Natural Grrrrrl

Read My Red Lips

Here is a post that I did for From LA, with Love last week. Since red lips are a HUGE trend for fall, I thought I would share it with my lovely Primped & Proper readers. Enjoy beauties.

I am a makeup fanatic. Red lipstick is crucial to have in your beauty arsenal. If it’s good enough for Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, it’s good enough for you. Red lips are a staple in the fashion industry and should be a staple in your makeup bag. You can rock a lightly pigmented hue during the day and a more scarlet, deep-ruby shades for evening.


There are three different types of red - true-reds, orange-reds, and blue-reds. You don’t need to worry about the colour of your hair or your eyes - just the undertone of your skin. Determine whether the undertone of your skin is neutral, yellow, or pink. If you have neutral undertones, go for true reds, yellow and olive undertones, you should try orange-brown reds, and if you have pink undertones, try going for blue-reds.

Here are some great picks:

Yellow Undertones - Orange-reds

NARS Heat Wave, NARS Shanghai Express, Vincent Longo Fore-Plush, MAC Chili, MAC Fresh Moroccan

Pink Undertones - Blue-reds

NARS Scarlet Empress, Laura Mercier Seduction, MAC Russian Red, Chanel Shanghai Red, YSL Pure Lipstick Star Red

Neutral Undertones - True Reds

NARS Fire Down Below, NARS Red Lizard, MAC Ruby Woo, YSL Rouge Pur #13, Guerlain KissKiss Lipstick Insolence De Rouge 522

Laura Mercier Animal Testing Update

This makes me so happy! Christine, from Laura Mercier got in touch with me after reading my rant and review regarding Laura Mercier’s Secret Concealer. Ladies, this will put your mind at ease….Laura Mercier does NOT test their products on animals. They also do not contract outside companies that test on animal. I am so relieved! I love my concealer, and I really did not want to give it up and luckily, I do not have to! I am still going to Holts on a mission…to get more Laura Mercier goodies!!

Laura Mercier Secret Concealer - Rant & Review

I feel like I am always on the quest for the perfect concealer. My under eye circles are not that bad, but they do need a little help. I had been using Benefit’s Erase Paste for the longest time until boredom struck and the creasing just became unbearable. I found myself walking along Bloor Street one day and I strolled into Holt Renfrew…ok, fine….I often find myself walking along Bloor Street and strolling into Holt Renfrew, but that is besides the point! Anyway, I asked the lovely girl behind the Burberry counter for her advice. I originally wanted to see if Burberry had a good concealer, but unbelievably, Burberry has not yet released a concealer. However, their foundation is formulated to work as concealer. She suggested that I try Laura Mercier’s Secret Concealer and so I did. She helped me find the perfect match (shade #3) and I was on my merry little way.

Here is the lowdown:

- It conceals discolorations and dark circles around the eye area
- Great application, very smooth
- Long lasting
- Creamy, yet thick (think Erase Paste, but with much less creasing)

The website states that you should use it after you apply foundation, not sure why. However, the girl at Holts did not tell me this, so I have been putting it on before applying foundation. I think it works great and it does not matter when you apply it.

Now here is my issue, after I purchased it and used it I read the back of the miniature box that it comes in. If you have purchased Laura Mercier products you know exactly what I am going to say….the back of the box reads….FINISHED PRODUCT NOT TESTED ON ANIMALS. Um, is that a good thing? No. No. No and NO. What they are saying is that once the product has been formulated to perfection they stop testing it on animals. Heartbreaking. I refuse to support any brand that is cruel enough to test on animals. Laura Mercier, shame on you. I was really taking a liking to the concealer and I thought my search was over…but, apparently not…back to Holts I go…not complaining…

Kiss Kiss - Top Ten Red Lipsticks

Red lipstick if such a potent weapon, it was once outlawed for it's power over men. Needless to say, every woman needs at least one in their make up bag. Here is a list of top ten red lipsticks...

Max Factor Vivid Impact Lip color - Ms. Right

Laura Mercier - Mistress

Chanel Rouge Allure - Lover

MAC - Ruby Woo

Shiseido - Valentine

YSL Rouge Volupté - Red Muse (the catwalk color for fall 2009)

NARS - Jungle Red

Guerlain Rouge G - Gala

Revlon - Fire & Ice

Maybelline Color Sensational - Red Revival

If you don't have a ravishing red lipstick in your make up bag, one of these colours is sure to please...

xo

Laura Mercier Gilded Garden Spring 2009 Collection

The star of the collection is the Gilded Garden Mosaic Shimmer Bloc, a blush/highlighter stamped with a gorgeous floral motif to softly illuminate cheeks. Other items in this collection include:
Sateen and Luster Eye Colors
Marigold (Luster)
Lilac (Sateen)
Orchid (Sateen)
Pink Tulip (Sateen)
Lip Color Stick gloss
Azalea
Tiger Lily
Lip Stain
Hibiscus
English Rose

Spring is just around the corner! So exciting!