Favourite 5 | Dark Lip Colours for Fair Skin

Hello!

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekends, I know I am. I really enjoyed showcasing my favourite red lipsticks so I thought i'd do the same for dark lipsticks. I'll keep this intro short and sweet, but I love how a dark lip can add some drama to a look with minimal effort. Having pale skin I think you tend to stick to lighter colours that blend well, but sometimes its nice to mix things up! Whether its sheer, mate or extra glossy, i've picked my favourite five dark lipsticks that I reach to when I want to add some extra warmth to my everyday make-up.

(This background is so drab - i've somehow lost my fairylights! :( ) 

'Fling Thing' Hyrda-Smooth Lip Colour - Benefit

Oh I love this lipstick! I've been such a huge fan of their Hyrda-Smooth range since I worked there, and this shade is by far my favourite. It's described as a 'very berry', and certainly looks darker on the bullet than it does on your lips. It sounds weird, but this lipstick is one that I wore at a certain time in my life that I will always remember, so this will always be a shade that I love. It's really moisturising and you can build up the coverage without it looking cakey and fake. I really love the double-slanted bullet, which makes it really easy to apply. I think this a really great universal shade that's perfect for day or night.

'Wicked' Lipstick - Topshop

This is actually the newest lipstick I own. Absolutely terrifying in the tube as it's so dark, but applies as a rich burgundy and glides onto the lips effortlessly. Topshop lipsticks are a cult favourite amongst British beauty bloggers and I am certainly a fan. I love how creamy the texture is and doesn't need reapplication after eating which is a definite plus. I haven't found a shade anywhere else like this, so I would definitely recommend if you want a deep wine or oxblood shade that lasts.

'Aura' Rouge Coco Shine - Chanel 

This is a different sort of lipstick than the others in this collection as it's really sheer. I know it looks a little odd and I did think so too, but its nice if you want to pat on a little bit of colour but not go overboard with a dark lip. I'm not a fan of the bullet because its rounded making it slightly before difficult to apply straight from the bullet. It's lovely and glossy and hydrating and is ideal if you want a slick of dark colour without all the drama.

Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss in Shade 30 - Rimmel London

I'm so impressed with Kate Moss' range of lipsticks. The shades are incredible, the finish is flawless and its so affordable at just £5.49 a tube. This is a lovely plum shade with slight pinky tones peeking through. The colour is really rich and probably the truest shade to the bullet. I feel that this would be a shade that suits everyone and its really easy to apply so I have no issues applying it without a mirror or slicking on a bit while i'm on the train.

'Vicious Velvet' Ultra Moisturising Lip Paint - Barry M 

This was the first dark lipstick i'd ever bought. Costing just £4.49, I thought it would be perfect to experiment, as I would only lose a few pounds if I decided it wasn't for me. I love this colour; it's a really gorgeous berry shade that's really long-lasting. My one flaw is that it is really drying on the lips. Barry M lipsticks are supposedly designed to be moisturising, but that's not really the case. The colour pay-off is great though, making it a pretty decent drugstore lipstick if you want to experiment without breaking the bank.

I hope you enjoyed, have a lovely rest of the day!

x

Top 5 | Red Lipsticks for Very Fair Skin

I never thought I could pull off red lipstick. I remember giving it a go once and ordering one online and when I went in to show my mum she laughed and said it looked like I was covered in blood. I know she was kidding, but since then i'd stay away from them thinking I was too pale and that i'd look stupid. It was only when I started working at Benefit, when experimenting with lip colours became my job that I got a little bit more daring. Since then, a love affair with red lipstick began. I know sometimes when it's hard to find products that suit your skin that trying to experiment can be a little scary, so I thought i'd share with you my top five red lipsticks for very fair skin.

'True Love's Kiss'  - MAC

This is one of my newer lipsticks that got given to me back in July and it's taken me a while to use it, purely because I think the packaging is so pretty I much prefer it to be sat on the shelf looking pretty! It's from MAC's Malificent collection, and is a lovely cherry red with just enough warmth to give my pale skin some needed colour! I love the texture of this product as it's super creamy and it's so pigmented you only need a little to get a full coverage lip. 

'Virgin' Glamore Lipstick - Illamasqua

This is the sheerest red out of the five, and the one you need to have the most patience with to get a good colour pay-off. It got there in the end as you can tell, but this is the red i'd most reach to if I wanted something less dramatic that I could lightly dab onto the lips for more of a stain. One negative I would say about this, and this goes for all Illamasqua lipsticks in general, is that the bullet is so pointed it makes it so difficult to apply, so I would definitely recommend applying with a lip brush or using a really strong microscopic mirror!

'Dangerous' Retro Matte Lipstick - MAC

To be honest, this almost didn't make the cut. I originally wanted to include Benefit's 'Dare Me', but I couldn't find it so this was really my back up. I do like it, but when I look back at pictures of me wearing it it is really bright! However, this is the most daring shade (So 'Dangerous' is probably quite a fitting name, ha ha!) and I do feel quite glam when I wear it. It's more of an orange red, so might not be to everyones taste, but definitely something I grab if a standard red lip just isn't enough!

'Mrs. Mia Wallace' - Urban Decay

This is probably the darkest and most highly-pigmented lipstick I own. Having tried a fair few Urban Decay lipsticks i've learnt that they are amazing for strong colour, and this is no exception. Brought out as part of their limited edition Pulp Fiction collection, this is an amazing blood red that is perfect applied on top of the matching lip liner. It's really hydrating and super glamorous; the glossy finish feels very 1920's! For a full review of this product, check out my post here.

'Ruby Woo' Matte Lipstick - MAC

When I first thought about this post, this was the first product I thought of, as it was the first red lipstick that I felt comfortable wearing. Ruby Woo is loved by many as its universally flattering and extremely long-lasting. Matte lipsticks are brilliant for their fantastic colour pay-off, which generally lasts from morning to night with very little need to touch up. When posting this image underneath 'Mrs. Mia Wallace' it may look a little flat, but I promise that this is a product that every lipstick lover needs in their arsenal.

So there you have it! I've definitely started to become more adventurous when it comes to my lipstick choices - i'm trying so hard not to buy anymore pinks or nude corals! I spent a long time feeling self-conscious about being so pale, but now i've really learnt to embrace it. I've now learnt to ignore those 'What shade looks best on your skin' charts you see on cosmetic counters and in magazines - remember, these are just my favourites and if you like it, wear it whatever the colour!