Lippy

Wednesday 2 October 2013


You know how sometimes you have one of those days where you just know you look a bit rough? The eyes are a bit panda. The face a bit hangdog. The hair is on par with Worzel Gummidge's and the bagel belly is well ...bagelly and big. Basically it's all conspiring against you? What can you do?

Well for a start you can stick a pair of sunglasses on. Panda eyes sorted. You can tie your hair up or tuck it in a hat. Hair sorted. You can wear a big jumper and hide the belly. Belly sorted. But the face? Hmm. What can you do about the face? A balaclava is likely to scare small people in the playground and get you arrested so best not try that one. How about a bit of lippy? Or in my case, a smidgeon of lip gloss? Just to detract from the rest of the face. A cunning tactic yes?


Me doing my best Cyclops impersonation.


That's me with a bit of lippy on. Honest. I am wearing some lippy. Look! The lips they are a touch pinker than usual!

I often see a lady in the playground - she doesn't always wear lipstick but when she does, the effect is "Bam!" She doesn't wear a pale pink or a blink and miss nude but a strong deep reddish colour and it makes her look super glam. Even when she's wearing her running gear. So I've decided for those days when I don't quite make the grade and I need to put that extra 5%, I'm going to turn to this little pot of dark red goo.


Barbara Daly lip gloss in Cherish


Bit Scary Mary the colour isn't it? Looks really dark, but lightly dab it on, smudge it a bit and voila!  You get instant pretty lips. I would liken it to that "bruised lips cos I just had my face snogged off" colour. You know what I mean ;o). I don't think it lasts that long on but then again, that doesn't bother me as a girl who doesn't want to look obviously made up and would prefer for something to fade gently rather than leave me with a lip linered bouche.

I found this little pot of goo on a Tesco supermarket shop. It's Barbara Daly's Cherish lip gloss. It reminds me a lot of the Clinique Black Honey lip gloss which I keep meaning to go and buy but somehow I never quite get round to doing. It's because it's like spending money on something I'm not going to use (much) or forget to use.

I tried smiling in to the mirror to show off my pinkish lips. For all those who used to watch Lie to Me - this is what is known as the smirk.

Do you like my fake smile? Aka smirk.


And because taking pics of yourself with your face in the mirror is actually really hard, I don't know why but I tried doing a bit of the Green Cross Code too ....

Look left                                                             Look right.


.... and I did a bit of the ear tweaking and gazing in the distance blogger pose too ....

 The Ear Tweak.                                              The Gazing in the Distance.


.... and that's me genuinely answering the phone mid photo shoot (get me)!

Multi-tasking! Give the woman a round of applause.


Honestly, trying to take half normal pics of yourself in the mirror is weird and actually really hard to do. And for all those bloggers who have their pictures taken every day - I salute your awesomeness. 

But back to where we started - so what's your favourite lippy colour which lights up your face?  And what tricks do you employ when you're having a bad day? Do share.






36 comments

  1. My favorite bad day weapons are dry shampoo, a messy hair bun, and a big old smokey eye. I've got a quickie smokey routine that can be done relatively quickly. Also - oversized top and a big cozy scarf. Finish with a giant mug of tea. All better!

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    1. Just any makeup makes a big difference on my old face because I don't normally wear any. I tried it again today and it does have a strangely uplifting feel. Not sure I will remember to do it every day but some days, needs must. If I ever get to meet you - you must make up my face - you look like an expert.

      And big slouchy clothes - I love them too - so comforting - but they make me look so bad. But the cup of tea - I'm definitely with you on that one. Tea makes the world a much better place. Especially Earl Grey. And a good magazine.

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  2. That's a nice little pot of gloss there Sue! I feel like this is the sort of conversation I could go to town on over a coffee at Meadowhall (if you ever fancy it let me know!). I actually have a bad hair day every other day so it's dry shampoo and tie the thing up! Mascara is the thing I can't do without - helps me look slightly more alive! Can't just do the lippie thing as the rest of my face looks weird to me. Being old and married it's been a while since I had the bruised lip 'face snogged off' look but I have fond memories! ;)

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    1. I just don't get this dry shampoo thing. I think it's because the only one I tried (Batiste) years ago, it just made me look like I had dandruff. I tried it again recently and it just made my head itch. I must be doing something wrong. I haven't worn mascara since 3 years ago when someone put it on for me and I bought some recently which I tried and failed miserably to apply. Someone buy me a make up lesson please.

      And Meadowhall - I've not been there for a while. We'll see what we can do :o)

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  3. Just realised I've said 'thing' in 3 separate consecutive sentences - this is not good!

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  4. Hehe, get you-you're getting those blooger poses off to a fine art!! I really love the colour of the gloss, it's noticeable but not overly so, subtle and stylish are the words I'm looking for! You do look lovely with a bit of lippy, it's inspired me to start wearing mine a bit more xx

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    1. It's not much and it's very subtle. I wish I could do that full on red lips thing but it's not me. I love it on other people though.

      And the bloggy poses? The hardest ones are actually the ones looking directly in the mirror and still trying to look normal and not either cross eyed or squinty.

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  5. I am getting me some of that. Love it!!

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    1. Might join you and buy a spare pot. Saves me buying the Clinique. And cheaper.

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  6. You have such beautiful lips - wow. Is it possible to have lip envy? I have it.
    I love a bit of lip gloss and just bought one with a touch of red - very not me and I feel like Barbie when I wear it!

    Fiona

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    1. Lip envy. That is a new one. The only lip glosses I've bought have all been nude ones so I thought I'd branch out. This one's really subtle or it is the way I wear it. Put a tiny dab on and smudge it around ... and then blot so it becomes a little matt. Pretty sure that's not the way to do it but I can't do shiny shiny lips either. Told you I was rubbish at makeup.

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  7. I also salute "those" bloggers, some people are just so damn photogenic it's untrue! Anyway back to lips - I've kind of gone of gloss a bit this year, can't stand my hair sticking to it so have gone back to lipstick although this does look very pretty on you, if it's cheap I may try it out anyway xx

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    1. It's true - some people really are truly photogenic. They just don't take a bad picture. And they know how to pose. It's a skill. Definitely.

      And you're right about sticky lips with gloss but I always do a little blot afterwards. I really must try lipstick. I think I have a freebie somewhere in a drawer. Infact I have lots of freebies in a drawer somewhere. Probably out of date as well.

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  8. oh you look so seductive Susie in those shots....fab lips. I just normally go for a neutral lip gloss but recently went back to a lipstick for a big of glamour, like you say about the lady at school who looks glam with just a flash of dark lipskick. Chilli by MAC I got, I tried on some true reds and it all looked to scary. Funny about the bloggers photos, that's why I cut my head off on the ones I take of myself in the mirror, the concentration on my face, I look scary!! You my friend look gorgeous....you should show your face more!!

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    1. I've been a nude lipgloss girl for years - they are my failsafe. My last one was a Kiehls. I decided to break out of my comfort zone and it's not that horrendous. As long as it's not too pink, that's okay with me. I don't do it all the time and it wears off after a cup of tea but that's okay. At least I tried.

      And I actually have the same problem as you - I must have taken about 40 photos to get those few. The look of concentration borders on demented sometimes. But thank you - you're too kind.

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  9. I love that lipgloss, fab colour! I am one of those mum's who cannot leave for the school run without a spot of lipstick on and I think am the only person who still buys lipcote!! I am now off to purchase

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    1. Hi there! Lipcote! Wow, that's a blast from the past. Not my past I have to say because I'm not a makeup girl in any shape or form but I do remember seeing it on the shelves on Boots. You should try this lip gloss colour - it's prettier on than it looks. Just sneak it in the shopping basket - I won't tell.

      So what are you going to do about the pink coat? Decisions, decisions!

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  10. Yes, red lipstick is a total must on those days. Like me, today. Pretty sure my hair looks kinda terrible, so I've pulled it back and put hairspray in (although I think this may have worsened the effect) and did my usual make up plus some rid lippie. Now I feel less like $1 and more like $10. Small improvements haha.

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    1. I'd love to do a red lipstick but I just look like the joker. I have actually quite full lips so a big red lip on me looks horrid. But agree anything which helps up the ante a little is a winner and feeling $10 is always better the $1.

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  11. It's crazy how a bit of colour on the lips can change everything! On my grey-looking days I put on a bit of terracotta powder on my face and the Urban Decay "flushed" warm pink gloss. Plus a light touch of golden brown make-up on the eyes and my face looks much brighter. Another secret to hide a tired face is simply to smile...

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    1. Smiling does help a lot actually ... and it's cheap. But you're right how the tiniest bit of colour on someone's face can change their whole look. I know of girls who have blonde eyelashes - they don't look real till the mascara has been applied and then the whole face becomes complete. How did people manage without mascara (says the girl who can't apply it and doesn't wear it). Blusher - that's a good one. I have use a lip and cheek tint. Dab and swirly smudge around. I subscribe to the dab and smudge school of makeup.

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  12. Really lovely colour gloss! I may have to try this too! The lip colours I wear tend to be seasonal, peaches and corals in Spring/Summer then subtle shades of red come Autumn/Winter! I am with School Run Mum as I still use Lipcote as I do like a matt look lipstick. You can get Liocote in Primark would you believe! x

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    1. Lipcote makes your lips matt? I didn't know that. I wear lip gloss but I can't stand glossy lips on me which sounds a bit mad but I use the gloss to give a hint of colour and blot off so it doesn't look too shiny. I am going to invest in a lipstick though at some point - maybe something to do on my next shopping trip with the girls.

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  13. Great colour for autumn. I'm forever buying lip gloss and lipstick. They always look so different on your lips than when you try them on the back of your hand! I love the coral shades in summer but I always struggle to find ones I like for winter.

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    1. They do look very different on your hand compared to your lips and from one person to another which is why if you're going to do a red lipstick - you need to find "your" red. So glad I'm not going there - it's too much of a minefield. I've never really thought about coral but it's getting a few mentions here. Might be something for me to look in to. I've always been browns and nudes.

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  14. You ALWAYS, and I do mean, ALWAYS crack me up. I bought a bright fuchsia lippy earlier in the year. Took me a long time to find one and scared me a tad bit when I first flashed my lips in a very obvious way. You carry the darker color really well. You should use it everyday :P

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    1. I might take myself to one of the beauty counters at some point and see what they can advise me on. I've just got to stay away from the classic browns and be more adventurous because I do love the difference it can make. I think it's the years catching up with me ... need all the help I can get.

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  15. You look GREAT in that colour! You have full lips so dark colours will always work for you if you want it to. Lipstick is the easiest way to perk up anyone's face - doesn't have to be a bold colour but simply a more intense version of their natural lip colour. I don't use gloss of any description anymore because it just comes straight off too soon. Lipstick is by far my best weapon of choice when my face looks worse than usual. It's funny you're trying a dark shade because I picked up a deep red shade in Chanel when I was in London. In the 90's I used to wear the Rouge Noir a lot and have it as well ready for this season.

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    1. I do have full lips but I think that's part of the reason why I don't over emphasise them. Might all get a bit too much. But I will be thankful as I age and at least I won't be needing any fillers or anything. The reason why I picked the dark shade is that I have found with the Clinique Black Honey and this little gloss - they are quite transparent, so they are nothing like what they appear and that's half the appeal. But I'll tell you when I find my perfect lippy. I know it's out there somewhere - I just don't know on which beauty counter.

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  16. You are totally gorgeous. You reminded me of my Black Honey and wore it today for you:) You beautiful lady!

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    1. Stop it Joanna! My cheeks are burning.

      Ahh ... another Black Honey girl. I used to have it in a gel blush and when I went to replace it, I found it had been discontinued. But I see they do the lipstick/gloss in it and I'd like to see what it's like but having thought about it, it sounds like I need a good old fashioned lipstick. But my little pot of goo is perfect for my daytime look.

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  17. Lovely and cute pics...
    thanks for the beauty fix tip... so a lippy is all I would need:)

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    1. Hi Anna. Yes, so it would appear going from the responses from everyone here. A little lippy and a big smile will hide a multitude of sins. However, beware of the big crinkly laughter lines from all the smiling!

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  18. Oooh, fab colour! I only have teeny Tescos near me, but I will try and source that colour as it looks so good. You do have such lovely full lips - lucky you!

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    1. This is actually better than the Clinique Black Honey in terms of colour for me. I went to a counter to re-try the Clinique and found that I didn't like it enough to want to buy it. So I'm quite delighted as that has saved me some pounds.

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  19. You know how sometimes you have one of those days where you just know you look a bit rough? The eyes are a bit panda. The face a bit hangdog. The hair is on par with Worzel Gummidge's and the bagel belly is well ...bagelly and big.

    What you said in the above....it's not just "sometimes" for me. *cries*

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Susie So So