were so good together, but you decided good wasn’t good enough and left me. Well, Energy, fine. I don’t need you. Sure we had some laughs, but I’m with someone else now. Someone who understands me. Someone who doesn’t set me back thirty bucks and STILL melts off whenever I even look at a wine glass. Don’t think I forgot about that, OR the time you melted in my car and messed up the dove gray kid leather and cost me $200 to have cleaned, and you know what tools the guys at the Volvo place are. Anyway, Energy, I’m happy now and I hope you are too (p.s., I secretly don’t).
Do Not Love,
Miss Plumcake
So. The perfect neutral lip. It’s like a unicorn, right? Except if you give me a goat and a hacksaw I can make a unicorn.
As I’ve said, I don’t wear a ton of makeup because I am a natural beauty (and by “natural beauty” I think we all know I mean “have three aestheticians on speed dial”) but since I’m quite fair and my lips take up a lot of room on my face, I find I really need a little pop of something on them. However, it can’t be anything too dark unless I’m doing a statement lip, because well…I’ve got a lot of mouth.
Enter the Sally Hansen Lip Inflation Extreme in Sheer Cherry.
Now first, it will not inflate your lips, extremely or otherwise. It might puff up extremely thin lips, or if you’ve got fine lines around your lip line, but I didn’t notice anything but a mild tingle on mine.
It looks very pink in the tube, almost coral, but goes on beautifully sheer and smells faintly like spicy bubble gum. There’s still good color payoff, but it’s very much a gloss and not a lipstick in gloss form.
Recently I’ve been wearing it plain for day and over L’Oreal’s HiP Color Rich Crayon in either Attentive or Meticulous for evening or dressier occassions:
Okay y’all, these things might be even a better find than the lip color. Because these crayons? Do Not Budge. I believe they’re technically eyeliners, so caveat emptor and whatnot on using them on your lips. Last night I wore Attentive with the Sheer Cherry and although the gloss was smooched off, the crayon stayed put through some light but fairly dedicated necking.
Again, it goes on fairly sheer, so don’t expect a Goldfinger look.
The only thing I don’t like about these crayons is they don’t blend easily, which I guess is the trade off you make when you get something that doesn’t budge. When I tried to do a light variation of a shimmering smokey eye, blending Authentic –a sort of sfumato pine green– into Meticulous, it was pretty difficult.
I had decent luck with some aggressive blending using a MAC 217 –which is THE blending brush, none other can compare– but if you’re not a dab hand in the cosmetic arts, I’d stick to these as either all over color or just eyeliner.
That being said, if I had to pack a “face in a bag” for a long weekend somewhere, I could happily make do with Attentive on the eyes and lips, plus Sheer Cherry on the lips and cheeks and look perfectly polished all weekend.
Do you have a Holy Grail beauty product I should know about?
If so, tell me here!
my perfect neutral is CoverGirl Outlast in “Naturalast” #545. I’m as pale as a lab rabbit and if I don’t wear something on my lips, people frequently ask after my health.
This lasts most of the day – which was important when I was a fundraiser and had to work long social events without access to a mirror.
Comment by Thea — June 1, 2010 @ 3:13 pm
I’m on the lookout for a good tinted moisturizer for a relatively pale gal like myself. I swore off them years ago when I had a bad experience with excessive sweat and tint dripping into my eyes (oooouch!) but it’s time to go back. Thoughts?
Comment by Victoria — June 1, 2010 @ 3:26 pm
Clinique’s Black Honey Almost Lipstick. It doesn’t have all-day staying power, but it looks good on almost everybody.
Comment by Jezebella — June 1, 2010 @ 3:29 pm
@Victoria. I really like Rimmel’s Fix and Perfect foundation primer. It’s juuuuuust slightly tinted, but it just sets the skin beautifully, so there’s something there, but not like, Hello I’m Wearing Foundation. Also, since it’s a primer, it won’t budge. As for a true tinted moisturizer? I think I had good luck with Olay once upon a time, but don’t hold me to it.
@Jezebella: You’re about the millionth person who has recommended Black Honey to me. I’ll have to check it out. That being said, I’m trying to personally bankrupt Clinique so maybe they’ll stop making that godawful Aromatics Elixir. *Shudder*
Comment by Plumcake — June 1, 2010 @ 3:45 pm
I find most lipsticks end up turning color on me — a nice sensible dusty rose in the tube will be bubblegum on me in half an hour, and brownish or beige lipsticks go orange.
This might not happen so much with darker shades, but I am a pasty redhead and darker lips turn me into a goldfish in glasses — like our hostess, I have a lot of mouth.
So is there a good neutral for a pale person that will stay true to its color? I love the Black Honey color from the pics, but it looks way too dark for me, alas.
Comment by Mifty — June 1, 2010 @ 5:36 pm
@Mifty: you’ve got to test before you buy, or if you generally buy from the drug store, go to one that has a no questions asked makeup return policy. I believe Walgreens and CVS both do.
Comment by Plumcake — June 1, 2010 @ 5:41 pm
If you need to try out drugstore makeup, IE Covergirl, Revlon, Maybelline, etc. try and find an Ulta Store. I get crabby when I buy any type of makeup that doesn’t work for me (even the less expensive stuff) so that’s a great place to at least try out colors.
Comment by Amy — June 1, 2010 @ 5:50 pm
>smells faintly like spicy bubble gum
Dealbreaker x 1000. Damn it.
That liner, though. I’ve given up on my MUFE pencils and accepted that they travel and quickly, I lack the patience and dexterity for little pots of gel, and I’ve basically been sulking and boycotting eye makeup for several months now, looking out for a good fast liner in pencil form. Will try this out. I hear Stila has a newish one called Smudge that’s blendable at first and then sets fast, so you may want to check that out if you like to blend.
I’m a really big fan of
1. Revlon Super Lustrous lip gloss in “nude lustre” (wtf wtf wtf) — give this a chance to sink into your mouth, it’s incredibly glossy when you put it on but it settles into a sheeny perfection. A Holy Grail gloss for me. I also like this one more coral shade they have out just lately, but it’s not a grail shade.
2. Wet & Wild Natural Wear Lip Shimmer number 106 — this is a tinted lip balm. This shade is quite pink, but still looks like your lips, only pink. Much more color than your average tinted lip balm. In a good way.
Comment by Violet — June 1, 2010 @ 5:53 pm
Neutrogena Ultra Dry-Touch sunblock. The higher the SPF, the better.
That stuff does not come off regardless of how much my face sweats.
Comment by zuzu — June 1, 2010 @ 5:55 pm
I have two lipsticks that I love love love and that I get compliments on all the time: NARS Funny Face (bright bluish fuchsia) and NARS Jungle Red (bright orange red). These are extremely bright and extremely matte, so they are not for the faint of heart — but they make me look unique and super cool, in my (not so?) humble opinion.
Comment by Chiken — June 1, 2010 @ 6:52 pm
So your unicorn comment reminded me of this amazingness found on regretsy.com:
http://www.regretsy.com/2009/10/03/beating-a-dead-horse/
Comment by Miriam — June 1, 2010 @ 7:14 pm
Sally Hansen Hard As Nails base coat – my nails are never nekkid, and I’ve sworn by this stuff FOREVER. I can’t tell you how many times (except during race weekend – hee!) I get complimented on my nails and asked if they’re real.
Revlon’s ColorStay Ultimate Liquid Lipstick in Brilliant Bordeaux. Two quick coats in the morning and it’s there all day, just enough color to keep half of my deathly pale face from disappearing.
Avon’s Simply Delicate Soothing Anti-Chafing Gel. As a Big Girl with Big Thighs and the Big Girl’s unfortunate tendency to be rather heavily “dewy” in the summer, I’ve had some hideous rashes in the past. But this stuff is very light and one application will survive even the hottest, most active day (this past weekend and easily ten miles walked and an equal number of hours in hot, sweaty bleachers cinched it).
Comment by Whitney — June 1, 2010 @ 7:45 pm
@ Zuzu: Sing Hallelujah, sister. I bathed in the SPF 45 all weekend, and the only sunburn I got was gap between the back straps of my tank top and where my fingers actually reached (as opposed to where I *thought* they’d gone) – note to self, go back to hubby-applicator.
Comment by Whitney — June 1, 2010 @ 7:47 pm
I used my Shoppers’ Drug Mart points and went on a little Benefit binge a few weeks ago, and right now I’m a big fan of:
-Benefit’s Big Beautiful Eyes palette – great for everyday wear, and I can do a neutral look that pairs well with a bold lip or build a smokier eye. It’s become my go-to lazy morning eyeshadow.
-My Treat lipstick – the perfect pinky-coral for my pale olive skin. I think Benefit’s lipsticks will take the place of MAC Amplified Cremes in my makeup junkie heart. I had to cut out the Amplified Cremes when I cut gluten from my diet.
My go-to favourites are
-MAC – Ruby Woo and Russian Red lipstick – I have a lot of reds, but these are my favourites.
-Urban Decay – 24/7 eye liners – waterproof, and long-lasting. My only complaint is that sometimes they’re messy to sharpen, but pop them in the freezer for a bit before sharpening and they’re fine.
-Urban Decay – Eye Primer Potion – keeps eyeshadow from creasing and disappearing on my oily skin. Always in my makeup kit, especially once I started trying out loose mineral eyeshadows. The pore-minimizing primer is good too!
Comment by Abbey — June 1, 2010 @ 11:01 pm
Mifty, I too am a pasty redhead, and Black Honey works on me. It is a transparent lipstick (hence “Almost Lipstick”) but not sticky like a gloss, and longer lasting than gloss.
Comment by Jezebella — June 2, 2010 @ 12:16 am
Bobbi Brown eyeshadows — the non-shimmery ones — are my favorite. The texture is perfect and the colors are gorgeous (I go for a neutral eye and she makes fantastic neutrals). I also use her espresso shade as an eyeliner and it is wonderful. Doesn’t budge all day and I find it much easier to apply than a pencil, liquid, or gel.
Cle de Peau concealer for under-eye circles — it’s the only concealer that does a decent job of covering mine.
YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils mascara is the only mascara that makes my wimpy lashes look long and pretty and doesn’t get all clumpy on me.
Kiss My Face Olive My Body is a wonderful cuticle moisturizer. It has saved my nails.
Comment by Cat — June 2, 2010 @ 12:37 am
e.l.f. Super Glossy Lip Shine in Pink Kiss. Stays on a long time and is just enough color to notice. It’s only $1 and is SPF15. Pretty much all I need in a lippie. My other new holy grail makeup is their Mineral Eye Shadow Primer. Put it on in the morning and my eye color stays on all day.
Comment by Carol — June 2, 2010 @ 8:22 am
I’ve got the same issue with a “disappearing” mouth — I’m very fair-skinned, and without lipcolor, I look ill. Couldn’t live without BareEscentuals Buxom Big and Healthy lipgloss in “Brandi” (and bonus points for all of the colors having stripper names)! It’s a pretty sheer berry color. And when I want a little more oomph, I wear it over BE’s Quick Stick in “Fig.”
For the rest of the face, it’s Physician’s Fomula mineral pressed powder, and their eyepencil. And an eyelash curler!
Comment by Rubiatonta — June 2, 2010 @ 9:23 am
Nars Malibu multiple. It’s my perfect blush. Just mauvey-pinky-browny enough. Put a little on my forehead and chin and I look like I’ve spent the afternoon playing tennis (but not working up a sweat cuz I’m just that good). I’ve actually used up an entire one of these. And anyone who’s seen my rolling 6-drawer cart full of cosmetics knows that that does not happen every day, or every year for that matter.
Oh, and I used to be such a fan of Kiss Me mascara. I wouldn’t use anything else. I cried in the stuff, slept in it and swam in it; it didn’t budge unless I rubbed my eyes. Downside: $23 per tube. Then I heard about the L’oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes. Essentially it’s the same stuff, only it includes a primer and it costs less than half the Kiss Me. And if you’re eagle-eyed, you can find it on BOGO at the local CVS. Now they just need to make a few colors other than black. A pretty plum to highlight my hazel eyes would be nice.
@Whitney: Thanks for the tip on the Avon chafing gel. I’ve been using the stuff, but I find it’s not as long-lasting as I need it to be.
Comment by Orora — June 2, 2010 @ 9:46 am
D’oh! That should be “using the Monistat stuff”.
Comment by Orora — June 2, 2010 @ 9:48 am
@Orora, I can’t help you with colored mascaras –although I know Estee Lauder made an incredible one by all reports, I don’t know if they’re still making them– BUT I can suggest the L’Oreal HiP Color Rich Cream eyeliner in Eggplant, which is a lovely little plum and does. not. budge. It reminds me a lot of the MAC paint pots.
Comment by Plumcake — June 2, 2010 @ 12:10 pm
Millionth and one to say Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey. As has been said previously, it’s sheer but not invisible. I keep it in my purse constantly; goes pretty well with anything.
Clinique also makes my favorite mascara…. I want to say Lash Amazing? Some superlative. It’s one of the styles that goes on and forms a sort of tube so instead of flaking/rubbing off it comes off in one creepy lash shaped piece when you apply warm water. Stays on all day, doesn’t come off in the rain…
Also a fan of MAC StudioFix. Can look a bit cakey if worn over foundation (which can be nice for evening) but nice as a susbsitute for foundation and powder and gives nice sheer coverage once skin oils have soaked into a bit (what, too much information? eh).
Any makeup beyond these three is gravy for me. Mmmmmm…. gravy. Time for lunch.
Comment by Sara Darling — June 2, 2010 @ 3:13 pm
Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Stick in Brooklyn, which they call Harvest Fig and I call looks good on everyone, or everyone I’ve made try it on. This is magic stuff. Lipstick that moisturizes and stays on? Heaven. And works as a liner, with a clever little sharpener thing built in to the base. I have no idea about the plumping claims, don’t care. Just buy it, OK? It is made by Bare Escentuals but is exclusive to Sephora.
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P243804&categoryId=C22533#BVRRWidgetID
Comment by Abby — June 2, 2010 @ 5:33 pm
Million-and-seconding the Black Honey.
For colored mascaras – as a green-eyed blonde I love Benefit’s Bad Gal Plum. I only wish they made a waterproof version.
Comment by BSAG — June 2, 2010 @ 6:58 pm
Smashbox LipTech in Perfect Pout – favorite neutral lipstick.
True Confession – there’s a Bonnebell Dr. Pepper LipSmacker in the pocket of my barn jacket – protective and moisturizing with good color and sheen, really does taste like Dr. Pepper which I could do without. It just looks so much better on than Carmex and works about the same.
Comment by Susan — June 2, 2010 @ 8:18 pm
I also love Benefit’s Bad Gal Lash. Oh, and Nars lipstick in Dolce Vita. And “Medieval” lipcolor by Lipstick Queen (it’s a very sheer red). I just recently bought Smashbox’s Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder. Love! I put it on over their primer, and I don’t look “made up,” but it makes my skin look great.
Comment by Leigh Ann — June 2, 2010 @ 11:41 pm
I am not a fan of the Black Honey. It came off a weird reddish raisin color on me. I have fair skin with warm tones, blue eyes and blond hair. Made my teeth look less than white also. So I gave it to my brown eyed brunette friend and it works on her.
I am THRILLED that Nivea brought back their lip balm – I love the one with the light blue cover. It was off the market for what had to be 6-7+ years.
Comment by Jewels — June 2, 2010 @ 11:44 pm
Abby, I went to Sephora yesterday specifically to get the Brooklyn lip color. I got the last one they had, and you are correct — it looks good on me! I also bought the Amsterdam shade, which Sephora says is a “deep raspberry,” but I find it to be more of a perfect neutral shade. These are some really long-lasting colors, too. I applied the Brooklyn this morning and never had to reapply at all during the day. Thanks for the tip!
Comment by Cat — June 5, 2010 @ 10:53 pm