love/hate for my girls

There's a lot to dislike about NARS Lip Lacquer. It smells like plastic, the texture is incredibly tacky, and it's difficult to get the product out of the pot. But somehow all these sizable flaws make lacquer in the shade Chelsea Girls one of my few indispensable products.

Unlike most lip products, the tacky formula never looks like anything more than a little sheeny balm is on the lips. And while it may smell like plastic, you'll never find yourself absentmindedly eating it off your lips and the color lingers on lips after eating and drinking.

Above all, I love how this product lets me live a little Bond Girl fantasy. This shade turns my normally rosy lips into the perfect, effortless Bardot beach babe soft nude. Although the pot is kind of a pain, it's so much fun to whip out and swipe on lips in public in a very blase kind of way.

Lip Lacquer is a little steep at $24, but the pot contains more product than a tube of lipstick and I've found that it lasts for a year with regular use.

Is there any product you find to have major issues but still can't live without?

dr. pepper, you make my lips look better...

Nothing like a looming graduation to kick up nostalgia.  So while cruising through the beauty aisle at Target I couldn't resist impulse buying a Dr. Pepper Lipsmacker from Bonne Bell.  This stuff pretty much lived in my pocket from middle school up to undergrad, when I developed my crippling addiction to Chanel lipgloss.  I remember why I loved this stuff though, I'm a sucker for the scent and taste of artificial cherry and it adds a healthy, subtle red shine to lips (SO perfect for a date night).  I love smearing a little red lipstick on my lips in the morning and using this Lipsmacker for touchups throughout the day, it's so effortlessly cool.  A while this doesn't do a damn for soothing irritation, it's moisturizing enough even here in the Tundra.  If you've never tried one of these, it's the best $2 guilty pleasure I can think of.

I <3 Alex Bay Alex Bay <3's Burt

After several intense weeks at school, my SU BFF and I peaced out for the weekend and took a trip to her home in the Frozen North Country, otherwise known as Alexandria Bay, NY ("within spitting distance of Canada").  
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Highlights: Shamrock Shakes at McDonald's, not one but two hockey games (go Ghosts/River Rats!), the annual Polar Bear Dip- where they turn the marina into a giant bar and everyone watches crazies jump in the river through the hole they cut through the foot of ice on top, raiding Canada's Duty Free, a late night at the local bar complete with live music, and plenty of wild goose stew to nosh on.

As much fun as it was, the North Country did a serious job on my skin- especially my lips, which didn't stand a chance against all the eating and drinking in the cold air.  Although anthropologists warn against going local, I did take a page from my Bay Girls and swiped on some Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm before bed on my nails and cuticles.  This creamy formula is packed with ultra-soothing beeswax and coconut oil, plus it packs a minty tingle and smells just like a thin mint.  I woke up with healthy looking lips- no chapping or skin tightness, and my cuticles were smooth.  I imagine this will be a personal carry-on staple from now on, since airplane climate is not unlike that of Upstate NY in the winter.  At around $3 a tube, this stuff is a steal- it's definitely worth keeping one in your desk and one in every pocket you own (or in your snow mobile or in your hockey bag).

Going Red: effortless bold

I've always wanted to love full-on red lipstick, but something about its retro Old-Hollywood glamour just isn't "me."  I had just about given up ever wearing anything but a red stain, balm, or gloss when NARS introduced Manhunt Lipstick as a part of Spring's Shanghai Lily collection.  While this shade is definitely not for the cosmetically shy, it's the most modern-meets-effortless reinvention of a classic like red lipstick I've seen a cosmetics company make in living memory.

Manhunt is set apart from other reds by its coral undertone, which unlike its blue and orange based compatriots will never turn fuchsia on you or make your teeth look yellow.  Described as a sheer poppy red on the NARS website, this shade is also probably the brightest color I've ever put on my lips.  While the almost neon quality of Manhunt is more than a bit intimidating at first, it brightened my whole face and somehow made my pale skin glow (read: not ruddy in any way).

I've had this lipstick for two weeks and it has become my go-to on early mornings, coupled with nothing more than a swipe of mascara, a bit of white highlighter on the inner corner of the eye, foundation, and a light dusting of golden bronzer on the apples of my cheeks.  Significant bonus: this shade is anything but high maintenance.  The lasting power is not only incredible, but the formula wears down comfortably and evenly into a beautiful reddish pinky coral stain.

 

Although pricey at $24, it's so utterly worth it to wake up exhausted, throw on a white sweater, be done with makeup in less than two minutes, and roll out the door looking incredible.

Fall Crush 2007

It's just a few days into official autumn here in central New York, and I find myself completely in love with everything that has a vintage Alpine winter aesthetic. I think it started when I developed a muscle spasm from my neck into my shoulder blade and wrapped myself up in chunky knits and using big smears of Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Headache Relief massage cream all over my back.

Some current favorites: nutella on croissants or crepes, ricola original formula (not at the same time as nutella), a warm mug of hot whiskey, and one of the best classic Bond Films- "In Her Majesty's Secret Service"

But as it applies to beauty goodies, it's all about a staunch regimen of exfoliation and moisturization. Some favorites:


Lush Bohemian Soap: Lush products were a favorite when I stayed in hostels during my study abroad in Ireland (which lacks Alps but its winter certainly holds its own). This soap smells like limoncello, a more European alternative to tropical salt and sugar scrubs when paired with a stiff scrub brush.

Neutrogena Swiss Formula Hand Cream: I love this silky formula, it sinks in beautifully, instantly replenishes, and leaves a gorgeous not-too-oily buffed sheen on nails and cuticles.


Bourjois Baume de Nuit Night Lip Balm: I'd be lying if I said I've never bought a book just for the cover, and I am simply in love with this packaging. I haven't bought this balm yet, but it's on my Sephora list for when I head back to Oregon in December (Syracuse is tragically without a Sephora). On question though- if it's a night treatment, why on earth is it tinted? Regardless, the glossy pink shown in the photo will either be nonexistent on lips, turn them into luscious Bond Girl goodness, or will be an ugly spackl-esque disaster as so many pale tinted balms inevitably are.

a little TLC

My friend and I fell in love with MAC's Tinted Lip Conditioners two years ago, only to find after a few days use that they dried our lips out badly- exactly what you don't want from tinted balm. It was a shame though, the range comes in limited but stunningly wearable punchy shades, although the packaging was reminiscent of a body fluids collection jar.

Some time ago MAC greatly imrpoved the packaging but I steared clear until a few days ago when I was doing some preliminary shopping for a friend. The formula seems improved as well- much creamier than before, it's almost a downright goop but retains the same utterly nonsticky but glossy texture as before. I also love the smell, a creamy vanilla with a hint of sunscreen (which I personally find comforting, although I know it annoys some people).

I had the people at MAC give my friend a sample to make sure the formula is really improved, so just FYI if you ask them for one and explain the lip peeling concern they'll do the same for you. But at $14.50 for .5 oz these are really a steal, and cheaper than drugstore lipsticks.

For me the standout must-have shade is Gentle Coral- looks neon orange in the pot but it picks up the tone of your lips and transforms into something ranging from punchy pink to milky apricot depending on how rosy your lips are, kind of like the magic of those mood lipsticks of the 80s. It has flattered everyone I've seen it on, from the olive skinned with dark hair to porcelain skinned blondes. I'm also absolutely in love with Virtuous Violet- looks like it was made specifically for ladies with Natalie Portman's coloring, so if you have that going on then this is a must-have. Petting Pink (shown above) is gorgeous in the pot, but if your lips are rosy this doesn't have enough color payoff.

Spring Runway Report 08

It's quite early to be thinking about spring, especially when the air is just turning cold, but Spring Fashion Week is under full swing in New York- check out www.style.com for a great peek at the clothes. My favorite so far is Betsey Johson's ready to wear inspired by prom. Clicking on the backstage/front row photo gallery gives great close-ups of the models' makeup, makeup artists like Dick Page at work, and sometimes a surprising celeb snapshot from the front row.



Makeup-wise, the biggest look for spring is quite bare- flawless glowy skin, noblush, bare eyes often without mascara, and soft shell pink lips. Zac Posen's interpretation (left) was the cleanest, a very angelic interpretation, and Marc by Marc Jacobs (right) did a brilliant metallic nude take on the smoky cat eye- brilliant for going out at night.

Product recommendations-

Skin- Don't pile on the foundation, whatever you do. The skin is really more about applying products correctly and letting your skin show through as much as possible. Definitely wash your face and apply moisturizer a couple minutes before applying makeup to get the smoothest application. I recomend gently exfoliating with a warm wash cloth. Using a foundation primer like Smashbox Photo Finish is key to making your skin a smooth canvas to work on. Use a good, thick concealer like Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage only on any blemishes, then use a damp sponge (keeps foundation from being absorbed and sheers it out a little) to apply a medium coverage foundation only if you need it, giving careful attention to smooth the jaw and hairline. Touch up blemishes again if needed, blending concealer into the foundation. The look isn't totally matte, so don't use a powder like MAC Blot unless you're very oily like I am. Buff a subtle light reflecting powder over your face using a big fluffly brush (I like Sephora's Bronzer Brush). Two good powders: Laura mercier Loose Setting Powder and LORAC Perfectly Lit.

Eyes- Mix a very small drop of liquid luminizer with foundation and smooth on eyes, or buff a very subtly pearly eyeshadow that matches your skin tone on top after smoothing on foundation (check out Bobbi Brown). The idea is to make your eyelid look perfect and subtly reflect light without looking obviously sparkly. Curl lashes and slick on a clear mascara to define lashes and give some hold. For night: use a brush or your fingers to slick on a metallic nude shadow in a traditional smoky shape or in a cat eye for extra drama. New colors will certainly be released by spring, but check out MAC Paints and Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow- the best for oily lids.

Lips- The must-have shade for anyone with rosy lips is NARS Chelsea Girls Lip Lacquer. Smudge on a very very small ammount (seriously, a little goes a long way- you will barely need to press your finger into the product). Wait about two minutes and the product will beautifully smooth out, giving you perfect shell pink lips.

For tips on some other fall looks, including the gloriously updated Bond Girl look, check out Kristin's blog at www.beautyaddict.blogspot.com

Fall Must-Haves

During my eight hour drive from Virginia to New York I entertained myself with my iPod and thinking about fall make-up. To my dismay, I got home and the September Allure had somehow ripped off all my ideas.

My favorites:

Tangerine Lips- whip out that Chanel Coral Reef glossimer and Fresh Portrait of a Lady blush I mentioned earlier, and pair it with sheer chocolate or champage on the eyes- just avoid heavy shimmer and go for a subtle pearl texture instead.

Slate Eyeshadow- Personally I find the eyeshadow too heavily applied in this photo but the lips are spot-on; the perfect stained warm berry. Allure used Superstay Glos in Golden Toffee by Maybelline, I like Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey. For eyes I like doing a smoky smudged line of gunmetal shadow like Tarte's Here's Looking at You and blending in Stila Shore, a complex lilac gray, on top or up to the crease for night.

Aside from Allure, here's my other top fall picks:

Tarte Blushing Bride cheekstain- the perfect dewy berry blush for fall, very cold weather NE collegiate. It's not too red or too cool toned unlike so many gel/liquid stain blushes

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey- goes perfectly with Blushing Bride, this looks like you've been eating blackberries all day. One caveat: the formula could be more moisturizing, so use some balm underneath. Usually I pass on products that don't have adequate texture but this color is just too perfect to pass up.

MAC Satin Taupe eyeshadow- this brown has gorgeous dimension and can be used as a sheer wash or as an intense smoky eye. It's slightly cool toned so it looks great throughout fall's weather spectrum but it's not so cool toned that it won't work with your fading tan. I love to buff this lightly on my lid from lashes to crease with a soft fluffly brush and mascara and a little liner, it adds the perfect ammount of depth and sparkle

Bobbi Brown Pale Pink Blush- I added this to my stash last year, it gives me those enviable Carrie Bradshaw winter cheeks circa end of season 6 when she was dating The Russian. It looks vibrant in the pan but goes on a delicate ballet pink which again works wonders as your tan fades. If this shade doesn't work for you, Bobbi has added a few new shades in the fresh pink/peach spectrum that are all equally stunning.

Stella by Stella McCartney- my quintessential fall fragrance, this pairing of fresh rose and sultry amber is superb. The best thing about this fragrance is that it absolutely melts into your body's own scent, your clothing, or anything else you spray it on; it becomes a part of you in the sexiest way. I'm particularly obsessed with the way it blends with the scent of paper, and I keep a tester card tucked into my trusty Moleskine notebook.

Coral Crush

The beauty magazines have been pushing coral tinged colors for months, and if you're like me you're tempted to check it out even though coral has NEVER looked natural with your complexion. We're also on the cusp of fall when punchy colors are traded in for smoky eyes or wine stained lips, is it really worth jumping onto the coral bandwagon this late in the game?

At the makeup counter today I found some items that bare a hint of the hot hue but will be workable year round.

Chanel Coral Reef Glossimer- looks neon in the tube, but glowy golden peachy nude on the lips. It adds gorgeous dimension to reds, pinks, and nudes and adds just enough coral tinge to transform colors. Available at counters for $25.

Fresh Blush Cream in Portrait of a Lady- A touch of coral warms up this dusty pink blush which doubles as a gorgeous and long-lasting lipcolor. Paired with Coral Reef and a smoky or nude eye the looks is effortless for the end of summer and fall. Available at www.fresh.com for $28, not so steep considering it's an unbeatable shade and the pot lasts forever

Chanel Fall!

Chanel knows how to make a great red gloss, as proven by the renown of Spark Glossimer. They've hit gold again with Hibiscus( shown at left), which is a little less gold than Spark and a bit more cool berry- much redder than it appears in the photo. If you, like me, get suckered into the gorgeous berry lips of fall year after year, you'll want to check this one out.

The rest of the collection? I'm not so impressed. I like a burnished bronze, brown, or gold eye for fall and to me their eye quads look a little flat and dated. The rest of the lip shades weren't anything to write home about either.

Stainy Day

While the J.Lo nude look is definitely gorgeous in the summer, I get a little sick of it being dragged out year after year. That's why this year I took a hint from Evangeline Lilly on season 1 of "Lost" and Keira Knightley in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl" and looked for something to replicate the vibrant but naturally subtle punchy lips they used to rock before their makeup artists went over to the dark (or rather drab) side of nude lips.



The obvious choice to replicate her look is a lip stain- you don't want to add any texture really, just color- so off to Sephora I went. After making my rounds, Lorac's Sheer Wash emerged as the clear winner. Where Benefit's Benetint wasn't pigmented enough (read: no staying power) and Vincent Longo's Gel Stain had a limited range of overly orange and overly purple shades, Sheer Wash comes in a gorgeous range of colors that last me from 9 to 5 (although not through an oily 3 course meal with drinks, which isn't surprising). The genius rollerball packaging also preempts spills and controls how much product comes out, which is a life saver considering you need maybe a scant drop of stain for perfect rosy lips. I recommend giving your lips a soft rub down with a warm wet washcloth before application- this will deeply stain any flakies as sadly the bloody lip look isn't in vogue this year. I'm in love with the shade Sheer Emotion, a raspberry pinky red that's similar to Benetint which should theoretically flatter pale, tan and olive skinned ladies. Bonus: as Benefit's insanely overpriced Benetint lip balm was used on Keira Knightley in "Pirates," a swipe of shiny balm on top of this shade will give you her look (I recommend mark. Kiss Therapy in Sheer Rose) and you'll want to do so anyway because all lip stains are a little drying. Just be sure to give the stain about two minutes to set first. Those with yellow or olive toned skin might also try Sheer Luck- it's a gorgeous red that unfortunately looked quite ruddy on me. Either of these shades looks stunning with mascara, a bit of eyeliner, and clean polished skin. The travel size retails for $17.50 at Sephora, a great investment considering this bottle should last for a decade.

Going Red Update: Chanel Knockoff!

Friends, a little miracle occurred at work today. As some of you know I work for a plant nursery and my job is stocking plants at Home Depot. While I was moving carts of plants around I found a brand-new sealed Neutrogena MoistureShine gloss in Swizzle on the ground. As if this initial score weren't enough, when I inspected it during my break I discovered that the shade is an EXACT match to Chanel Spark glossimer- it's the same slightly cool toned raspberry red gloss with very fine gold microshimmer. I found that I even prefer the texture of the Neutrogena version to that of Chanel- Chanel feels a little sticky on the lips if you put on a thin coat, whereas the Neutrogena is delightfully not sticky in any way. It almost feels like a high shine lipstick instead of a gloss. If you were hesitant about checking out Chanel Spark because of the price (I know I was) then you have no excuses now, as the Neutrogena glosses are very affordable and regularly on sale. If you're doubtful about the color then at least go to a Chanel counter and try it on, you have nothing to lose with this drugstore look-alike available.

Get the Look: "Gray's Anatomy"

Although I'm by no means an avid watcher of "Gray's Anatomy," I've been a huge fan of the makeup used on the three lead female characters- they have the epitome of that perfect "no-makeup" natural glow that I strive to recreate. Until recently I wasn't quite sure how to replicate the look, but after stumbling upon a drugstore treasure and watching the season finale (um, cliffhangers much?) I think I've got the key basics down.

LIPS- The girls lips are slightly glossed with just a hint of peachy pink color that looks fresh but utterly natural. Neutrogena MoistureShine tinted lip balm in Glow is the best thing I've found to mimic the color- it's a shiny peach with a touch of pink, beige, and golden shimmer that lets your natural lip color show through enough so that the color doesn't look fake. The formula is similar to Vincent Longo's Baby Balm line in slickness and the SPF 20 is a huge bonus for summer (the shade range is limited, but this is a really great product and worth checking out). If your lips are naturally very rosy, you can neutralize them a bit further with either a pale nude lip liner like Stila Glaze Liner in Nude or a thin layer of an opaque pale nude gloss or lipstick like NARS Lip Lacquer in Chelsea Girls. The idea here isn't really to change your lip color, but rather to mimic the nude peachy pink glow while working with your natural lip tone, so don't coat your lips too much or it will spoil the effect.

SKIN- Keep things fresh and clean- cover any spots or under eye circles with concealer and go light on foundation but cover any redness. Pat over any concealer or foundation that you put on very lightly with a damp cosmetic sponge to blend it all into your skin. The girls don't wear noticeable blush or bronzer, but dusting a little glowy highlighter on your cheeks will again help to mimic their natural glow. There are tons of great highlighters out there, but choose on that's very finely milled (read: not glittery) in the peach to pink range- whatever is most flattering on your skin. I like Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks in Rose and Apricot, they reflect light in an almost dewy way and don't show up as noticeable sparkle even on those of us with large pores while providing a hint of color. Sweep it on the tops of cheekbones from the apple of the cheek towards the temple. If you want a little more dewiness in the look, use a pearly liquid highlighter like Stila All Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer.

EYES- If lids are oily prep them with a dab of Urban Decay Primer Potion, then smooth on a light coat of foundation regardless. The idea is to even out the skin of the eyelid and cover up darkness and tiny veins. If you like, sweep on a subtly pearly eyeshadow similar to your skin color (probably in the champagne to cocoa range), but don't use anything too shimmery or frosty- it's texture overkill considering lips and cheeks. Bobbi Brown, Stila, and Tarte are great brands to look at (I like Tarte's Champagne Brunch). If you feel naked without eyeliner, use a damp liner brush to push a blackened brown eyeshadow like Stila Espresso (shown center) into the lash line, which defines the eyes without making an obvious line. Follow with a brown black or soft black waterproof mascara on curled lashes.

Going Red II: Gloss It Up!

After balm, sheer gloss and sheer shiny lipsticks are the next most low maintenance and forgiving formulas- they're more pigmented than balm, but their sheerness and glossiness make them solidly wearable.

My favorite in the sheer lipstick field is definitely Vincent Longo Baby Balm in Boccacino (pictured in the previous post), a dewy berry red that will be my must-have for fall. This line unfortunately doesn't have a true cherry red or anything on the orange side of the spectrum at this time, but fingers are crossed that Longo will expand this line soon.

My favorite gloss is the renowned Chanel Spark Glossimer, which has been touted for years as a universally flattering shade. I first stumbled upon this gem in high school while reading Seventeen; some of you may remember their article which pictured a ton of girls covering a wide spectrum of skin tones who all looked fabulous in it. I can honestly say that I tried it on a slew of girls in my sorority and it looked great on all of them. I think the secret is a slightly pinky red gloss packed with the finest gold shimmer I've ever seen; the cool and warm tones sort of neutralize each other and somehow this makes it work on everyone. Another bonus is that the nonsticky gel formula is buildable from sheer to pretty full-on red, making it highly versatile. It retails for a ridiculous $25, but a tube lasts me about two years with pretty regular use- well worth it for the perfect red.

Another winner I stumbled upon last fall is Prescriptives Rain Gloss in Cherry Storm. The formula is like a very thin watery gel and the effect is like a sheer wet liquid lipstick- it's a formula unlike anything I've ever seen. Cherry Storm is that perfect wet "I just ate a popsicle" look, which leaves the perfect stain of color after the shine is gone. The shine is disappointingly short lived; because the formula has no tackiness whatsoever you can basically lick this one right off (and you might want to, it tastes and smells just like a grape pospsicle) but with a little self control this is one of the most gorgeous lip products I've ever used. The shade range is pretty good too, and makes other bold shades like coral and deep berry equally wearable. It retails for $18.50 which is a little steep considering that re-application is a must after eating or drinking anything but then again you don't need very much product to get a stunning look.

Lip Saver

My last Sephora visit was all about lips. I wanted the best everyday natural but polished work-to-play face illuminating and divinely comfortable lip product Portland's embarassingly small Sephora had to offer. I was sure NARS would have it- I look great in red lips and NARS has some really spectacular reds- but either the light was off both in the store and outside or I was somehow having a bad lip day because almost everything I tried on looked like it was sitting awkwardly on top of my skin. I spent two hours going from brand to brand, and in the process my lips were rubbed raw and sore (it didn't help that a sales associate inadvertently handed me a tissue moistened with rubbing alcohol at one point). But then I came to the back of the store and saw that Vincent Longo replaced another brand while I was at school, and there my lips found heaven.

I tried all of Longo's formulas, and I'm quite impressed. Not only do they feel amazing, but the color selection is stunning. I can't comment on how the range will flatter the entire array of skintones out there, but I found a so far unparallelled variety of the natural "your lips but better" colors that in my opinion are one of the best things a person can put on their lips.

The standout for me was the new Baby Balm line- again gorgeous shades, but the formula is what really won me over. My raw lips felt soothed within two or three minutes of swiping some on, and the redness went down in about ten or twenty minutes. The texture is highly emollient and slippery which some women will find to be a deal breaker, but the slippiness gives lips a gorgeous natural moist shine and I assure you the color and moisture last long after the slip is gone (usually about an hour or after eating). While the description of the benefits of the ingredients on Sephora's website seems like hype, I used this product throughout the trip to NY and my lips never once felt dry. I recommend the shade Fawn Nestle as a year round polished work-to-play neutral nude rose. Although this lipstick is steep at $23 a pop, its .12 oz size is much more reasonable than many other high end sheer lipsticks (Bobbi Brown's Lip Shine is $19 for .08 oz for example) and I think the shade range and texture make this worth investing in if you're a lip balm junkie like me.

Going Red Part 1: The Balm

I first became obsessed with red lips when I read an article in "Seventeen" when I was in sixth grade. My mother's friend's daughter, whom I've never met, received two of the same issue of the magazine by mistake and somehow it made its way to my posession. Beauty magazines were still a great mystery to me, and I poured over the pages over and over until the thing was reduced to shreds and my mom got me my own subscription. I remember visiting this article on red lips time after time of flipping throug the magazine, it seemed that if I could somehow achieve effortless red lips then somehow I would be popular and thin and attractive. As I slowly began building my makeup collection, I've actually found some truth in this. Red lips are empowering, they scream self confidence and ooze sex appeal- if done correctly, that is. And managing it correctly is what seems to keep a lot of women from embracing the look. Over the course of the next few weeks I'll post the tricks and products I've come to rely on, beginning with the least intense ways to do red and ending with full-on cream lipsticks, as well as advice on what to do with the rest of your face.

As a quick note on color selection: the internet and beauty magazines are full of detailed advice on what reds to pick for your skin tone. The essential piece is that reds are made with a variety of undertones, so pick one that has the undertones that you look good in. I.e. if you can rock orange like there's no tomorrow, then go for that hot oranged red from the 50s. If you wear really earthy colors, then pick a creamy rosy slightly browned red. Again not to diss on drugstore lines, but be a little careful- these reds are notorious for turning fuschia and orange so use a tester if at all possible. If you haven't stumbled onto this gem already, www.makeupalley.com provides extensive consumer reviews on beauty items- it's great for getting an idea of whether a product is going to turn a funny shade after application, and for looking at what specific shades work on what range of skin and hair coloring.

The easiest place to start when beginning to work red into one's makeup collection is with a tinted balm- either a traditional Chapstick type formula or one of the sheer moisturizing non plastic shine tinted glosses now on the market. The benefits of its sheerness are that it's very low maintenance- you never have to worry about it smudging or fading strangely, and you can swipe it on without a mirror- and that it's not intimidating if you're anxious about starting to wear red. Where gloss tends to make more of a statement through higher shine and more intense pigment, balm gives the effect of making your lips look like you just ate a popsicle. It's also a great product to use in conjunction with lip stain and to refresh red lipstick throughout the day. My all-time favorite is mark. Kiss Therapy Super Soothing Lip Balm in Sheer Red, which isn't available from mark. at the moment but can still be found on eBay. The formula is a thicker and less fragrant version of Smith's Rosebut Salve, and the tint is an effortless true red, perhaps a little on the cool side. The balm also packs some nice shine and moisturizes very nicely. The bonus is that this stuff is cheap- a few dollars for 12 g. If you can't find a sheer red balm that you like, apply your favorite semi-glossy untinted version and lightly fill in some color with a lip pencil or smudge on a little lipstick before the balm to sheer out the color and it will give the same effect. Once you find a tone of red that's flattering on you, wearing a sheer and shiny balmy version is one of the most effortlessly sexy ways to make a statement.

Other balms I haven't tried but beauty magazines rave about: Bobbi Brown Tinted Lip Balm, Stila Lip Pot in Cerise, and Urban Rituelle Pomegranate lip balm.