Favourite Spring + Summer Lipsticks

I thought I'd share some of my favourite lipsticks for spring and summer. I'm all about bright pinks, corals and red. A positively delightful bouquet of colours!

As a quick note, I just wanted to add something I didn't notice when I filmed this quick video. I bought three NYX Round Lipsticks (Eros, Fire and Frappuccino) and have noticed a soapy taste to Eros and Fire. Frappuccino is quite odor-free, so it's a little weird (maybe it has something to do with the red dyes they use?) Anyway, it's very, very subtle and some people might not notice it and I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt and see if it bothered me when I wore it and unfortunately, it does. I don't really like lipsticks that have strong smell or taste and the fact that it's soap makes it worse. I'm so sad because Eros is such a beautiful colour, but I really can't stand the taste. 

I just thought I'd add a little footnote of warning in case anyone is interested in purchasing these!

What are you sporting on your pucker this summer?
                                                                 

The Retro Bride

Marcelle Double Precision Liquid Eyeliner Pen in Intense Black

Maybelline Great Lash waterproof mascara in Very Black

Ardell human hair falsies in 116

NYX Auto Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Brown

NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder in Black/Gray

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in Soft Beige

Jane Iredale Amazing Base Loose Mineral Powder in Bisque

Milani Baked Powder Blush in Corallina

Benefit Watts Up higlighter in Soft Focus

Sephora lip liner in Real Red

ELF Moisturizing Lipstick in Velvet Rope

Here it is, the bridal look you've all been waiting for. One of my favourite looks for regular life, truth be told. It's the classic vintage cat-eye liner with a bright red lip. I already know this works on me, I wear it all the time. It's just a very clean face kind of look where the focus is on the eyes and lips. For my wedding, I would probably kick it up a notch with an even thicker eyeliner, more highlighting shimmer shadow on the lids, and a deeper and peachier blush to tie it all together. 

If you compare the last two images, you might notice the last photo has much longer and fuller lashes. I couldn't decide if this look really needed falsies or not so I'm asking you guys what you think. On the one hand, falsies really add such a feminine, striking touch to any look and I think your wedding is where you can really go all the way in the makeup department. But on the other hand, falsies might take over the eyeliner, which is a key feature I would really want to highlight.

Either way, this is one of my staple makeup looks that I would definitely be confident creating on my wedding day. I think this look is making it to the finals!

                                                 

Classic Bridal Makeup

Frockers, as you may or may not know by now, wedding bells will be tolling for me in about a year and I'm knee-deep planning. We're going to tie the knot in Vancouver since both of our families live out west and I've spent the past two months researching for a venue that 1) fits into our $10,000 total budget and 2) will do as much work for me as humanly possible for what I understand is a very small budget. Naturally, our little destination wedding will be a lot more complicated to plan since we're on the other side of the country and can't meet with vendors, venues, caterers etc. I used to live in Vancouver, but I didn't exactly frequent wedding venues on the regular. I just really wanted to find a place that's hassle-free and an all-inclusive kind of a deal so that any additional work on our part would be minimized.

Well, we've just booked a lovely little historical house turned restaurant called the Brockhouse, situated right along Jericho beach in the heart of VanCity. Their garden and lawns seem very lovely, their tent will come pre-decorated with drapey ceilings and chandeliers, they'll play classical music during lunch, provide all the tables and chairs, linens, silverware, food, servers....we practically just have to show up! And since we're reserving during the shoulder season, the price is one of the cheapest I've been able to find anywhere in the city! Even though we haven't actually visited the site yet, we were pretty confident to just sign the contract and visit later. Since we got engaged, the venue was the main thing I was concerned with since the intersect of my requirements (see above) didn't leave very many viable options. Now that the venue is booked, I feel like the biggest chunk of the puzzle has been figured out and I can start solving the smaller (and more fun) parts. 

LIKE MAKEUP! We're trying to save money wherever we can and nearly everything that's not taken care of by the venue will probably be a DIY job. However, before committing to the whole DIY makeup thing, I do think I'll need to practice, test and experiment, and that's where you Frockers could help me out. I'd love to post the makeup looks I'm considering for your feedback and tips! Let me know what you think looks good cause that'll really help me figure out if 1) I'm good enough to really be doing this on my own and 2) what would look the best on the big day. I haven't gotten a dress yet and don't really know what style I'm going to go for, which will really affect my final styling decisions, but I gotta start practicing now! Y'all may think I'm some kinda makeup guru-expert with tons of beauty know-how, but what you don't see on the blog (or in life for that matter) are all my failed attempts and terrible decisions. Really the only reason I'm remotely confident enough to walk out the door with any makeup on are a couple of undeniable facts on which I guide my makeup life: it's all about experimenting and finding out what works for you.

This first look is what I like to call the "classic bridal" look. It's a soft goldish-brown, muted smokey eye with some shimmer to it, paired with a nude-blush lipstick. I also slapped on some BB cream, powder and blush, but did not bother to do anything with my lashes (imagine I'm wearing some natural-looking falsies.) Mostly, I just wanted to test the eye shadow look and what kind of a lip would look good with it.

And I gotta say, I impressed myself with this attempt. I've tried this look before and it has never turned out this well. Maybe it was the several YouTube videos I watched right before trying this, but I really like how it looks. It feels like just a soft and pretty smokey eye. It's noticeably more made up than I normally would be, but not too harsh or vampy. Apologies for the weird lighting, I was sitting in front of the window and there's a bit of a glare. Also, shout out to the broken closet door behind me! I don't know if you guys can tell, but apparently, I'm super strong cause I broke the door by just attempting to close it. HULK SMASH.

Anyway....so what do you guys think? Should I put this look in the bridal makeup running?

Sephora Collection Mini Shopping Bag Makeup Palette
Annabelle Trio Eye Shadow in Quartz (just the darkest colour)
Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Blackest Black
NYX Auto Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Brown

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in Soft Beige

Jane Iredale Amazing Base Loose Mineral Powder in Bisque

ELF Studio Blush in Peachy Keen

Benefit Watts Up higlighter in Soft Focus

Rimmel Moisture Renew lipstick in Nude Delight

L'Oreal Color Riche lipstick in Nature's Blush

                                                                            

Five Makeup Faves for March

1. Lancome Hypnose Mascara: A lot of people believe that Lancome makes the best mascara and let me just say, I am one of those believers. This mascara gives me exceptional volume and length and never clumps. Nuff said.  

2. Physicians Formula Eye Booster in Ultra Black: I've never worn too much black eyeliner in my life until recently where I now wear it about once a week. This is one of those products that I bought a long time ago and only now started using. This liquid eyeliner has a very fine tip which is great for creating a thin line and it stays in place. It goes on very smoothly and easily and has a great, dark pigmentation.

3. Elf HD Blush in Headliner: This product has been part of my daily makeup routine for a couple of years now and I own it in several shades. I've been using the light pink Headliner shade for the month of March because let's face it, my skin is at its most pale right now. This creamy blush is perfect if your skin is on the dryer side like mine. I find this blush lasts all day unlike many powdered blushes and it also has great pigmentation.

4. Rimmel lipstick in Bordeaux: In Jackie's recent post, she reviewed a ton of her go-to lipstick's because she is indeed, our resident lipstick guru. I always go to her for lipstick advice and this was one of her recommendations taking into account my recent affection for dark red/burgundy lip shades. If, like me, you are a little uncomfortable with a classic bright red lip, this is a must try.

5. Annabelle Lipsies Strawberry: This is a great everyday gloss that just adds a little girly glam to your face. It has a thick crayon-like applicator and is very glossy with a nice reddish hue. A great lil pick me up when your lips are feeling sad.

Getting A Bit Lippy

Hey Frockers, back when BOF was in its infancy, I posted about some of my go-to lipsticks and I thought it was about time to update you on some of the new additions to my lipstick collection! Some I like more than others, but they all have their advantages and a place in my little lipstick drawer.

Forgive the flaky lips, I did all the swatches at once (not a good idea)! My lips were burning a bit afterwards...

Rimmel Moisture Renew in Nude Delight

I discovered this little gem a couple of years ago and what I like about it is that it's a little bit peachy so it looks really really good on warmer skin tones like mine. A lot of neutral or cooler toned nude lipsticks look terrible on me. The formula's decently moisturizing and I also like to use this shade to layer with other lipsticks to get a nice customizable shade.


Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Dolce

This is a darker toned nude that I wear occasionally that's a bit more on the brown side. What's tricky about this one is the gold flecks in the lipstick can make your lips look kind of metallic. Also, since it is an "all-day" formula, it can get a bit drying so I recommend putting a bit of balm on top, but the staying power is pretty decent.


Annabelle Stay Sharp Lip Liner in Nude

This is new addition to my collection and I have to say, I LOVE the colour and I use it as a lipstick. It's kind of like the Rimmel Nude Delight in that the colour is very light but doesn't wash my lips out. It's the perfect everyday nude shade for my light to medium skin tone with a warm yellowish undertone. It's supposed to be super long-lasting and when I swatched it on my hand, I had a really hard time rubbing it off. On your lips though, you'll have to reapply once in a while, like after eating, but the staying power is pretty decent. The downside is that it's super super drying. I have a hard time even running the liner across my lips cause it's so dry. I recommend applying balm before using this one.


Make Up Forever Rouge Artist Natural in N9

This is more of a deep rosy colour that really just serves to enhance your natural smile. It's not exactly moisturizing, but it's not matte, and the sheerer formula adds just a hint of colour. I usually reach for this one on days when I'm going for a "no makeup" look and just want a touch more colour on my lips than their natural colour.

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate in 06

This is a nice bright blue-toned pink for those hot summer soirees. It's an amazing pop of colour in anyone's makeup look and although I don't tend to go for cooler toned lipsticks, I find this one works quite well on me. The formula is decently moisturizing, although I don't think the line is meant to be a moisturizing lipstick. And the staying power isn't the best, but it's not the worst either. It's a classic bright pink for anyone's collection.


ELF Moisturizing Lipstick in Coral Cutie

This is a warmer-toned bright pink, really just a classic coral. Honestly, the formula could be better. It's very sheer, you have to really layer on the colour to get the right effect. But I find that the more I layer, the more it accents the dry flakes in my lips. It does look moist on the lips, but I feel like it's more due to the formula being kind of oily. Still, I love this colour for spring!


Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Tesoro

This is an amazing bright orange-red shade that gives you a really matte finish that's smudge-proof. The colour is definitely the winning feature of this lipstick because I have to say, it's not my favourite "all-day" formula. And the colour tends to still rub off nearer the inside of my lips, which gives that unsightly harsh line of lipstick that suddenly just turns into skin. It's not an impossible problem, you just have to reapply periodically, but I also find the lipstick sometimes clumps and gathers into annoying little flakes of colour/skin in the same area. And I can't help but pick at it. Points for the amazing colour and pigmentation, but there's a new kid in town that I think has usurped this one as my new go-to, long-lasting red...


L'Oreal Infallible Lipstick in Infallible Red 

I have just discovered this new lipstick by L'Oreal and it is the best "all-day" formula BY FAR. It doesn't clump or flake and I can literally go all day without a single reapplication. It's so hard to get it off at the end of the day, but I consider that to be a pro and not a con! And where other all-day lipsticks tend to be a bit drying, this one comes with a top coat that's sheer and really just adds a bit of moisture to your lips. And the colour is extremely bright and pigmented which is a major plus for me when it comes to red lipsticks. This is definitely a new favourite for me!

Marcelle Rouge Xpressions Cream Lipstick in Amour

I wasn't sure what to expect from this one, but it's a really nice classic red that will probably enter my regular rotation. It's very creamy and moisturizing, the colour is nicely pigmented and although you do need to reapply a bit after eating, it's a really nice kind of everyday bright, neutral to slightly warmer red that would probably work on most skin tones.

Annabelle Twistup Lipstick Crayon in Cherry

This is a perfect deep red colour, great for fall and winter. It's not quite maroon, not quite bright red. The formula seems to dry out pretty fast and it gets a little more difficult to apply after you've had the crayon for a while, but the colour is lovely! Definitely my go-to wine shade for fall.

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Fiery


This is another nice deeper red that I would probably reach for if I needed more staying power. It's not bad in terms of colour, texture or staying power and it may not stand out as much as some other shades for me, but it's a good lipstick to keep around.

Rimmel Lasting Finish in Bordeaux 

This is a nice deep maroon colour, essential for any bold collection of lipsticks! I love this one in particular because there's still a hint of red and it's less purple than other oxblood shades, making it less goth and more chic. And it's also buildable, if you do want it to appear darker with less red, you can just add another layer or two and practically get a different colour!

So there you have it, Frockers! I hope my little review helps y'all in your own personal lip-wear quests. Let me know what you guys think of these colours, or share some of your own favourites, cause I'm always looking to add to the collection! This is one addiction I don't care to squash...

                                                                    

Ditching the Coat

Jeans: Zara / T-shirt: H&M / Kimono: Forever 21 / Sweater: Joe Fresh / Booties: Target / 

Necklace: Smart Set

This week, we had a few days of what we could call almost-Springlike weather so I decided to ditch the coat. It doesn't mean I've officially packed up my winter gear but at least for a brief moment, I could enjoy a Spring day. Instead I went with a layered look consisting of a kimono and a long cozy sweater. I must admit, I was feeling so naked without wearing a hat so I whipped on a new lipstick (recommended by none other than our resident lipstick queen, Jackie), it's called Bordeaux by Rimmel and I love it. I'm calling it now "Burgundy is the new Red." You heard it here first! Have a good weekend, Frockers!

Lip Service

Sometimes a good lipstick is the best accessory. Whether you're blessed with a plump pucker or a slimmer kisser, adding a punch of colour to the ol' lips is one of my favourite ways to add interest to any outfit.

If you're new to lipstick, a nice pink or berry is an excellent place to start your new lip-tastic adventure!

1. Revlon Super Lustrous in Fushia Fusion
2. Revlon Super Lustrous in Berry Rich
3. Maybelline Moisture Extreme in Windsor Rose
4. Sephora Color Lip Last in Rose Bouquet

If you want to go more bold, there's nothing I love more than a rich red or coral.

1. Sephora Rouge Creme in The Red
2. Maybelline Moisture Extreme in Royal Red
3. Revlon Super Lustrous in Kiss Me Coral
4. Rimmel Moisture Renew in Coral Chic

What are some of your favourite lipsticks?
                                                               

The Eyes Have It

Photos by Kyler Kelly

Classic smokey eye with a colourful twist!

1. Apply primer onto lids with fingertips

2. Sweep a light metallic green shadow across entire lid

2. Dust a metallic emerald green shadow onto the lash line and blend outwards

3. Using an eye contouring brush, dust a matte evergreen shadow onto the outside corner of the eye and extend slightly up and outwards

4. Blend, blend, blend!

5. Line upper and lower lashline with black liquid liner

6. Finish with one or two coats of black mascara

- Sephora Collection Medium Shopping Bag Makeup Palette

- Rimmel Fix & Perfect Primer PRO

- Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper

- Maybelline Volum' Express The Colossal Mascara in Glam Black