Get the Look: Red Lips & Winged Liner

One of the most classic makeup looks of all time is of course Red Lips and Winged Eyeliner. There are many different versions of this look, with countless shades of red lipstick out on the market to suit varying hair colours and skin tones. I love a bit of winged liner but i’m definitely more of a subtle cat eyed girl. Here’s my take on the look…

Base
If i’m wearing red lipstick it’s most likely for a special occasion, as it’s not something i’d be brave enough to wear on a daily basis. To balance out the bright lips I like to go for a higher coverage foundation. The one that does the job is the Revlon Colorstay for Normal/Dry Skin. This foundation has quite a lightweight formula but is still enough to give medium to high coverage. To apply it I use the Sigma Flat Angled Kabuki (F88) which effortlessly buffs it into the skin.
My go to concealer when I want something that will wear well and give me that little bit more coverage is the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer . I mainly apply it on any blemishes I have, around my nose and under my eyes.
To set the foundation and concealer I use the Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot Powder which is perfect for all over to ensure my makeup stays put all night.

Cheeks
When i’ve got more of a heavy look going on I like to keep my cheeks nice and natural. A subtle but stunning blush is Essence Silky Touch Blush in Babydoll, which adds just the right amount of colour without going overboard.
Having pale skin means I can’t wear a muddy brown bronzer or it looks like i’ve just been playing in a pile of dirt. Literally. So, a colour that does compliment my skin tone well is Nars Laguna. Although this was a bit of a splurge I have had a lot of use out of it and still haven’t hit pan… isn’t that just the best feeling?
One of my more recent finds that I save for an evening look is theBalm Mary Lou Manizer highlighter. If you’re looking for a fine powder to use as an eyeshadow colour, add a sheen to your cheeks or as an all over finish before a night out then this is the one. I usually just apply this to my cheekbones with the Real Techniques Setting Brush and it helps to enhance and highlight parts of my face.

Eyes
My favourite type of eye look to wear with red lipstick is light shimmery colours with a bit of black in the crease. The Naked 2 Palette by Urban Decay has all the colours you need in one handy palette. Firstly I apply bootycall all over the lid, tease in the crease as a transition colour and then to finish it off verve & blackout in the outer corner. My go to liquid eyeliner is Maybelline Master Precise, I use this product daily and it is the perfect eyeliner for beginners and for creating that sophisticated flick. In the waterline I use Rimmel Scandal Eyes Eyeliner in black, and to complete the look I add a bit of Maybelline Falsies Flared Mascara to my upper and lower lashes.

Lips
And now for the star of the show… the red lipstick I have chosen to use for this look is Rimmel’s Lasting Finish Lipstick in Alarm . This is a matte red lipstick and is a great, affordable option. As this isn’t a high end product it doesn’t wear as well as some other ones would, however it is easy to reapply and to do so I use a lip brush to get a more precise look.

Let me know what your take on this classic look, i’d love to hear about it in the comments 🙂

Sarah x

 

Top 5 Lip Products

When I first started wearing makeup I would always bypass the lipstick section. I don’t know why, but as my 13 year old self would say “lipsticks are for old ladies”. Oh boy how that has changed! I now own multiple lipsticks/lip glosses, many of which are a similar colour (oops). I don’t tend to go out of my comfort zone much with lip products, I like to play it safe with nudes, pinks and corals. For todays post I have tried to narrow it down to my top 5 affordable lipsticks.

 

From L to R – Maybelline Color Whisper in Lust For Blush, Maybelline Color Sensational High Shine Lip Gloss in One Shine Day, Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Lovers Coral, Maybelline Color Sensational Shine Gloss in Glorious Grapefruit, Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie

1. Maybelline Color Whisper in Lust for Blush
This is now becoming my go-to lipstick for everyday wear. As I am quite pale, I don’t like to wear something too nude so this is the perfect shade if you’re looking for a pinky/nude colour. The formula of these lipsticks are quite gel like, and are more translucent than other lipsticks I own. However, they are very build-able so you can achieve a more opaque look. I find them to be quite hydrating on the lips and they wear well.

2. Maybelline Color Sensational High Shine Lip Gloss in One Shine Day
Recently I received this as a birthday gift from my friend (thanks Alex!) and I immediately fell in love with it. This is a beautiful, subtle pinky coral shade which can be worn alone or over another lipstick. These glosses are quite creamy in texture, and aren’t too sticky which is a big plus for me as I don’t like the feeling of a sticky gloss on my lips.

3. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Lovers Coral
I purchased this bad boy back in December as I was on the hunt for a nice coral lipstick to wear in Summer. I find that corals compliment my hair colour so when I spotted this colour at the revlon counter I just had to snatch it up. It’s perfect for days when you want to mix up your lip colour a bit without going for something too bold. The formula of the Revlon Super Lustrous lipsticks are great – I think i’m now due for another colour!

4. Maybelline Color Sensational Shine Gloss in Glorious Grapefruit
I briefly mentioned this lipgloss in my Current Beauty Favourites, so I thought I would touch on it a bit more here. This is the perfect gloss to pair with the Revlon Lipstick in Lovers Coral, as it is from the same colour family and adds a bit of extra shine. I have also enjoyed wearing it alone for a more toned down look. I love the consistency of these lip glosses, they wear very well on the lips and I love this shade for spring/summer.

5. Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie
If i’m feeling a bit more daring I tend to reach for my Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie. This is a bright magenta shade and is very pigmented compared to the other shades in this collection. The way I like to apply this is with a lip brush to achieve a more precise look. The Revlon Lip Butters have been raved about in beauty community, and rightly so as the formula of these lip butters are amazing, they are hydrating on the lips and are long lasting. There is also a great colour range (around 20 shades) so there’s something for everyone.

Let me know what your favourite affordable lip product is in the comments below!

Sarah x

Mani Monday: Essie Big Spender

With winter fast approaching here in Australia I thought it would be appropriate to treat myself to a perfect cold-weather nail polish.

I decided on an Essie Nail Polish in Big Spender (that name sounds like something I would refer to myself as) from H&M in Sweden, who knew H&M sold lots of makeup goodies as well as great clothes!

I have tried out Essie Nail Polishes before but this one is by far my favourite. The formula seems to be a lot better than the others, and the colour is just gorgeous. The only way I can think to describe it as is a pink magenta with violet undertones.

After applying two coats that seems to be enough to achieve the desired colour, and on top I used the OPI Top Coat which I find works well. The major problem I have with Essie Nail Polishes is that they don’t wear very well. After around 3 days there is noticeable chipping – especially with darker colours. This is disappointing especially considering the price, however the colours are just too pretty to resist.

Overall, I was very impressed with this colour as my past experiences with Essie haven’t been that great. I’ll definitely have to look into trying out some more colours, let me know if you have any suggestions below.

Sarah x