What’s a girl to do when she is desperate to freshen up her look, but either has no time to roam the shops or is light on spending money?  Head straight to the make-up counter, that’s what!  It’s how I came to up my pout action this winter.

 

The quickest, easiest way to make you feel a bit perkier, more confident and a whole heap better when you have zero time is to slather on a new lippy.  It can be a total game changer, not just to your face, but your whole appearance.

 

It started when I was working at an event one evening in Bath last Autumn.  Greeting guests I wanted to look smart, welcoming and professional, but I didn’t have lots of time, so I dressed in my usual ‘smart PR uniform’ and ran out the door.

 

Getting closer to the venue, I realised I had 10 mins spare, so I quickly nipped in to the nearest store that I knew had a MAC counter (luckily opposite where I was working) and caught the attention of the nearest assistant.

 

Here’s the tip if you’re going to make a purchase with confidence and not dally around, ask for help.  I briefed the assistant on the look I wanted to achieve (I want people to ‘see’ me) and voila, within three minutes I was wearing Tropic Tonic, a matte finish high power coral.

 

Thrilled that I was finally out of nudes and not wearing Rimmel Heather on loop I ventured back to MAC, this time in Bristol, and asked the assistant to help me identify which shade of red would suit me.  We should always have at least one good red in our armoury, don’t you think?

 

I have a range of red lipsticks in my make-up kit, none of which I’m entirely confident with and I really wanted a look that had stand-out and add some brightness to the amount of dark winter colours I would be wearing.  Boom.  This is Mangrove, a bright, matte finish, red.

 

Both colours get me through Christmas and now I’m on a roll, so I go through my make-up drawer and find that I’ve empty make-up containers of MAC cosmetics.  A quick look online confirms that MAC still run a fantastic recycling campaign – take six empties back and you can pick up a brand new lipstick for FREE.  Off I go to John Lewis at Cribbs Causeway on the lookout for a new pink.

 

Looking for a hot pink I’m disappointed when the assistant advises against anything that has a ‘blue’ tone (it won’t suit my skin tone, which needs more warmth), but once the assistant pops Twig on my lips I quickly change my mind.

I love this pink and I can dial up or down the depth of shade it is by layering, blotting and re-layering it on my lips.  This brownish-pink lipstick has satin finish and is more creamy than the other two.

 

Three new looks and I feel really happy with them.  So much so that I am throwing out a number of lipsticks that I purchased a few years which don’t really do that much for me.  You know, the ones that you keep for when you get some colour?  I have a bunch of them!

 

One nude that is staying the course is Velvet Teddy (in Matte).  It is quite a rich deep-toned beige in the stick, but I was surprised how light it looked in this picture.

 

A great everyday lipstick, Velvet Teddy is my kind of nude.  I would love to wear baby pinks and creams, but they absolutely drain my face, so I think sticking to brighter colours is the way forward for me, particularly as I’m getting older. I want colour to lift and brighten face that make me feel good, inside and out.

 

Perhaps try this trick next time you need a little lift.

 

Have a fun weekend.

 

Gail xx

 

Do you like to wear brighter lipsticks?  What brands do you love/hate?  Please share your thoughts below…