Beauty Boost – Burgundy Red Lipstick is an Attitude
Burgundy red lipstick is a great alternative to classic red lipstick when you want to look more dramatic and mysterious. However, for well over a decade, I’ve adamantly refused to wear the fiery hue because I couldn’t find a shade that matched my skin tone. Turns out that all I needed was a darker and more mysterious shade of red and thanks to MAC, I’ve become addicted to their burgundy red- Sultana, Patent Polish Lip Pencil (23 Euros)– baby, I’m all grown up. Continue Reading…
‘Heels and red lipstick will put the fear of God into people‘
Dita Von Teese
Since the time of the Ancient Egyptians, women have applied a crimson shade on their lips for a bold and classic appeal.
However, I could never find the shade for me. Now don’t get me wrong, througout this time many a beauty sales girl has tried to convince me otherwise, but I never found a red shade that gave me that boost.
So for the longest time, I’ve used lip glosses. If you believe the hype, lip glosses are often seen as lipsticks’s younger sister- the more childish one that likes to get her hands sticky and dirty
Ever since I was a child and I watched Marilyn Monroe smoulder her way through Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in red lipstick, I’ve wanted to have my very own.
In fact, growing up in Nigeria, one of my highlights was waiting till my mum left the house, running to her make up cabinet and trying on her red lipstick. Even back then, I thought red lipstick made me look a tad clownish.
Years later when I matured into adulthood and tried red shade after shade in the beauty section of department stores, I couldn’t help feeling like an extra in Spike Lee’s, Bamboozled.
I treat beauty and food the same in that I love both, but I’m all about the ‘Lazy Girls Guide To…’ when it comes to getting what I want.
This means that I could cope with the theory of finding the perfect lipstick- i.e. working out your undertone (I’m warm,thank you very much) and then finding the right shade of red to match.
However, due to the plethora of red shades available for dark skin, I became easily ovewhelmed in finding the perfect red lipstick. After all, some of the crimson shades worth mentioning include- Cherry Red, Burgundy Red, Orange Red, Bright Red…and then there you have to decide if you want a matte or glossy finish.
I can liken it to the feeling you get when you are hungry, find a restaurant and then get offered a menu that reads like a Masters dissertation.
Another reason, why I gave red lipsticks the cold shoulder was I thought that against my dark skin tone, the shade over emphasized the fullness of my lips and I couldn’t find any hue that flattered me- and yes, that included the MACs iconic, Ruby Woo. So in my 20s, I leaned towards more brown or nude shades…I found them more subtle… slimming in a way.
Now I embrace my plump lips and love the lascivious feeling I get when I apply this burgundy red shade. When I wear this vampy hue, my lips read, ‘Yes, I’ve got big lips and HHHWhatT?!!’
4 Reasons Why MACs, Sultana, Patent Polish Lip Pencil Rocks
It’s berry tones
This lip pencil is described as ‘dark grape’ on MACs website, other labels that come to mind are wine red, burgundy red… Call it what you will, this hydrating lip pencil gives you an instant glamour boost.
The ‘sheen of a gloss’
MACs describes one of this lip pencil’s benefits as having the ‘sheen of a gloss’ and I concur. I’ve worn lip glosses for most of my life, so MACs, Sultana Patentpolish makes a good compromise.
Easy Application
One of the reasons I’ve not been a fan of lipsticks is because I struggled with applying them on my lips, you see the lip texture on my top lip is different from my bottom lip. So I was relieved to find that this chubby pencil’s rounded tip glided softly and luxuriously across both my top and bottom lip- even in my pesky inner lips.
I believe girls with fuller lips are more likely to appreciate the pencils’ rounded tip because it follows the lip’s natural curve effortlessy.
Staying Power
In my opinon, this bad boy goes the distance and I’ve tried and tested it on many a clubbing night where my lips have been at the mercy of drinks, sweat, kissing (on the cheek!) And when the lip pencil does wear off, it doesn’t dry out your lips which is always a plus.
What’s your favourite shade of red? Fill me in, in the comment section below.
Today I chose to pair my burgundy red lip pencil with my look-at-me Ankara print skirt and yellow lace blouse.
There’s a special kind of joy I get when I wear my Ankara prints in Europe in the summer. If you follow my blog, you’ll have seen my Ankara collection extends from clothes to accessories.
I think my dark grape lip hue really sets of the joi de vivre-esque colours of my outfit, don’t you ( ; ?
Till next time,
Bisous
Photographer: L Z
Credits
Lip Pencil- MAC, Sultanta, Patent Polish Lip Pencil, Earrings- Gift, Bracelet and rings- I Am, Skirt and turban- Custom Made, Shoes- Office
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