winter lips

Dark lips have become my new favourite thing -- fitting since it's the holiday season.

1. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Plum

- Probably the oldest product out of this bunch and my introduction to dark lip colours of sorts. I've had and liked / loved this for ages. It leaves the sheerest berry tint while moisturizing and bonus: it has SPF 15.

2. Dior Addict Extreme Lipstick in 829 Sunset Blvd

- A fairly recent purchase when I jumped onto the strong lips bandwagon. Allbeit slightly drying over time, it has enough colour to be the perfect in-between too strong and too light. 

3. Urban Decay Super-Saturated High Gloss Lip Colour in F-Bomb

- The first proper red-red I've ever owned / worn, shiny glossy finish and generally kind of perfect.

4. Trish McEvoy Lip Colour in Mulberry

- Well-used as can be seen in the above images; it has a sheer dark berry tint, teeny bit moisturizing, ever so slightly minty, and I've already bought a second in case they suddenly get discontinued.

5. Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Flash in 982 Black Tie Plum

- I tried this on at a counter but decided to think it over and ordered it online and it finally arrived today after decades of waiting. Perfect for layering over reds, plums, whatevers, impossible to apply just with the little brush because it ends up disastrously blotchy and drag queen-like but amazing colour nonetheless.

*Also featured Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Raspberry Bite: read more about it here.

**All images taken with an iPhone 5, processed through VSCO CAM. 

current make up preferences

So I'm kind of a humongous makeup junkie a.k.a. I have more make up than I could ever use and still continue to buy more -- but it's not about having just enough it's about having variety. These are just some of my current favourites - neither things I especially use every day nor particularly new purchases.

1. Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer in Sand

- because I've lost my tan and Fawn is far too dark for me. I gave the the Tinted Moisturizer a break but NYC's ridiculously dry weather is making my face look like a desert and this saves it a little.

2. Nars Multiple Duo in Copacabana & St Barts
- the perfect creamy highlighter / bronzer / contour / whatev combination. (available online only on narscosmetics.com)

3. Stila Convertible Colour in Poppy

- leaves the loveliest and prettiest flush without making me look like a giant tomato.

4. Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Pomegranate Punk

- one of my friends has gotten me loving reddish colours on the eyes which also happen to perfectly fit autumn.

5. Nars single eyeshadow in Nepal

- one of my all time favourite neutral shimmery colours. (Also somehow crumbled a bit from being well-travelled). 

6. L'Oreal Colour Infallible in Iced Latte
- delightfully shimmery and seriously soft.

7. Custom Mac Quad: All That Glitters, Sable, Espresso, Carbon

- probably my most practical palette.

8. NYX Lip Pencil in Hot Red
- drying but is buildable and acts as a lovely base for everything.

9. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Raspberry Bite

- it looks almost burgundy in the tube but comes out as a lovely blue-based red, is perfectly creamy and leaves such a perfect stain.
10. Physicians Formula Eyeliner
- has amazing staying power.
11. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Brownish Black
- a recent purchase I thought I would try as it's something I constantly hear people raving about.

*All photographs taken with my iPhone because I am procrastinating and did this out of pure boredom and to avoid studying.