The Sultry Season: Illamasqua Growl Lipstick

Illamasqua Growl Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a deep reddened brown-wine with opaque color coverage and a low sheen.  This is a shade that will last six to eight hours without much work, because it has a drier formula, it really clings to lips.  I don’t find Illamasqua’s shades drying, but they do take a little more pressure to apply.  They’re creamy and yet not slippery.   This shade sits right between MAC Media and MAC Underworld.

Is this the right vamp for you? Would you wear it?

The Sultry Season is a series of posts featuring deep, rich shades of brown, berry, plum, and wine lipsticks and lipglosses — just right for autumn — that runs through October 2010.

See photos and swatches…

Illamasqua Growl Lipstick

The Sultry Season: MAC Media Lipstick

MAC Media Lipstick ($14.50 for 0.10 oz.) is a deep, dark red wine.  This is a shade that also works particularly well as a lip stain–just layer a little on, blot, and then dab a touch of clear gloss on top and voila.   For a satin finish, Media is very… lustre-like.  It has that slicker feel of a lustre finish lipstick, but it also has the look of one.  I do find that Media settles into my lip lines more than I’d like, though.

Is this the right wine for you? Would you wear it?

The Sultry Season is a series of posts featuring deep, rich shades of brown, berry, plum, and wine lipsticks and lipglosses — just right for autumn — that runs through October 2010.

See photos and swatches…

MAC Media Lipstick

The Sultry Season: Make Up For Ever #49 Rouge Artist Lipstick

Make Up For Ever #49 Rouge Artist Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.12 oz.) is described as a satin blueberry, and though I would never have thought to use the word “blueberry” as a descriptor, it kind of is.  It is very similar to the color of baked blueberries–very dark, a tinge blue, but veering on purple.  This is a rich, intense shade–very vampy.  I felt all, “I vant to suck your blooooood!” when I wore it, but it is sexy in a dark, sultry way.  It is an opaque shade that goes on and feels a bit dry initially, but it’s not actually drying when you wear it for a few hours.  The color clings and hugs lips and this shade gave me five hours of wear, plus a residual stain.  It was scent- and taste-free.

Is this the right vamp for you? Would you wear it?

The Sultry Season is a series of posts featuring deep, rich shades of brown, berry, plum, and wine lipsticks and lipglosses — just right for autumn — that runs through October 2010.

See photos and swatches…

Make Up For Ever #49 Rouge Artist Intense Lipstick

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Raven kohl power (black-purple), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Blooming blush (soft pink)
• Lips: Bing mattene (dark purple/black), Jampacked lipglass (dark purple)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Raven = Foxy; Bing = Cyber; Jampacked = Desire

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Line lower lash line with Ravek kohl power and apply Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Blooming blush using the 129. Apply Bing mattene to lips, and then top with Jampacked lipglass for color and shine.

See more photos and close-ups…

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (creamy neutral base), Next To Nothing eyeshadow (cool neutral), Tempting eyeshadow (bronze brown), Dark Edge eyeshadow (cool dark brown), Ricepaper eyeshadow (soft neutral highlighter), Orpheus kohl power (black gold), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Dainty mineralize blush (soft peachy pink)
• Lips: So Scarlet lipstick (deep red), Jampacked lipglass (dark berry)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Next to Nothing = Shroom; Dark Edge = Smut; Orpheus = Buried Treasure; Dainty = Peachykeen; So Scarlet = New York Apple; Jampacked = Desire

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Soft Ochre paint pot all over the lid as the base with the 249. Apply Next to Nothing eyeshadow all over the lid using the 239. Apply Apply Tempting eyeshadow on outer lid and into crease with the 239. Darken the outer crease using Dark Edge eyeshadow using the 239. Sweep Ricepaper underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Orpheus kohl power on lower lash line, and Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Dainty using the 129. Apply So Scarlet lipstick to lips, and then top with Jampacked lipglass for color and shine.

Here is the “experiment” portion! First two are with Bing mattene and Jampacked lipglass. The last two are with Clinique’s Red-y to Wear and MAC’s Boundless 3D glass.

And when all was said and done…

Had to tone the lips down

For my challenge, I chose my arch nemesis:  Alta Moda. You can see how Alta Moda looks on its own, but how I attempted to make it more “me” friendly by adding a lipglass on top.  Plus, you can see a comparison of this look with and without upper lash liner.

I used Cash Flow paint pot (LE) on lid, Casablanca eyeshadow (LE) on inner and middle of lid, Embark eyeshadow on outer lid, Smut eyeshadow on outer crease, Nylon eyeshadow above crease and on brow, Blacktrack fluidline on upper lash line (in some photos), Graphblack technakohl on lower lash line, and Plushlash mascara on lashes. I had Other Worldly blush (LE) on cheeks with Daisydust beauty powder (PRO) to highlight. I wore Alta Moda prolongwear with clear gloss and Red Romp lipglass (LE) (in some photos) on my lips.

** These are recommendations for dupes based on permanent colors available – may not necessarily be identical; they are the closest I can think of!

Cash Flow = Patina; Casablanca = Nylon, Other Worldly = Trace Gold; Red Romp = Russian Red

Just Alta Moda + Clear Lipglass

I VANT TO SUCK YOUR BLOOD!

Alta Moda + Clear Lipglass + Red Romp Lipglass

“Cat Eye”

“Cat Eye”