Getting Nude: The Best 'Your Lips But Better' lip shades

Three of life's greatest and most enduring mysteries:

What happens when we die?

Exactly how big is the universe?

And where the hell is that perfect shade of lipstick?

This is a mystery Plato would probably not have pondered, but it's a question on most women's lips, whether we admit it or not.

Not too pink, not too brown, not too nude, not too matte, and just silky enough without being shiny. Too much to ask?

For years I've been searching for a universally-flattering, 'your lips but better' shade of lip colour, and it's been a quest similar to the search for the Holy Grail.

I reveal to you, dear blog-readers, my Top 5*:

NARS 'DOLCE VITA' LIPSTICK: This sheer dusty rose lipstick is often voted the most “universally flattering” lipstick shade by industry professionals, and they're right. High levels of long-lasting colour pigments are suspended in a silky, transculent formula to give a sheer and natural tint, rather than a matte block colour. And the colour flatters pretty much everyone.

CLINIQUE ALMOST LIPSTICK IN 'BLACK HONEY': Inside the sexy little silver tube, the colour looks scarily dark (almost black), but appearances can deceive. Once applied, it's almost transparent. If you're not keen on super-nude shades but still want something neutral and flattering, this is for you. Suits almost every skin tone.

BENEFIT SILKY FINISH LIPSTICK IN 'GOOD TO GO': A very pretty shade of slightly deeper pinky-brown, this flattering silky-finish colour is sheer and buildable, so you can customize your look from natural to amped-up depending on how many coats you apply.

NATIO LIPLINER IN 'NUDE': Applied gently over the entire lip area, a liner can be just as effective as a stick, providing you add a good quality clear gloss or just a Chapstick on top. Bargain brand Natio have invented a colour that deftly manages to be that elusive blend of warm pink with a hint of brown - and for $10, it's a bargain.

My Runner-up lip liner is MAC's Spice, probably one of the most recommended lip liners of all time. Looks great on everybody, works well on its own and also blends with almost every lip colour. Tip: be careful with lip liner or risk working the 'Eminem's Ex Wife' look.

MAC LIPSTICK IN 'TWIG': One of the most popular shades in my collection of 72 (and counting) lipsticks. Coveted by brides who ask to look pretty but not 'made up', and worn a daily basis by women who can't be bothered with full makeup but want to look polished.

HONORABLE MENTIONS GO TO:

Chanel Lip Liner in 'Nude' (handed like a sacred baton between makeup artists, and worth every cent); Revlon Superlustrous Lipgloss in 'Shocking Spice' (Limited Edition but worth hunting for).

TIPS FOR CHOOSING YOUR PERFECT SHADE:

For Olive or Medium Skin:
To highlight olive or tanned skin, always go for shades that will warm up your complexion, such as something with highlights of warm pink or gold.

For Dark Skin:
Go for brown and gold hues. Your natural look should contrast your dark skin-tone ever so slightly, so pick a brown shade with flecks of gold and then finish off with a slick of gloss.

For Fair Skin:
The trick for you is avoiding the "washed out" look unless you want to look like you've not eaten vegetables for the past 5 years. Whatever you do, avoid a beige-nude. Go for a colour with peachy or pinkish-brown tones in it.

Happy nude-ing!

Coming soon... Rosiecheek's Beauty Awards 2009 - The Best and Worst Products of the Year.

~ Rosie x

Best budget makeup brands ever.

'Is there a big difference between cheap and expensive makeup brands?'

This is a question I get asked often... and most of the time, I say yes. A big yes. Generally, higher-end brands have formulas which contain better quality ingredients and higher levels of pigment.

However, nestled amongst the aisles of low-cost makeup, are major brands which perform consistently and boast a range of products worthy of a higher price tag.

If you need to replenish a few supplies but don't want to blow the budget, behold my All-time Favourite Bargain Makeup Brands:

THE OSCAR GOES TO: RIMMEL
Rimmel's brand statement is "Get the London look". Hmm. Personally I prefer not to look freezing and pale... but odd catch-phrases aside, in my opinion Rimmel is, the best true budget beauty buy on the market.

Why? For the extremely low price, Rimmel is a higher quality than many other leading cheap (and many expensive) brands, the range is constantly updated and reflects new trends, the products have good levels of pigment and the colours have a wide-ranging appeal.

TRY:

'RECOVER' FOUNDATION (ABOUT $17AUD): Trust a British brand to develop a product especially designed to conceal the effects of a cracking hangover. A cheap and perfect solution for the day after the night before, this is one of the best anti-fatigue, light-reflecting foundations I've tried. The primer is pretty damn special too.

VINYL LIPGLOSS (ABOUT $10AUD)
Many cheaper glosses make me look like I've locked lips with a vat of olive oil, and any wisp of hair will stick to my lips like glue. Not so with the the Vinyl range. A non-sticky formula and a carefully chosen range of colours, including fresh summery peaches and neutral pink-browns which suit almost everyone. Second prize goes to Rimmel's Sweet Jelly range - a sheer, sweet gloss which tastes amazing too.

Also look out for: 60 Second nailpolish (a fun, chip-resistant range of summer brights and Uma-Thurman-darks at an ultra-cheap price); Hide the Blemish concealer (great coverage); Volume Flash Mascara (does what it says); and a very decent range of eye shadow quads for next to nothing.

THE BEST SUPPORTING ACT GOES TO: MAX FACTOR
"The makeup of makeup artists"... Umm... I've never seen a professional makeup artist with a kit full of Max Factor, but kudos to being the brand for budget foundations and great lip colours.

The brand may not have the grooviest reputation, but the formulas are sturdy and reliable - essentially this is the beige Mitsubishi Lancer of the makeup world.

Time after time, Max Factor produce a solid product which, despite not being the sexiest addition on the market, performs even better than the last.

TRY:

MIRACLE TOUCH FOUNDATION (ABOUT $27AUD): A weightless, seamless formula which glides on smoothly and delivers beautifully blended, long-lasting coverage. Great if you like a slightly fuller coverage and a no-mess application (it comes with a high quality latex blending sponge).

LASTING PERFORMANCE FOUNDATION (ABOUT $27AUD): My first brush with the brand came through this particular foundation, and I stuck with it for 2 years before reluctantly daring to try something new. It lasts all day, all night and into the next morning if you're still going - and never cakes, fades or creases. It's that good.

Also look out for: Second Skin foundation (almost undetectable coverage); their excellent range of cream blushes and Lipfinity glosses (the pretty pink 'Angelic' just scooped a major beauty award for Best Gloss of 2009).

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

BOURJOIS: If only for the superb range of eyeshadows and liners, and the '10 Hour Sleep Effect' foundation: a miracle in a bottle.

LOREAL: Spookily similar to Lancome and worth a go. The True Match Minerals foundation is the only budget brand of mineral powder I can recommend without hesitation.

REVLON: Because every self-respecting makeup kit should contain a Super Lustrous lip gloss in 'Pink Afterglow', 'Shocking Spice' or 'Glossy Rose'.

NATIO: Because their lipliner range (less than $11AUD) features some of the best nuetral shades ever - try 'Tulip' or 'Nude'. And the primers, tinted moisturisers and nail polishes are all outstanding quality.

...MEH:

Covergirl and Maybelline.

Tips:

~ When buying cheap, be careful with eyeshadow in particular. Test it by rubbing your finger lightly onto the shadow. If the colour doesn't appear really dense and slightly creamy on your fingertip, avoid it - it's loaded with fillers and will fade faster and look nastier than than a WAG with a cheap spray tan.

~ Beware of cheap foundations with talc as a main ingredient (check the ingredients on the label). The flash of a camera against a talc-based foundation will leave you with a face whiter than a post-surgery Michael Jackson. Talc should stay where it belongs: on nana's bathroom shelf.

Happy budget buying!

~ Rosie x

Rosiecheek is taking your suggestions for blog topic posts! Post your suggestions on the rosiecheek Facebook site or send me an email: rosiecheek@y7mail.com

I'm dreaming of a tight Christmas...

Are you one of the lucky (or annoyingly rich) people who will be running rampant through the shops this Christmas in a no-expense-spared present buying spree?

If so, I suggest you close the screen now. There's nothing here for you today.

If, however, you're one of the millions on a belt-tightening mission as a result of the biggest market crash we're likely to see in our lifetime, this one's for you.

A recent survey by Westpac revealed Australian consumers are indeed dreaming of a tight Christmas.

But considering we need to purchase an average of 12 gifts every festive season, it can be a hard task to keep costs down without looking, well...tightarse-ish.

With a predicted 2009 national spend of about $2.5billion on Christmas gifts, I want to try do my bit to reduce a few credit card bills, so I've scoured the shops to determine the three best value (and most attractively packaged) little makeup gifts - all for under $40.

And not a showergel-set (yawn) in sight!

TOO FACED: NEW LIMITED EDITION GLAMOUR TO GO III ($32.95AUD)
The marketing people at Too Faced might have done their sums incorrectly because this really should be retailing for about $70. Eight quality eye shadows in very wearable colours, 4 lip glosses in neutral shades to suit most lips and a blush. But not just any blush - the perfect shade of peachy pink to flatter almost everyone. Manages to be sleek and kitsch at the same time - not unlike Too Faced celeb ambassador Katy Perry.

NP SET "JET SET" ($35AUD)
The Napoleon spin-off (available at Tar-jay) has come up trumps with the ultimate all-in-one package of fabulousness. 18 eye shadows (all great shades and many with a subtle hint of shimmer), 4 bronze-based cheek colours and 4 lip glosses, encased in a portable and sleek white clutch that would look at home in the travel bag of a Bond girl. Ridiculously attractive and extremely good value.

BENEFIT BIG BEAUTIFUL EYES PALETTE ($39.95AUD)
I've had borderline religious experiences at the Benefit Counter, and this product is my mecca. Everything you need to create beautiful eye makeup in a few easy steps. Contains boi-ing (the industrial-strength concealer), an alabaster pink base shadow, a cocoa shimmer contour shadow, a rich chocolate brown liner shadow, two brushes for easy application and an illustrated, step-by-step professional makeup lesson. The perfect gift idea for the eye makeup novice or expert.

Tip!

If you're lucky enough to have a vacation (or a staycation) in the US or France, put Sephora on your hitlist for a mind-boggling array of makeup gifts at low prices.

Visiting the Sephora flagship store in New York City, I felt like Dorothy entering Oz. But sadly we're still in Kansas and must live in hope that Australia gets with the program and opens a Sephora store - soon.

Happy Christmas shopping!

~rosiex

Aisle be back...the secrets to perfect wedding makeup

Weddings: a day when tinted moisturiser and Chapstick just won't cut it.

Wedding makeup: two seemingly innocent little words that render a groom silently baffled, and many brides in a state of mild panic.

If you (or someone you know) is tying the knot and interested in a professional makeup artist, how do you know who is right for you?

Behold - hints for choosing a professional artist and tips for perfect wedding makeup:

Plan ahead
Many makeup artists will be booked not weeks in advance, but months in advance. They'll be frantically busy at peak wedding times (warmer months and Spring) so begin your research as early as possible.

Do your research
Speaking of research, a Google search will produce dozens of results for available makeup artists in your region. The trick to finding a rose amongst potential thorns is to look for qualifications (at least a Certificate-level qualification in Makeup Services), experience in formal events, a portfolio of images and testimonials from previous customers. But don't let marketing-speak do the talking. Which leads me to...

Book a trial
The average makeup trial costs between $70 - $120, but it's worth every cent. I met a girl who told me she forgot to book a trial and met her makeup artist (an underqualfied masquerader) on the morning of her wedding. Not knowing how to describe what she wanted, the bride ended up with candy-pink lips, trowelled-on foundation and mauve eyeshadow. Frosted mauve eyeshadow. Too rushed and too shy to request a change, she walked down the aisle in a stunning vintage gown, but with a face that resembled a Playboy Bunny on crack. Obviously a one-off nightmare scenario ...but worth remembering.

Prepare to go slightly heavier
Makeup novices usually freak out at the mention of "heavier" makeup, expecting a face that would make Tammy Faye Baker look underdone. If you're having professional photos, it is necessary to wear more a bit more makeup than usual or risk looking slightly washed out. The flash of a camera flash sucks away colour from the face, so prepare for a little more emphasis on your best features.

Ask for classic
If you want to look polished but not overdone, the golden two words to ask for are: "classic and neutral". Looking back on photos in 20 years time, 'statement' makeup will always look dated.

Avoid matching the eye makeup colours to bridemaids dresses or flowers
It's more common than you think. Hello, 1984.

Love thy artist
Almost every makeup artist adores their job - and it shows. A good makeup artist will turn up on time. A great makeup artist defines "on time" as 10 minutes early. It's important to find someone friendly, professional and calm - and a sense of humour helps, too.

Waterproof mascara.
No explanation needed.

Primer
Why? Read my previous blog post on makeup's little miracle worker.

Pack a mini kit
It won't look freshly applied all day and night so pack a mini makeup kit of blotting papers and your chosen lipstick (or a sample).

Be careful with 'dewy'
Every bride wants to look dewy and fresh, but avoid too much highlighter or you'll be working the Canola-oil look in photos. The same goes for lipgloss. Wear something creamy and matte for a longer lasting and polished result.

Pash-proof your lips
No lipstick will stay perfect all night but the secret to longer lasting lipstick is to prime, line your lips, add lipstick with a brush, blot - and apply again. This technique will ensure your smackers last through about 15 kisses with your beau, and one unexpected lip-smash from drunken Uncle Barry.

Upcoming blog topic: Stay tuned for the top 5 most wearable lipstick shades, including 3 colours which are consistently chosen by brides.