The Spring Season: Cooler Pinks Lipstick Wrap-up

For our next visual recap of the Spring Season, we’re showcasing all of the cooler-toned pink lipsticks.

• #1 (Benefit Jing-a-ling) is like a lighter, cooler version of #8 (Urban Decay Rush).
• #6 (MAC Hue) and #7 (Maybelline Born With It) seem awfully similar, with Hue not quite as pink.  #5 (MAC Angel) is pinker than both the Born With It and Hue.

1. Benefit Jing-a-ling Lipstick
2. Guerlain Gentiane Rouge G Lipstick
3. Guerlain Georgia Rouge G Lipstick
4. Lancome Love It! Lipstick
5. MAC Angel Lipstick
6. MAC Hue Lipstick
7. Maybelline Born With It Lipstick
8. Urban Decay Rush Lipstick

MAC Hue Lipstick

The Spring Season: MAC Hue Lipstick

MAC Hue Lipstick ($14.00) is a soft, played down pinky-nude with a creamy finish and subtle sheen. It’s semi-opaque; it gives my lips a decent amount of coverage, but it will definitely look a little pinker on more pigmented lips. Hue is really one of those classic MAC shades; you either love it or hate it, but it’s just one of those shades you gotta swatch at least once in your lifetime. I never thought Hue would work on me, but surprisingly, it can. I love it with really dramatic, smoked out looks layered with a sheer gloss like Nymphette.

Is this the perfect pinky nude for you? Would you wear it?

The Spring Season is a series of posts featuring my favorite soft beige, coral, and pink lipsticks and lipglosses — all perfect for the first blossom of spring — that runs through March 2010.

See photos and swatches…

Spring Makeup: The Fresh Bloom of Spring with Purple, Green, & Blue

One of the most important things to do when doing a look with distinct colors is to be careful not to over-blend, which is really easy, because most of us put our noses to the mirror when we’re checking to make sure we did a good job on our makeup. It’s important to take a step (or three) back, look at our work, and judge it how others are going to see us. For instance, purple and green do not make a very pretty color when blended together, so it’s important to use a light hand when layering and just barely blend so there’s no line of demarcation.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (neutral beige base), (fuchsia-purple), MAC Stars ‘n Rockets EyeshadowMAC Lucky Green Eyeshadow (medium spring-y green), MAC Moon’s Reflection Eyeshadow (gray blue), MAC Electric Eel Eyeshadow (electric blue), MAC Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow (green-toned gold), MAC Beautiful Iris Eyeshadow (iridescent purple), MAC Femme-fi Eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), MAC Blue Herizon Liquidlast Liner (blue), Urban Decay Electric 24/7 Liner (blue-teal), Chanel Exceptionnel Mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Benefit Sugarbomb (peachy-pink)
• Lips: MAC Hue Lipstick (peachy nude), MAC Lychee Luxe Lipglass (coral)
• Brushes: 217 (blending brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes:

For eyes, start by applying Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the lid with the 249. Using the 239, apply Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Lucky Green eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Moon’s Reflection eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Next, define the crease by applying Electric Eel eyeshadow with the 226. Lightly tap and brush Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Sweep Beautiful Iris eyeshadow along the inner tearduct and above the inner crease with the 217. Bring everything together by applying Electric eyeliner on the lower lash line and Blue Herizon liquidlast liner on upper lash line and then sweeping lashes with  Exceptionnel mascara.

For cheeks, apply Sugarbomb to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Hue lipstick first, and then layer Lychee Luxe lipglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

Eyeshadows:  Stars ‘n Rockets, Beautiful Iris, Lucky Green, Moon’s Reflection, Electric Eel, Gorgeous Gold