Every May 10th, all of us lupus survivors around the world, try to spread awareness in the hope of giving lupus a face. Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means that the immune system doesn't differentiate between healthy tissue and sick, so its attacks everything, leaving the area attacked weaker. As you know if you've read my blog before, (and if not, welcome!) I have had lupus for over a decade, but I didn't get diagnosed until three years ago. It's tricky to diagnose, since it mimics so many other diseases and there is no single test that confirms it. There are also many different types of lupus, such as discoid, which affects the skin only. Rock star, and really hot dude, Seal has discoid lupus. (No, they aren't tribal scars!) I have SLE, (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) which affects the whole body.
Let's get to the fun stuff!!!!
The colour for lupus awareness is purple, so I thought I'd blend my love for a bold lip with some awareness fun!
Since my lips are super dry, the matte lip trend is a tough one for me. Mattes usually look flat and dry on my lips, and are really uncomfortable. I have, however, found a couple of exceptions to that, and they're by Maybelline! I talk about the Creamy Mattes, which I love, here, so I thought I'd try the Colour Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Colours. I heard some great things, and since I had luck with the lipstick, why not?
The Vivid Mattes are a velvety smooth, marvellously pigmented cream in a sleek rectangular tube, with a really well done doe-foot applicator. I don't usually worry about a doe-foot, kind of figured that you've seen one you've seen them all, but nope. Not true. The applicator is slightly elongated and the edge is more defined, which gives a cleaner application. With softer colours, you can fudge it a bit, but with something this dark, it makes a huge difference!
The formula, according to the Maybelline webpage, is "infused with pure-pigments for high impact colour", and does it ever deliver! The colour payoff is outstanding. The shade pictured above is "Possessed Plum". It's a rich blackened plum, which is ideal for spring/summer's dark and edgy lip trend. It was all over the Met Gala, and I find it such a breath of fresh air! I love coral and hot pink, but this thrills me to bits :) There was a bit of patchiness on application, since it's a darker shade, but after giving it a second swipe, that was taken care of. I did a quick pass with some lip balm before I started, since I had no idea if my lips would freak out as soon as the lip colour was on, but my lips were happy chappies after application! I didn't feel dry or cakey at all. The formula does have a soft floral scent, not unlike the Elixirs, and I felt a touch of tingling, but it was pleasant to wear. The finish is more of a soft-semi-matte, almost satiny. I find that a much more appealing finish anyways. a dry, chalky matte lip is wonderful if you're 18, but it doesn't always translate into the grown-up world. I'm an awful judge of wear time, nothing lasts long on me. I need to have hydrated, comfortable lips at all times, so if I get a few hours out of something I'm good, and that's what I got from this. Once the colour starts to wear, it leaves a great berry-tinted stain behind that I just swiped some non-shiny lip balm over. TaDa! Gorge new lips!
It's safe to say I'm a fan! I can't wait to pick up some more of the ten, (yes ten!), shades!
Are you guys familiar with Courtney from "La Belle Sirene"? If not, you need to be! Courtney is a lifestyle/beauty/fashion blogger with spectacular style. Her blog is girly, pretty and elegant and the fact that she's ridiculously beautiful doesn't hurt, either! She is also, like myself, a Lupus Survivor! (We totally need a better name. Lupus Lovelies? Leave it with me...) She faces her illness with grace and positivity. We all hope to face each day in that way. It's not always easy, but it's what we do.
Lupus is frightening! It's often passed off as hypochondria, or else met with complete panic. The truth is there are lots of us out there, and we all have differing degrees of disability. The ten year survival rate for lupus patients has risen from 40 percent in the 90's to 60-80 percent now. It's not good enough! To learn more, or find out how to donate for a cure, check out lupusontario.org.
Have you tried the Vivid Matte Liquids yet? Let me know what you think, and if you have any questions about living with lupus, ask away, Kids!!!!!
Donna Xoxo
