Lancome Lip Lover. Colour And Care In The Best Package Ever! (Also A Little Health Update)

Hello, my neglected wee orphans!

I have been a bad blogger.  There's been a few things keeping the muse at bay of late, and I feel like I should share a little bit of what's happening with you guys.  I feel that you share your time with me by reading my little labour of love, and you deserve to hear why I've been a bit out of touch.

First, let's talk about my new fave lip product!

I had the pleasure of attending World MasterCard Fashion Week in Toronto last month, and it was such a great experience!  I'm working on a full recap, and trend report so keep an eye out for that.

A week or two before, my lips cracked and split in a few places.  I panicked!  How can one be expected to do Fashion Week sans lipcolour?  I healed up nicely, but my lips were extremely dry an is a d sensitive.  I still couldn't wear most lipsticks or glosses.  They irritated me, or dried out too quickly.  That is until I tried Lip Lover by Lancôme!

A few months back, Lancôme released their entry into the lipstick/balm hybrid world.  Lip Lover is a highly pigmented liquid lipstick with a balm-like texture and gloss-like shine.  The 3-in-1 elixir formula contains a balmy base for ultra cushiony comfort, saturated pigments adhere to the lips for long lasting vivid colour, and a shiny layer remains at the surface for a dewy finish which also protects the lip.  The result is a soft, rich, nourishing formula which provides a great colour payoff, and lasts for hours!

The shade I chose was Belle de Rouge #356, which is a clear rosey-red.  It has a my lips but better quality to it, and gives an elegant hit of colour.  Such an amazing product that's worth every cent of the $29.00 price tag!

 

 

As I mentioned above, things have been a bit rough for the last month or so.  My lupus has progressed, and it can`t be controlled with my current treatment plan.  I`ve been suffering with pain, lethargy, stiffness, and some neurological issues.  In late September my Doctor talked to me about the next step in treatment.  A form of chemotherapy is often helpful for lupus patients, so we decided to do some tests to see if there was a chance I`d respond to the chemo.  The test results show that I should respond well to it, so as of next Monday, I start the treatment!  The dose of medication is much lower than that of a cancer patient, so the side-effects won`t be as severe.  I`ll be run down, lazy, may lose some hair.  The first 12 weeks will be hard, but by spring I should be a dancing machine!

 

So, in the meantime I`m rocking a short pixie, and enjoying my last weekend of wine for the next six to nine months!  My yoga pants are prepped, and my Annie is keeping the couch warm for me.  If I`m MIA here and there know I`m thinking of you guys, and I`ll keep you updated.  I also have some really cool posts which I`m working on to keep me occupied for the next few weeks! 

 

Be well Boys and Girls!

 

Donna Xoxo

The New Neutrals. Flat And Boring Need Not Apply!

One of the biggest trends to surface for the last few seasons, has been the return of the no-makeup makeup look. 

The new version of neutral is nude, but with a little kick!  We should add a little spice to the gumbo, so to speak.

Usually when you think of a nude makeup look, matte taupes and beiges come to mind.  It's a clean polished look, that has seemed to be the go-to for daytime.  My favourite way to give a neutral face some spark is by using metallics.  Add a little copper to the eye, some gold to the cheek and that will bring a little interest to the face without adding loads of colour!

 

 

The first step in a neutral makeup look should always be a good primer.  This look is about a flawless face, with healthy and luminous skin.  The Almay Smart Shade CC Luminous Primer is perfect for a glowing canvas with which to begin.  It allows foundation to apply smoothly, adding a pearlesence to the skin that is just heavenly!  I talk a bit more about this primer here.  It's a must try!

 

For eyes, I chose a palette that has a taupe with a little shimmer for the lid, and a coppery shade in the crease.  A copper liner brought some warmth to the eyes as well.  The palette shown is No7 by Boots which I picked up in Scotland, but I'm really intrigued by The Nudes by Maybelline!  This looks like it has everything for a new neutral and more in it!  The liner is by Quo and it's part of their holiday collection which is out soon, if not already available.  These liners are gorgeous!  The colour is creamy, and they wear a long time without smudging.  I'll discuss Quo Holiday soon.  It's so good!

 

 

A nude lip can be tricky to pull off.  There usually has to be a caramel or rosey undertone in it to avoid a corpse-y look.  Texture is also important when it comes to a nude lip.  I personally like a bit of a sheen to nude lipsticks.  Shimmer, or gloss, but I find a true matte in a yellow shade looks like death.  Not pretty.  My go-to lipstick for a nude lip is Lancôme Colour Design Lipstick in Vintage Rose.  It has a mauve undertone which is great for us pale girlies.  Unfortunately, the Colour Design line is being phased out, but the Rouge In Love line is wonderful!

 

For the cheeks, I used a soft pink blush and a bronzer together for some warmth and definition.  A softly enhanced brow finished off the whole face!  This is nude makeup that won't wash you out, or make you look like you're going to work in you cubicle in an insurance agency in the 90's. 

 

What are your nude makeup tricks?



Soft And Pretty Radiant Orchid Eyes! Some Lancome Love

I always find this time of year can be a little awkward as far as makeup goes.  I'm sooooo over winter, but I still have to wear boots and heavy sweaters.  I just cant rock a turquoise eye look and a furry boot at the same time! 
I really want to though!
Instead, I'm going to do something soft and pretty.  Thank you Radiant Orchid!
Along with Pantone's exclamation of this year's colour, came a myriad of purple shades!
Just in time!

 

 

I started with Lancôme's Brightening Palette in Lavender Grace.  I applied the base colour all over, and the shimmery lilac shade on the lid.  For a contour, I used Lancôme's Colour Design Zip Me Up since I wanted something with some warmth to the shade.  I went back to the palette for the liner.  It's a really pretty violet which I applied close to the lash lines just to anchor the whole look.  A little definition, not drama, is what I'm after!

I did a sheer rosey blush, and a soft hilight for a glowy finish to the skin.  I used L'Oreal's new Extraordinaire liquid lipstick in Purple Prelude for a sheer mauve stain on the lips.  I really like the new hybrid formula lip gloss\balms that are hitting the shelves these days!  I'll be talking about this in a post soon.  I have to get a Maybelline Elixir in my arsenal first so I can make a more informed discussion.  (I'm so full of it, I just want one, really!  Whatever gets me through the day!)

 

Just to switch it up a bit, I added some bubblegum pink shadow to the lid, and changed the lip to a sheer petal pink.  The shadow is Lancôme Colour Design in Makeover and the lipstick is Benefit Hydra-Smooth Lip Colour in Air Kiss.  Pretty too, non?



Ladies, if you haven't used Lancôme shadows, you have to do it immediately!  They have such a great formula!  The texture is smooth with an ah-may-zing colour payoff.  The price point is only a bit higher than a MAC shadow, and the texture is worlds apart.  It's really worth it to take a look next time you need a shadow.

What do you guys do to cheer yourselves up when winter feels like it will never end?

And, yes, I'm having my hair coloured this weekend.  The grey is out of control!  It's terrifying how little brown is left under all the red!  Next time you see me, I'll be my fiery redheaded self again.

 

Donna Xoxo



Makeup Looks for Saying Goodbye to 2013

Happy Holidays!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, and has been enjoying some time off.
Most of all, I hope everyone has their power back on!
What the HELL was that????!!!!
We lost power for about 36 hours, and after the first 10 or so, Ray and I were bored, delirious and freezing!  Even my poor doggie was cold!
We were pretty lucky though.  I can't imagine having to leave my home for a week, or going through that with young kids.  (I did however get a text from a friend, who has a 10 week old and had to pump breast milk in her Subaru.)
Now, to the subject at hand.
New Year's Eve!
No matter what you have planned, New Year is always an opportunity to be fancy!
Try something a little gutsy and colourful!
I have a few looks here that are fun!  A little colour goes a long way towards brightening your face, and making you feel confidant.
Go for it!!!

I love a smokey-ish eye in something unexpected, like turquoise.  It brings such an inherent sexiness to the look without being obvious.  I have a taupe and gold combo eyeshadow on the lids, and I also have black liner very close to the upper lashes and the lower waterline.  This gives some depth to the eye and makes the whole thing a little Rock and Roll!  For the turquoise liner I used a beautiful waterproof liner from ArtDeco.  I brag about this in more detail here.  I applied a heavy line of the Art Deco above the black on my top lid, and a nice  thick one along the bottom too. This is not the time to be subtle!
Add lots of mascara, a good dose of hilighter along with a pale, shiny lip and Sexy is your middle name!

We all know how much I love Lippy right?  Love the feel, the richness, the elegance!  There is no way I'd discuss NYE looks without offering an option which involves a bright lip!  I went with a fuchsia shade instead of red for a more unusual feel this time of year.  Red is classic, while this feels like a more modern choice.  The best thing to do while wearing a dark or bright lip is prep like a champ!  Too Faced Lip Insurance is an amazing primer!  It gives hours of wear.  A good lip liner is a life saver too!  Make sure it's waterproof, like Sephora's Waterproof lip liner.  Makes a huge difference!  After that, apply your lipstick from the tube, or with a brush.  I'm wearing Lancôme's Colour Design in Fuchsia Clutch.  It's a gorge satiny shade, non? 
All you need to go with this is mascara, brows, and a sculpted cheek!   HOOOOTTT!
Well, Happy New Year Guys!
Thanks so much for all of the support I've gotten from each and every one of you in the past year!  It means more to me to be able to write this blog than I can say, and I couldn't do it without you!
 I wish you all the best for 2014, and I'd love to hear any plans for New Year's Eve, or resolutions for next year!  An Occasional Redhead has a few interesting things coming up!

Donna Xoxo

Lancôme Concealer and Other Miracles

I've missed everyone!!!

I'm sorry that I've been so MIA for the last couple of weeks!  Been a little under the weather, and I was also in paradise for a couple of days!  (Muskoka is sooo pretty)

Now that I'm back, I'm going to tell all the ladies a few secrets which should be useful in life. 

When your mothers told you that womanhood is a gift from start to finish, they were soooooo full of sh!t!  

They say that menopause is quick, and doesn't happen until you're old. 

I started at 35. I'm almost 40 now. 

Menopause Blows. No other way to say it!  Blows with a capital B!

Last week my chin exploded with cystic acne. Hideous, marble sized acne. 

Not. Good. At. All. 

I'm usually lucky with my skin. Never had bad breakouts, not really blotchy. 

Well, that's out the window. 

My go to concealer these days has been Clinique All About Eyes. I like the texture and shade. The coverage isn't great for zits though. 

I went rooting around in my artist kit, after there was nothing appropriate in my everyday kit. In that little gold mine I came across my Lancôme Effacernes Waterproof Undereye Concealer. 

I love using this concealer! It spreads beautifully, covers everything, and lasts through a hurricane!  

The only reason I haven't used this in the first place, was the shade is on the darker side, but as luck would have it so am I right now!

I dotted a little bit on the beasts that had taken up residence on my face with my concealer brush, blended a bit, and set it with some powder. (Thin layers are the key here, Ladies!)

Oh. My. Giddy. Aunt!

It worked!!!!

The coverage was beautiful, and the texture is so lovely and liquidy for something that complete!  

The price is a little steep at $35.00 but for the coverage and the small amount needed, it's worth the splurge!  A good concealer is a huge part of any kit. Total must!

I'm absolutely picking up this little miracle once I go back to my winter skin tone!  

What do you think of splurging on a good concealer?  What's your little skin secret?  I'd love to hear!

Donna Xoxo

What Looks to Rock This Fall, and How to Try Them Tomorrow!

One of the most exciting times of the year for me is when the fall makeup collections come out. 

I love the richness of the hues, and the textures!  

I want to wear them immediately. 

This very second. 

So I'm going to!

I'm of the mind that every shade can be transitional. It's all in the application, and placement of the product. 

Lets discuss some fall trends, shall we?

Eyeshadow is still all about colour!  Two of the biggest trends on the fall runways were orange-tones and deep purple shades. Both look fresh when used in a smokey eye, or as a sheer wash over the eye. The most modern shades, in my opinion, were the glossy copper at Givenchy, and the rich prune at Gucci. 

Above, I have a few shades that are going to be great applied in a wash over the entire eye now, and then up the intensity when it cools down. 

Bottom left to top right:

Lancôme Colour Design in Model, Estée Lauder PureColor in Smokey, Lancôme Colour Design in Spontaneous. 

Next, I'm going to speak about grey. Glorious grey. Grey is HUGE this fall!  What makes it new this year is the softness of it. It was sheer, but very impactful at Alexander Wang. For now, soften a cat eye, by using a charcoal in place of black. 

Lips are going to be wine, wine, wine. All the way from berry to plum. The look is very textural, either matte, stained or ultra-glossy, but quite opaque. Derek Lam showed a beautiful stain on his runway. One of the prettiest effects of the season was a stain which focused most of the colour in the centre of the lip creating a soft diffuse colour toward the outer edges. So very pretty!

Top: 

Lancôme Le Rouge Absolu in Merlot

Bottom Left to Right:

Clarins Mono in Urban Grey, Covergirl Naturelux GlossBalm in 245 Pinot

I'm beyond excited for some new in my makeup repertoire!!!!

How about you?

Donna Xoxo

Donna's Top Five! My Go-To Lipsticks for Every Occasion.

Happy National Lipstick Day!

I just found out that July 29th is National Lipstick Day and this makes me soooooo happy!  I love the idea of a whole day devoted to lipstick. 

Not gloss, not balm. Good old fashioned lipstick!

I love the feel of a lipstick. I love the way it looks, the way it glides on the lips. I love the sense of glamour and how it seems like I'm complete once its on!  

Just the act of putting it on feels sexy and Old-Hollywood to me!

Here are my Fave Five lipsticks. (In no particular order)

1- Maybelline Colour Sensational Vivids in Shocking Coral. A pretty pink toned coral That's fun to wear. I did a post on this one not too long ago!  Worth a revisit!

2- Lancôme Colour Design in Desert Bloom. This rosey shade is a great neutral for days when you want a soft lip, but not a nude, especially if you have a good amount of pigment in your lips like I do. 

3- Avon Anew Youth Awakening Lipstick in Bordeaux. A gorgeous creamy burgundy. Gives a great fullness to the look of the lip. 

4- Lancôme Colour Design in Red Stiletto. Everybody needs a great red, and this one more than fits the bill!  It's a blue toned shade that works with most skin tones. Elegant beyond belief!

5- Lancôme Colour Fever in Fuschia Fever. This magenta is an attention getter!  

What are your fave lippies?

Donna Xoxo

Fuschia Fever! If There's a Cure, I Don't Want It! ( I'm so lamesometimes!)

Oh my, I love lipstick!
I love it's feel, I love it's look. A lipstick can be the biggest mood booster ever invented. Want to feel sexy? Try a glamorous red! Want to look playful? Go for a bubble gum pink! Sophisticated? Choose a rich berry, or rosy shade!
I spent my afternoon at my brother's pool with his ancient pug Charlie, but had a few things to do first. Couldn't wander the streets looking homeless now could I? How to look casual, but still slightly glam?
Why, a fuchsia lip does the trick!!!
My skin was a tad shinier than I would like, seeing as it's 300 degrees out. However my eyebrows and lips rock!(if I say so myself.)
My favourite lip liners are Lancôme Le Crayon Lip Contours. They are retractable, soft, and have an amazing colour payoff! I always fill in the entire lip if I'm wearing a bold lipstick. It wears much better. The shade of this liner is Berry.
The lipstick in this pic is Lancôme Colour Fever lipstick in Fuchsia Fever. It has, sadly been discontinued. However, it has been replaced by a liquid formula called Le Laque Fever in Electric Pink. After applying any bright, or dark lip, a great tip is to dip a Q-tip in translucent powder and run it along the outside of your lips. This is an extra barrier against bleeding.
As far as the hat goes, in the beating hot sun, function must on occasion win over fashion. It's so cute, but I have a freakishly small head so I had to get a kids hat to fit me! Grown-up ones are ginormous!
Keep cool, and keep SPF'd (is that a word?). If anyone has a lip trick to share, I'd be happy to hear it! You can never have too many after all!

Donna Xoxo