Candy Lips: My Lipstick Collection

From L to R: MAC Myth, MAC Blankety, Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Liberte, YSL Rouge Volupte Lingerie Pink, MAC Viva Glam Gaga I, MAC Quite Cute, YSL Rouge Volupte Frivolous Pink, YSL Rouge Volupte Fetish Pink, MAC Candy Yum Yum

If there is something you should know about me regarding lip colour, it’s this: I only wear pink or nude.  I hate to say it but I really think that dark colours, reds, etc. don’t look good on me.  I would totally pull off a hot pink lip confidently, but if I were to wear a bold red one, forget it.  I’m just not comfortable with it.   So here is my collection.  These are the colours that I reach for most often and my most recent shades.  I have a ton of other lipsticks that are pretty old which I wear every once in a while, but these are the colours that are on regular rotation.

Alright, so when it comes to lipsticks for me, like I mentioned before, I gravitate towards pink colours and nudes.  I like my ‘sticks to have good payoff and a unique shade.  The hotter the better.  As for my nudes, I want it one of two ways, one being concealer on lips (MAC’s Myth) or an everyday “I’m wearing lipstick but it’s not that noticeable” kind of shade. Nude colours are perfect for lazy days or office jobs.  My favourite shades of nude are Myth and Blankety, both by MAC.  Blankety, although it looks brown in the tube, is a nice neutral colour, it adds a bit of life to you compared to what Myth does. As for pinks, I am obsessed with baby pinks, MAC Viva Glam Gaga I, Saint Germain and YSL Rouge Volupte #7 Lingerie Pink (which are more of like porn star pinks).  I also love hot pinks a la MAC Candy Yum Yum and YSL Rouge Volupte #8 Fetish Pink.  And then I have the plain old “work-appropriate” pinks which are like neutral pinks like YSL Rouge Volupte #19 Frivolous Pink. To round out my collection I also have a few random colours like MAC’s Quite Cute (a white-lavender shade) and Chanel’s Rouge Coco Shine in Liberte which is a coral colour (shocking I know, I never wear coral.  I’m still trying to adjust).

Alright, so what do I look for when choosing a new lipstick?  Colour, colour payoff, and other little “bonuses”. For example, YSL lipsticks (my favourites) smell like mangos and literally glide on your lips and are the creamiest lipsticks I have ever come across. They are quite pricey (at $34 USD, $37 CDN I think, a pop) but to me, they are so worth it.  Also, they don’t sell them in my city so whenever I travel I grab one so then I don’t feel that guilty. As for the rest of my colours, I really like MAC lipsticks, there are a variety of different shades, in different textures, colour payoffs, and more.  With MAC you can get a sheer, glossy lipstick (Cremesheens like Quite Cute), or a creamy crazy colour payoff one (Amplified ones like Blankety or Saint Germain), or a pigment-rich shade with absolutely no shine (Matte colours like Candy Yum Yum or Myth).  Check out Nordstrom’s guide to MAC lipsticks here.

Honestly, it may look like I have 10 lipsticks that are the same colour, but trust me, they all apply differently, some have shine, some are brighter than others, etc.  They may look the same, but there are a variety of factors that make them different.   So how do you choose the perfect colour for you?  Well, it depends on a variety of different factors.  Don’t just buy the colour if you love the shade. Sure, I love the look of orange lipstick, but trust me, I’ve tried it and it makes me look like a clown.  Take a look at your skin tone, hair colour, face structure, etc.  There are a number of different things to take into consideration when choosing the perfect colour for you.  I’m no expert on this topic, but if you do a quick Google search on it I’m sure you will find a number of different hits that will help you find your perfect shade. What are your favourite lipstick colours and brands?  Leave a comment below.