Nude Lip Favorites

Today I thought I would share some of my favorite options for nude lips. I am including a couple of different formulas and price points, so hopefully everyone can find something that works for them. Some of my personal preferences for a nude lip are colors that do not wash me out and also having a formula that I like. Please note that these are colors that work for my complexion - your nude may be entirely different from mine.

Starting with the glossy formulas, the YSL Glossy Stain is a formula that I absolutely love. I reviewed the formula more here, but I really enjoy that the gloss stays shiny, even though it is a drier finish. I have several of the colors, but my absolute nude favorite is 106 Beige Anarchist.

I picked up a L'Oreal Infallible Mega Gloss Cream in shade 103 Protest Queen at Boots when I was in the UK for vacation a couple months ago.  I really like that it does not settle into lip lines, as many lighter shade cream glosses are prone to do so. The gloss has nice lasting power and a great sheen. I really wish this formula was available in the US.

NYX Butter Glosses are some of my favorites. Tiramisu I feel that the formula is a good quality and very moisturizing. I have a bunch of these glosses and really love the color selection. to me, these are the best glosses for a budget price. My favorite pinky-nude gloss from Nyx is in the color Tiramisu.  

Swatches outdoors in direct sunlight (L-R: YSL, L'Oreal, Nyx):



Indoors:

Onto the lipsticks/balms, The YSL Rouge Volupte Shines are a fun swipe and go lip formula. They are not super long lasting (usually around 2 hours), but they do feel hydrating when they are on the lips. I have quite a few of the colors but shade 09 Nude in Private is my favorite. It is such a pretty and easy shade. It blends seamlessly with my lip tone and is a color that I usually have in my purse. 

I jumped when Charlotte Tilbury launched her Hot Lips Collection a couple months ago. Very Victoria is the nude shade that I picked up. Even though it technically was a re-promote and not a new launch, I really love the color and was not sure how some of the other colors would look on me. I love the formula (reviewed here) and the taupe color is very flattering. 

Tarte Park Avenue Princess is one of their Amazonian Butter lipsticks. It is a paler shade for me and probably the lightest color I can wear before it starts to wash me out. I also like the minty scent (something to keep in mind if you are not a mint person). 

Swatches outdoors in direct sunlight (L-R: YSL, Charlotte Tilbury, Tarte):



Indoors:



What are some of your favorite nude lip colors and formulas?

Rose Gold Loves

Today I thought I would share some of my rose gold favorites. Rose gold is such a nice color that, to me, goes with everything. I find that it is flattering on most skin tones and I tend to wear a lot more rose gold in the summer, as I love how it looks when I have a bit of a tan. I picked an eyeshadow palette, single powder eyeshadow, highlighter, lip gloss, single cream eyeshadow, and a nail polish to give some variety.

Below (clockwise from top): Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Rose Gold, Nars Lip Gloss in Orgasm, and L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Amber Rush.



Tons of people seem to be in love with Becca's highlighting products. I got the Rose Gold shade in a sampler set and I was so excited to try it out. I do like it, but I find that it is not something I can wear to work. I feel like it gives a more extreme highlight and has a lot of shimmer. While the effect is very beautiful, I tend to be more conservative at work and stick to my Hourglass Ambient Lighting powders for highlighters during the day. That said, this is a beautiful color and the finish is very nice. The powder is easy to blend and it layers nicely with other products.

What can I say that hasn't been said about Nars and the Orgasm color in general? Just buy it, if you haven't already. The gloss is a great quality, not sticky, has decent staying power (around 3 hours), and the color is so flattering. If you have the blush and love it, get the gloss. Trust me, you will love it too.

The L'Oreal Infallible eye shadow was a total impulse buy one day in Target. It is such a pretty color and staying power is impressive. It lasts all day on me without creasing. The powder is a little chunky, but it blends well and I find that if I apply it by itself with my fingers there is less fallout.

Below is the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Color in Rose Gold:



I have the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in 4 or 5 colors, but the Rose Gold is the one I reach for most often. I find that it is a great base color, makes powders layered over it last forever, and it also is very pretty on its own with just liner and mascara. This is definitely one of my top used products overall and I truly love it.

Swatches of the above products in direct sunlight:



The Urban Decay Naked 3 palette:



The Urban Decay Naked 3 palette is another high use item for me. I always travel with it and love that the shades look so great on their own or blended. Limit is great base colors. I love Nooner as a crease color if using lighter shades on the lid and it is also great on its own with a bit of liner
. Dust and Burnout I use as highlight colors. Trick is such a unique shade to me. It is a color chameleon and changes greatly in different lighting. It can look more rose, gold or orange/peach depending on the light. Swatches below are the shades Dust through Nooner of the Urban Decay 3 palette:



I hope you have enjoyed my picks. What are some of your rose gold favorites?

Besame Cosmetics Lipstick Matches - American Beauty

I bought the Besame Cosmetics Classic Color Lipstick Matches on a whim during the Sephora Rouge sale. The packaging is just like the name describes, an old matchbook. It definitely has an old Hollywood vibe (or a modern vintage, like Dita Von Teese). I purchased the color American Beauty, which is described as a cool berry red.




In order to use the product, you have to fold along the perforated edge and then tear off an individual stick, much like a regular matchbook. The compact size and style of the package makes it perfect for putting in a clutch for a night out.




The color payoff was surprising. According to Besame, each stick is one application. I think that is fairly accurate, as I used one match to swatch on my arm and test on the lips. I have to say that I was very surprised by the color payoff and the lack of any drying feel, even though the shade is definitely a matte when put on the lips (I did notice that it swatched a bit more creamy on the arms). The match was fairly easy to apply, but I do recommend prepping the lips first to ensure even application. It works wonderfully as a stain as well. The lipstick lasted a few hours for me and left a very nice berry stain after that I applied gloss over.

I pulled a few different shades in my collection to see how the Besame compared. The color looks much darker in the matchbook and on the stick than it does swatched on the lips or arm. See swatches below.

Outdoors in full sunlight:



Outdoors in shade:



Swatches from top: Besame Cosmetics American Beauty, Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella, Marc Jacobs Lip Creme in So Rouge Le Marc, L'Oreal Colour Riche in British Red, and Nars lipstick in Gipsy.

Overall, I think this was a really fun purchase and I love the vintage vibe of the line as a whole. I am interested in trying some of the full size lipsticks and do wish that they would expand the matchstick line to include a few of their other lipstick colors. Currently, they only have the matchsticks for their reds, but I would love this in some of the pink shades.

Besame Cosmetics Classic Color Lipstick Matches currently retail for $6 and are available in 6 shades. I found mine at Sephora and they are also available on Besame's website. Have you tried anything from Besame before? What is your favorite red lip?

Follow my blog with Bloglovin