There’s a new lipstick launch from Makeup By Mario called the SuperSatin Lipstick ($28 each). They just launched at Sephora in 18 shades and the formula is beautiful! I was fortunate to receive them in PR so I’ve swatched them all.
Formula is super creamy and opaque with full coverage. Texture is super smooth and while they’re called “satin” they pull more on the slightly creamy/glossy side in finish. They feel a little thick when you swipe them on but not heavy. Color adheres really well and has good lasting power as long as your lips don’t touch anything. Since it’s more of a traditional lipstick it’s not transferproof but I have been really impressed with the lasting power. The glossy/creamy finish makes them feel conformable on the lips and slightly hydrating. There is a subtle vanilla scent but it’s very subtle to me.
Color range is pretty good with a mix of neutrals, reds, bolds. I do think the neutrals are a bit tricky to know how they’ll pull on your complexion until you try them. I loved the way so many of his Ultra Suede Lipsticks looked in the tube and swatched on the arm but most of them pulled a lot lighter on my lips. For me most of the new SuperSatin tones are easier for me to pull off although there are definitely a few that did not work for my skin tone.
Quick note that some of the tones looked warmer in the tube but on my lips they pulled a lot cooler/neutral. Most of you already know that I have a darker natural lip tone that almost looks purple sometimes. If you have a more pink or lighter lip color I think most of the light tones will look a lot better on you than they do on me.
Midtown is a stunning neutral light pink beige (but looks like concealer on me)
Flatiron is a light beige
South Shore is a nude pink (a bit deeper than Midtown)
Bronx Baby is a neutral-cool light brown pink
(917) is a neutral-cool pink mauve
Nolita is a mauve pink
Dumbo is a 90s-ish brown rose
Soho is the perfect soft peach
Uptown Girl is a burnt orange
Harlem is a classic red
Chelsea is an electric fire engine red shade
West Village is a fuchsia pink
Broadway is a cool-toned pink
Tribeca is a blue based red
Rockefeller is a classic bold brick red
Forest Hills is a plum brown
Central Park is a deeper brown
Downtown Girl is an even deeper brown
I lip swatched a few of them for the blog but if you want to see them all in action I posted them here on Reels (quick note the last shade featured is Downtown Girl, apologize for the typo!). For Skintone Reference I’m wearing the Chanel No1 de Chanel Revitalizing Foundation in B40 (reviewed + swatches here).
Overall I really like these. Formula gets a solid A+ but not all the colors work for me which is expected. I think it’s rare that anyone would love every single shade in a lipstick launch. I think they have a great range. I would love to see some of the MoistureGlow Lip Serums or Plumping Lip Colors in this kind of full coverage longer wearing formula.
My favorite is Soho. I also really like (917) and I think I can make South Shore work sometimes even though it’s pale, I may need to add a liner. According to many of you Rockefeller is THE winning shade, I didn’t swatch it for the blog but you can check it out on my Reel. I agree it’s a really beautiful classic kind of bold lip with the perfect undertone.
Happy Tuesday! I’ve been on a plum lip kick this holiday season and shared a video swatch roundup of some favorites on Instagram. For those who still prefer blog posts and still images this one is for you! I’ve been loving gloss and sheer plum lipsticks so the color is more forgiving when it fades throughout the day. Here are the ones I’ve tried and loved.
Victoria Beckham Beauty Posh Gloss
Victoria Beckham Beauty Posh Gloss in Aperitivo is probably my favorite soft plum. It’s a smooth gloss that you can build easily. Feels comfortable on the lips, not sticky, lovely shine.
Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss
Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss in Kir Sugar is another one I love. It’s a semi-thick gloss so it adheres really well to the lips. Has some sticky feeling but still very comfortable to wear. Since it’s a thicker formula this one lasts long on my lips. Has a bit of gold shimmer inside. I remember wearing the original formula in this color in my 20s!
Fenty Gloss Bomb
Fenty Gloss Bomb in Hot Chocolit is a sheer plum brown with a tiny bit of gold shimmer. In the tube it looks more brownish but on my lips it pulls more plum. I think this is my second favorite out of all the plums. Love layering this on top of Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk for a slightly more pinkish look.
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Brown Sugar is another love. It’s a very sheer tinted balm and I love this formula. Also great when layered over a lip pencil or alone. I didn’t get a new photo of this one but you can see it on the lips here.
Hourglass Phantom Glossy Balm
The Hourglass Phantom Glossy Balm formula is another one I’ve really loved this year. Lure is a pretty cool-toned plum. They also have a pretty limited-edition Rouse, a reddish plum, which is part of the Holiday Duo (sold out online but still available in stores).
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey has made a comeback and I love it. I wore this one in the 90s and early 2000s in my high school days so I’m thrilled to see it again! They launched the Black Honey color in the Pop Plush Creamy Gloss formula but it keeps selling out (still available at Kohls and Belk).
Rare Beauty Kind Words Matte Lipstick
For lipsticks I bought the Rare Beauty Kind Words Matte Lipstick in Gifted (also available in a matching Lip Liner). This is a pretty dusty plum color that doesn’t pull too cool or too warm. Color has rich opaque coverage, smooth finish and decent lasting power. Other shades in this formula reviewed here.
Dior Burgundy
Last but not least is a look at the Dior Lip Glow and Lip Maximizer in Burgundy. The Lip Maximizer seems to have sold out nearly everywhere but you can still find the Lip Glow on Dior.com. Love this for a soft plum berry stain on the lips.
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What shades are you wearing this holiday season? I’m still into the neutrals and soft pinks but think plum is a fun way to switch things up even for the neutral lip lover.
I’m excited to share a look at the Rouge Hermes Shiny Lipsticks today! I’m late to review these as I picked these up over a month ago. We’ve been traveling so I’m a bit behind on reviews! These are limited-edition colors for spring but they’re still in stock at Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus and Hermes. They are very steep in price at $72 each but I think the colors and formula are so good, I feel they were worth the splurge for me.
These are translucent lip colors with a glossy finish. The color payoff is exceptional for something that has a translucent finish. They’re pigmented but balmy and glossy with a slight transparent quality to them. The colors were inspired by a garden filled with light and water and I couldn’t have described them better!
There are three colors:
Beige d’Eau is a sheer beige but still shows up as alight peachy beige on my lips
Orange Capucine is my new favorite bright coral orange, bright but wearable
Rose Nymphea is a gorgeous bright cool pink lilac, surprisingly wearable on my olive complexion even though it’s more cool-toned
Texture is smooth and glossy. They have an almost balm-like feel. The colors are flawless and bring the complexion to life! I love that they’re bright but not too bright. These make for a nice change from my everyday neutrals. If you can splurge I highly recommend these for both color and quality.
Also wanted to share a look at three of my favorite Hermes Nail Enamels ($45 each). These still are harder to find. They keep selling out on multiple sites but will pop back on every now and then. Sometimes Saks will allow you to pre-order online (how I got several of the colors). Some shades also available now at Bloomingdale’s.
I’ve been asked if these are “worth the price” and I still don’t think any nail polish is worth $45. I do love the formula, I think the colors are perfect and really flattering. I have no regrets with my splurges.
Rose Horizon is the perfect mix of pink and coral
Orange Poppy is a bright vibrant orange
Rose Incarnat is a bright pink
Formula has great lasting power (no chips or peeling). I can get 7 days of wear without any chips or tip wear although some sunscreens completely ruin my polish (top coat and all) so I don’t always get to wear it for a full week. I’ve had Orange Poppy on my toes for nearly 3 weeks now and it’s held up remarkably well.
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You can find the Shiny Lipsticks still available online at Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus and Hermes. Have you tried these yet? What did you think?
This roundup is for all of you neutral lip lovers out there! There are a lot of new beige nudes for lips this spring. I have a roundup of eight newer colors swatched side by side and on the lips for you. For these neutrals I will be quite frank that a lot of them look nearly identical on my medium tone skin and pigmented lips. These tones complement my medium tank skin tone in a way that makes them look very similar on the face. However when swatched side by side on the arm you will be able to see the difference in texture, undertone and finish more.
Since many of you have lighter, darker, cooler, or warmer skin tones – I hope the added descriptions and side by side swatches will help you! While they’re the same color family, there are differences in texture, coverage, undertone, finish. I’m one who is always a sucker for a good neutral beige lip but I do not think you need all of these.
Coverage: full coverage Color: peachy beige, pulls very warm on me (if you’re fair/lighter this will also look warm) Finish/texture: glossy and hydrating
Coverage: full Color: neutral cooler toned beige, almost looks pink-rose on my lips/skintone Finish/texture: creamy comfortable, hydrating
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If you had any of these on your wishlist I hope this roundup helps with you your purchasing decisions! I asked Andrew if he could tell the difference between any of these and he said they all look the same too color-wise. In person he could tell the difference in finish as in shiny versus not shiny, lol. He agreed the difference is more noticeable when you swatch them on the arms side by side.
Do you like to wear beige neutrals? What’s your favorite lipstick formula? Let me know if you want another roundup like this but with a different color family like pink nude, rose, mauve, red etc.
I have 34 shades of the new NARS Lipstick Matte, Satin and Sheers swatched on the lips today. You can see the arm swatches, color descriptions and product shots in this post here.
Overall thoughts on the formulas are that they seem pretty consistent across each finish with the exception of a couple shades here and there. Sheers are my favorite because they have a glossy finish with lots of shine. Satins are the most traditional classic color – if you want something more creamy and opaque though opt for the Audacious Lipstick Formulas. Mattes have a semi-dry matte lightweight feel. They’re not going to glide on the lips effortlessly like the Pat McGrath MatteTrance but the new NARS mattes will adhere well to the lips and on me they don’t dry the lips out even though they feel a little dry at first swipe. If I layer/blend a few times the color evens and smooths out perfectly and it truly is a lightweight matte with a soft finish that doesn’t look dry.
Pigment is medium to full coverage and buildable. There were a few of the Satin shimmers I felt were on the sheerer side such as Orgasm and Cool It, but the color can be built up.
Colors are lip swatched in the same order as my arm swatch post. All done on bare lips. Note that I have pigmented lips and if there is any transparency to the color my natural lip will show through, particularly around the edges. I do think some of the shades made my lips look extra full/plump but the lipstick formula itself is not plumping.
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Set 1: Miramar, Orgasm, Niagara, Raw Seduction, Barbarella
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Set 2: Boukhara, Chelsea Girls, Dolce Vita, Tolede and Tonka
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Set 3: Sex Shuffle, Cruising, Belle de Jour, Rosecliff and Pour Toujours
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Set 4: Raw Love, Instant Crush, Cool It, Jolie Mome, Afghan Red
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Set 5: License to Love, Living Doll, Start Your Engines, Rouge Insolent, Bulgarian Rose
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Set 6: Dominatrix, Fire Down Below, Impulse, Fast Ride
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Set 7: Damage, Candy Stripper, Soul Train, Hot Channel, Full Time Females
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Overall impressions are positive! I love how glossy the sheer lipsticks are, I think they have a beautiful sheen and they feel comfortable on the lips. Satins are a little thicker but they don’t feel heavy or too thick. Even though the mattes tug a little when you apply it’s not a deal breaker – if I feather them on more like a lip liner colors blend out really well.
As mentioned in my arm swatch/first impressions post there were only a few shades I did not like because I found them streaky on the lips (Sex Shuffle, Fast Ride and Hot Channel). I did not try all 72 colors but did give them a quick look over at the counter. While I truly appreciate the wide color selection I feel like 72 shades is a little overwhelming to look through. That being said NARS did an excellent job at trying to cover every color family so I do believe there will be something for everyone. They’ve launched a lot of colors with variances in undertone, so if you like corals but look better in warm vs cool you’re bound to find something that will fit your taste.
A number of you asked how these compare to previous formulas. I can’t recall all the variations at this point, but I do know approximately 2 to 3 formulas ago some of the shades made my lips go numb and caused an allergic reaction. I don’t know what the ingredient was but this round they’ve removed it and I had no issues with any of the colors. They aren’t hydrating but at the same time none of the colors caused them to dry out or peel by the next 2-3 days. I did not need a lip primer or pencil with any of these, but if you are looking for a good lipstick primer to help smooth and prime the lip, the MAC Prep + Prime Lip is my holy grail. You can use lip balm underneath but the emollient quality often times diminishes the lasting power with the oils, jelly etc. The MAC primer smooths and helps extend wear.
Bottom line: lots to love. I cannot pick a favorite – there are so many good shades! If I had to narrow down my top five though I’d pick: Chelsea Girls (although this pulls more pink on me compared to what I see in the tube), Bulgarian Rose, Living Doll, Instant Crush, License to Love, Barbarella, Raw Seduction and Dolce Vita (oops that’s eight).
It’s National Lipstick Day and I wanted to roundup my top five favorite luxury lipstick brands to celebrate. It was challenging for me to narrow it down to just five since there are so many great lines with different formulas, finishes and price points. I picked the brands I wear the most frequently these days.
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Pat McGrath
If you forced me to only wear one brand of lipstick the rest of my life I would pick Pat McGrath. She completely changed my outlook on matte lipsticks and also glitter sparkle lipsticks. I love all her formulas including the Lip Fetish Lip Balms which are a great option for those who want a hint of color. My top five favorites:
P.S. I’m testing out her new Skin Fetish Foundation in Medium 15 and Light Medium 14 along with her whole system. Review very soon but I’ve been doing some previews and demos on Instagram stories if you want to get a sneak peek!
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Chanel
Chanel is as classic as it gets. For anyone looking for a classic red or pink lipstick, Chanel hands down has it all. There are pink reds, orange reds, coral reds, brick reds, blue reds – you name it. There’s something so special about buying your first Chanel lip product. Formula breakdown:
Rouge Coco – is the hydrating classic formula, to me it has a medium satiny finish.
Rouge Allure – is the one I consider the most classic and iconic. Creamy formulas with a natural luminous sheen and medium to full coverage.
Rouge Allure Velvet – is a formula Chanel describes as a “luminous matte.” It’s a velvety finish version of the Rouge Allure. The bold reds are among the best long wearing colors I’ve tried.
Rouge Allure Ink – matte super lightweight lip ink stain, bold shades have the best color payoff, this formula is probably the most weightless one I’ve ever tried!
Rouge Coco Flash – ultra glossy sheer lipsticks that are great for a swipe and go effortless kind of color, my favorites are Jour and Flash (haul picks swatched here).
Rouge Coco Gloss – cushiony, hydrating, super lush high-shine glosses perfect to wear alone or on top of a lipstick (swatches here).
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Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury makes some of the best wearable neutrals. I ordered products from their website long before they launched in the US – all sight unseen too! Her lipsticks and it was love at first swipe. I really like all of her formulas. My top favorite colors:
KISSING Lipstick in Bitch Perfect (makeup look here) – one of my favorite light nude pinks
Hot Lips 2 in In Love With Olivia (swatches here) – such a pretty creamy neutral!
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Tom Ford
Tom Ford lipsticks are among the most expensive and luxurious ones I’ve tried. I still remember when they first launched a small handful of colors in the white packaging. Pink Dusk Lip Color was my first shade and is still one of my favorites. When I’m tan I opt for slightly deeper neutrals. Many of my favorites in the Boys and Girls were limited-edition and have been discontinued, but my top picks you can still find now:
Lip Color Sable Smoke is the best beige nude cream
Lips and Boys in River (not shown because it’s MIA, but swatches here)
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MAC
MAC was the first mid-to-high end lipstick brand I was into! They have the most diverse shade range I’ve seen and so many other brands have followed. It is hard to narrow down my top picks. I’ve tried so many of the colors. The ones I recommend the most and just bought fresh tubes of include:
Mehr Matte is a great nude mauve matte (mini size shown)
Prep + Prime Lip is the best lipstick primer to smooth out the lip and prep it for better lipstick application, it’s not as emollient as a lip balm so lipstick won’t slide off the lips
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Lipstick Organization
Last but not least, I have a quick peek at two storage organization favorites. I bought an Acrylic Lipstick Tower from Impressions Vanity a few years ago when they were carried at Nordstrom. You can still find the tower online at Impressions Vanity in a few different variations and colors. I also use Lipstick Organizers from the Container Store and keep them on my shelf or in drawers.
Hope you liked the roundup! There are still a lot of other brands I use and love including Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche, Hourglass Confession, NARS Audacious, L’Oreal Color Riche Shines and so much more. Narrowing it down to my top 5 was hard since I truly love playing with all brands and formulas of makeup. I’d love to hear what your favs are!
What are your favorite lipstick brands and formulas?
Press samples featured include lip colors from Chanel and Pat McGrath.
I’m so excited it’s finally sweater weather here! We have hot humid weather almost year round here in Tampa making it too hot to even wear denim jeans most of the time. While I love the sunshine I’m thrilled that it has cooled down enough to haul some cute sweaters. By popular request I’m combining two topics today that many of you have been asking for: best holiday red lips plus a sweater try-on haul.
I’m a neutral lip lover so I was actually really surprised to find how many red lip products I own. I sorted through around 35+ colors and formulas to narrow down my absolute top picks for the best color, pigment, lasting power and a few budget friendly options. I’ll discuss each color with the sweaters I paired below.
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Everlane Cashmere Crew + L’Oreal Color Riche Shine
I did my first Everlane haul and picked three styles to try out. I haven’t tried the line before so I relied on online customer reviews for height and weight to decide on XXS and XS depending on style. I lucked out because I’m really happy with what I ordered. For sizing reference I have been losing weight but also gaining a little bit of muscle with our weight training. I’m 5’3″ and currently 114 pounds. I usually wear XS in most sizes, sometimes XXS because I’m on the shorter side.
It’s been a long time since I’ve invested in anything cashmere (again because it’s simply TOO HOT to wear here) so I can’t compare to current styles of other brands. I have tried J.Crew, Vince and Theory to name a few which I’ve loved in previous years. I think the styles I ordered from Everlane are just as good. For the Everlane Cashmere Crew ($100) I picked Light Oatmeal in XS and it’s a PERFECT fit. This is my favorite one of my purchases. It’s soft, lightweight but not tissue thin. I plan on getting a couple more colors. Denim worn are the Paige Verdugo Ankle (for me ankle jeans are the best because I usually don’t have to hem them!).
Up next is the Everlane Cashmere Rib Round Crew ($145) in Heather Grey in XXS. I would have bought XS but one of the models on the website was wearing that size and quite a bit taller than me. I’m happy with the fit of XXS. This is a nice soft semi thick ribbed sweater. It’s one of the ones I was wearing on stories.
I paird this one with the NARS Powermatte Pigment in Starwoman. There are a lot of reds in this formula this one seems the most classic to me (Vain is warmer, Light My Fire is brighter and there are options with either more blue or deeper tones too). This is one of the nicest liquid matte lipstick formulas that is matte but doesn’t shrink my lips to look like raisins. It has excellent staying power and doesn’t transfer on my teeth. (If you want a neutral option American Woman is the best chestnut neutral rose out there.)
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Leith + Everlane with Tom Ford Dylan
Tom Ford Lips and Boys Dylan isn’t a new color but remains a favorite for a semi-matte finish. It’s a classic bright bold red with a warm undertone. I’m wearing it below with two sweater colors. A soft nude pink fitted Metallic Pullover from Leith ($49, XS is pretty fitted) that I bought at Nordstrom and the Everlane Cashmere Waffle Crew in Black ($150, XXS) which is boxy but I think has a nice hang to the sides. I like the side slit detail too which makes for a little more interesting sweater.
Another look at the Everlane sweater so you can see the neckline, it’s hard to see the detail but check out their website for close ups which you can see better.
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1.State + Pat McGrath Lip Fetish in Wild Cherry
In terms of red lips I don’t think it gets better than Pat McGrath. I could have done an entire dedicated post to swoon over all her lipsticks but wanted to give some other brands and formulas some love. If you feel like you can’t wear full on red lips, opt for a sheer gloss or balm. The Pat McGrath Lip Fetish Balm in Wild Cherry is a great sheer but buildable red. I reviewed it in this post here.
In looking through my closet I find that I own a lot of white tops and sweaters. It’s funny because in San Diego I used to wear all black and grey, or stripes. Since moving to Florida I’ve suddenly found my closet has changed. So many of you have been asking about all the white tops I’ve been wearing. This is a cute one from 1State Convertible Zip Neckline Sweater ($109). This is an XXS and runs big but slouchy. It’s cute to tuck in or belt. I’m not 100% sure I love this style. The zipper is adjustable which makes it so you can wear this a number of ways. A similar option that I have really liked in a tee form is the Free People Nikala Tee which I find has a better fit.
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Frame + NARS
My favorite purchase is the Frame Stripe Crewneck Merino Wool Blend Sweater ($235) and it’s one of my most expensive sweater splurges in a long time. I’m a huge sucker for anything with stripes, so much so that I tried to ease up on wearing and buying them. This was too cute to pass up. It’s soft, thin and I love the fit. I really love everything I’ve bought from Frame. Prices prevent me from splurging more. I paired it with the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Rebel from the holiday collection from the Riot Lip Pencil set. Unfortunately it’s sold out but Pat McGrath MatteTrance in Elson is close (reviewed here). Denim worn is also from Frame Le Skinny.
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Loft + Pat McGrath
For affordable sweaters that aren’t itchy or scratchy I’ve found some amazing deals from Loft. They have cute cable knit basics. I tried two styles. One is the Loft Textured Button Cuff Sweater in XS ($49.50 but I got mine 50% off, they have online holiday sales so check their site for current code). At $20 it was a steal. This one is a little long for me but on most people I think it will be just the right length. I’m wearing it with the Pat McGrath BlitzTrance Lipstick in Rebel Red which is one of the most fun sparkly blue red lip colors I’ve tried. Full review here.
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Loft + Em Cosmetics
Another Loft find is the Cable Knit Trim Sweater in Silvered Heather Grey (XS, $49.50). I could have sized down for a shorter fit but this one is super cute and easy to wear as well. I paired this with the Em Cosmetics True Gloss in Scarlett Knight which is one of the best red plumping glosses I’ve tried. I need to review this formula for you, I have been sitting on all the colors for a while now. It’s been on my to-do list! They have some cute sets for the holiday I think are worth checking out. I have all the colors individually otherwise I would have ordered one.
Sweater worn is the BP Heritage Stitch sweater in XXS. It’s so soft and plush. Unfortunately it just sold out online, but you might want to check in stores to see if they still have some near you. It does run on the large side, I ordered an XXS and it’s very roomy!
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Lipsticks worn/featured in this post (all shades are press samples):
Pat McGrath and Tom Ford options swatched next to two of the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution colors. I used to think the Charlotte Tilbury formula was the best, I still think it’s very good, but Pat McGrath’s formula wins 100%.
Makeup breakdown worn in all other photos include:
The best red nail polish I’ve tried is from Christian Louboutin’s Red, although OPI is also a favorite of mine, I just don’t own any reds from them at the moment
I hope you enjoyed this sweater try-on haul and red lip roundup! If you love a good red lip let me know what your favorites are in the comments. I love cozy sweaters and I would haul more if we had cooler weather in Tampa.
I didn’t have time to post yesterday but did not forget my giveaway for the week! One reader will win four Pat McGrath lip products including: Opulence 1995, Opulence Flesh3, winner’s choice of two other lips formulas. Not sponsored or affiliated. Open internationally to those 18 years or older. Simply enter via the widget below. Giveaway runs this week and I’ll pick a winner within 48 hours after giveaway ends and contact via e-mail.
