let's talk about red lips!

Hello beautiful people! Today's look is all about the red lip.  Love it! There's nothing that makes a girl feel more glam and badass than a red lip. Well, this girl at least!

I don't rock the red often for a few reasons: 1) high maintenance, 2) focus (must base everything on my face AND body around it!) and 3) it's not a "work-appropriate" shade (I've tried to sneak it in a few times and was "spoken to" each time! Oops!). But when I do red, I want it to be bold.  No sheer shades for me, thank you! I only have a few in my collection:

MAC Ruby Woo

MAC Lady Danger (bought today after seeing the pic below!)

NARS Jungle Red

Chanel Rouge Allure Laque in Dragon

Revlon Really Red

...and I love them all!

Today I was reading the blog fashiontoast when I stumbled upon a picture of a girl who I immediately fell in love with:

My first thoughts: "Who is that girl and WHAT is that lipstick?! I need it!" With some research, I came to learn her name is Ida and she has a blog of her own. And the lipstick appears to be "Dare" by The Make Up Store, which I can't find available for purchase anywhere.  Bummer. :P  However, when I first saw the pic I thought of MAC's Lady Danger, an orange-y red that's exclusive to MAC Pro stores.  So, of course, I made a trip to MAC Pro JUST for Lady Danger.  Typical me!  I'll use it in a look tomorrow, but today I turned to my #1 favorite: Ruby Woo!

FACE: NARS Sheer Glow, YSL pressed powder, MAC Dollymix blush (REALLY lightly), Dior Amber Glow

EYES: Urban Decay Naked palette: Naked, Buck, Smog, Half Baked, Sin; MAC Blacktrack Fluidline; MUFE Aqua Eyes 10L (lower lashline); MAC Lingering brow pencil; Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara

LIPS: MAC Ruby Woo lipstick (first applied Dior Creme de Rose lip balm and lined my lips with MAC's Naked Liner lip liner)

Nails: Essie Licorice w/Mad as a Hatter on ring finger

Now, the old rule is to focus on the eyes OR the lips, but not both.  Well, that doesn't mean you have to leave your lids bare.  My tip is to use neutral shades on the eyes to create contours and definition without being distracting. I love black cat-eye liner with red lips as well -- although, I always love a cat-eye. :)

Alright, ladies and gents, I'll be back soon with more bloggin'. So far, September's been a great month (of course, it helps that I have my birthday to look forward to!) -- I hope you've been enjoying it too!

Love you all and thanks for reading!

<3 Jess

Oh, and by the way, I'm quitting on MAC Face & Body.  It broke me out all around my jawline.  That's the last time I use a MAC foundation -- never again!