the little lipstick dictionary

Nothing says glamour quite like a prettied-up pout. Whether you’re on your way to the supermarket, coming from the gym, or meeting the boy’s parents for the first time, a little lipstick goes a long way {just ask Gwyneth Paltrow}. Be that as it may, the shades that work for the boardroom aren’t always as well-received when attending a party, or navigating the dating world, and vice versa. Enter the little lipstick dictionary. Your makeup drawer will thank me later. Kiss, kiss…

meet the family Meeting the family {or, more specifically, the parents} of the boy who is the current star of your happily ever after calls for femininity in the lipstick department. For such introductions, playful peaches a la NARS Barbarella are ideal, providing just enough color for a confidence boost without entering the vixen territory of red shades.

date night {the first} To kiss, or not to kiss, that is the question {asked by all those embarking on a first date}. Boys are notoriously intimidated by red lips - due, in large part, to the mess created if kissing is involved. But, opposite sex aside, red is a color associated with power and seduction, two things that could reel a guy that you may not be into {this is, after all, a first date} in. A rosy shade - think Chanel Rouge Coco Hydrating Creme Lip Colour in Mademoiselle - is my go-to. It's romantic and noticeable, yet never over the top.

shopgirl Less-is-more when it comes to lipstick hues for shopping days. Shades in the nude / pink spectrum - like Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Lip Colour in Peche - are subtle enough for that barefaced glow, and minimize the risk of lipstick stains or transfer if when you're trying on clothes. Hello...is there even such a thing as a shopping day that doesn't involve dressing rooms?

interview… Red radiates confidence; but it has the potential to reflect over-confidence when worn on a job interview {first impressions, ladies}. Berry shades {I love Yves Saint Laurent ROUGE PUR COUTURE SPF15 - Pure Colour Satiny Radiance in 4 Rouge Vermillon} are a happy medium. They manage to be both strong and au courant; while avoiding all semblance of cockiness.

out on the town {let’s dance} What is it they say about nights out on the town? Oh yes...Time to drink champagne and dance on the tables. Red is an absolute must; but go sheer and glossy {no mattes allowed}. My pick? L'Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick in True Red. Every girl should have a tube in her makeup bag.

the corporate world There are times in the working world when you feel as if you'll never survive. In other words...meeting and presentation days. You're surrounded by your co-workers, and want to radiate seriousness, sophistication, and sheer know-how. Wine is in order, darling - no, not in a glass...on your lips. Wine lippies are wise, and effuse importance - precisely what you are seeking. Apply a few swipes of Buxom Full Bodied Lipstick in Menace, and call me in the morning. It will see you through all shenanigans of the corporate world variety. Trust me.

party down Allow your pucker to be the guest-of-honor at any party you attend - be it dinner, wedding, or otherwise - with a variety of vibrant pink hues that you and your lips will find yourselves in the throes of a love affair. I'm currently in a long-term relationship with Smashbox's Be Legendary Lipstick in Pink Petal. Pretty does not even begin to describe the perfection of this shade.

xoxox

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