Great Reds: NARS Viridiana

Next up in the series is another NARS red lipstick, this time Viridiana! As I said in yesterday's post regarding Jungle Red, Viridiana retails for $24, is a semi-matte formula, and comes with .12 ounces of product. It has a vaguely herbal scent, but it's very subtle. It feels very light and natural on the lips, and is very pigmented. The formula just hugs the lips, in a way that is hard to describe; once it's on I don't feel it, it doesn't seem to smudge off every chance it gets, and it applies beautifully. Because of the texture, I don't have to worry about it getting patchy or creasing, and it is easy to keep it in the lip lines even when applying straight from the tube. I find NARS lipsticks stay on for about 4-5 hours on me if I don't eat or drink, and wear off pretty evenly, leaving a bit of a stain on lips. I also find this formula very easy to apply precisely, and they don't tend to smudge out of the lip line like some other formulas do. This is a very sophisticated shade that, against my better judgement, I am going to call "Oranged Berry." Sounds contradictory, right? I know, but this is an unusual and subtle shade, and I'm afraid that the photos don't do it justice. If you have been looking for a grown-up red that isn't bright and flashy, but still reads "red", this may be just the ticket. This is a red my mother would wear to run errands, and I mean that in the nicest possible way; it's safe and classic, rather than retro and sexy, truly the type of  shade every red lipstick lover needs to have in her arsenal!

NARS' Rubberized Lipstick Tube- I've had this one for awhile, it's showing its age! 

Viridiana, by NARS

NARS' Viridiana

A swatch of NARS' Viridiana 

Viridiana on my lips, no flash

NARS' Viridiana, no flash

NARS Viridiana, flash!

And NARS Viridiana, flash!

Rating: 9 out of 10


Like I've said before, NARS lipsticks are some of my favorites. I don't feel the need to go over why again; suffice it to say that this is my HG lipstick formula, and I have yet to be let down by a NARS shade, they have been flattering and nuanced in my experience. Once again, it could be that I've just found a line that is particularly flattering to my coloring, but I like to think that others will have the same experience with NARS! 

Great Reds: NARS Jungle Red

Hello!

If you have been following this blog for any length of time, you may have caught onto the fact that I'm a big fan of red lipsticks. After years of thinking I couldn't wear red lipstick for various reasons (I'm too pale, my lips are too big, etc...), I finally got over it and realized wearing red lipstick is more about having the confidence to pull it off than any specific coloring or lip type. Apparently researchers at Manchester found that red lips hold a man's gaze longer than other colored lips, and increase perceived attractiveness. I don't know if this is the case across the board, but I definitely feel like people in general notice when I wear red lipstick. So, because I want everyone to find a red lipstick they love, I've decided to do a series on red lipstick!

I'm starting this with NARS' lipstick in Jungle Red. It retails for $24, is a semi-matte formula, and comes with .12 ounces of product. It has a vaguely herbal scent, but it's very subtle. It feels very light and natural on the lips, and is very pigmented. The formula just hugs the lips, in a way that is hard to describe; once it's on I don't feel it, it doesn't seem to smudge off every chance it gets, and it applies beautifully. Because of the texture, I don't have to worry about it getting patchy or creasing, and it is easy to keep it in the lip lines even when applying straight from the tube. I find NARS lipsticks stay on for about 4-5 hours on me if I don't eat or drink, and wear off pretty evenly, leaving a bit of a stain on lips.

Classic NARS black rubberized lipstick case

"JUNGLE RED"

Here is the bullet; Jungle Red!

And a swatch of Jungle Red

NARS Jungle Red on my lips, no flash

NARS Jungle Red, no flash

NARS Jungle Red lipstick, flash

NARS Jungle Red, flash

Rating: 9 out of 10

As you may or may not have already gathered, I am a huge fan of NARS lipsticks. The formula is great, there's no taste, the scent is very faint and herbal, and they go on great. Also, their colors are flattering like nobody's business. I don't know if it's just that they are good at designing shades for my coloring, but seriously, if you haven't tried them already, please do! Even if you just try them on in a store and don't purchase anything. I think their reds are especially flattering; Jungle Red is certainly a show-stopping red, but ends up being a bit muted on the lip, which makes it infinitely wearable. Just a note, I see this as a true red that leans "yellow red", meaning it might work better on skin tones that lean slightly golden, although I suspect it is neutral enough to flatter cool tones as well.

New Blog!

Hey Guys,

Sorry for nothing makeup related (again!). I just wanted to let you all know that I've started another blog for my costumes at http://thefabricmistress.blogspot.com/. I don't know if there's any cross-over of interest, but I thought I would share in case any of you are into sewing or costume. Even if you're not, you may want to pop over there at any point to see what else I'm up to! Not much to see as of yet, but hopefully that will change in the near future...

Thanks for your support!

China Glaze: Hey Doll

Hey Doll(s)!

I know this is a discontinued color from China Glaze's fall 2010 collection, but I'm showing it to you guys anyway! Maybe you'll be able to trade for it, or find it in a dusty clearance bin, or hunt it down on ebay. At any rate, I love metallic nails, but I wanted something warmer and summerier than my usual gunmetal and champagne fare. Surprisingly, Hey Doll, marketed as a fall color, fit the bill to a "T"! It's a metallic pinky mauvey bronze with some greenish flecks of glitter, and while it's a great fall color, I think it's a nice compromise for a warm summertime metallic, too! This would look just smashing with some cream wedges or bronze flip flops, or maybe to add a bit of edge to a flowy black sun dress.

I won't bother with a rating or the relevant information about purchasing this polish, since it was LE, but I wanted to share it anyway! At any rate, it's your typical China Glaze; average to good wear (for me, that means about 3 or 4 chip-free days), .5 ounces of polish, and a rather watery formula that behaves and delivers complete opacity in two coats, Do any of you guys own it? Is it something you've missed out on and regretted not snagging? Have any summertime favorites for polishes?

Bronzes and Browns!

Hi everyone!

 I've been into metallic and shimmery neutrals lately; I've been doing a really simple eye with just R.S.V.P. from Benefit and MUFE Aqua Cream in 15 for early mornings, but for going out with friends last weekend, I decided to innovate on that basic concept and add some layers to get a more dramatic twist! Here's what I came up with.

Face: L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Makeup and Powder, Bare Escentuals Warmth, NARS Penny Lane, ELF Candid Coral

Eyes: Benefit cream shadow in R.S.V.P. as a base from the crease up, MUFE Aqua Cream in 15 as a base from lash to crease, NARS eye shadow in Lola Lola, bronzey color from the ELF palette, the champagne highlight color from the Victoria's Secret palette, Sin and Baked from the UD Naked palette. UD 24/7 liners in Lucky Penny, Bourbon, and Baked, Bare Escentuals Buxom Mascara, Dior Diorshow Blackout Mascara, Benefit Brow Zings wax in Light, Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel in Caramel

Lips: Bite Lip Shine in Saffron, MUFE Lab Shine gloss in M6 (gold)

Hope you enjoy!

The supplies (minus the foundation... oops!):

No flash!

With flash!

Do you guys love any of the aforementioned products? I've been digging ELF's blush in Candid Coral; it gives a great warm glow, but it doesn't stay on very long, so I always layer it over a cream blush when I wear it, so something will be left after it's gone! I'm thinking it's supposed to be a dupe for Orgasm, so I may have to just buck up and invest in that at some point, since I do love NARS blushes and they wear much better. We'll see!