Favorite Summer Lipsticks 2014

lipstick for women of color

One thing I love about the spring and summer months is the abundance of bright beautiful colors in the atmosphere! Along with warm and vibrant weather, folks can be seen rocking some of the most fiercest, shades of pinks, plums, and oranges. And what better way to bring color to your world than in my personal favorite way---by applying a shocking shade of lipstick?

Today I want to share with you the six lipstick colors I've been reaching for most this summer and will probably be wearing even more as the season progresses. Each shade is beautiful in its own right, and if you own any of these, I'm sure you will agree. I chose six shades from two of my favorite lipstick brands: MAC Cosmetics and Wet 'n' Wild Beauty. If you're familiar here on the blog, you know I swoon for the texture and vanilla scent of a MAC lippie, but love the intense pigment and affordable price of the Wet 'n' Wild MegaLast lippies. 

lipstick for women of color

The three MAC Lipsticks playing the back, from left to right are:
-Amplified Creme Lipstick in Shy Girl
-Satin Lipstick in Pink Nouveau
-Retro Matte in Flat Out Fabulous

And the three Wet 'n' Wild MegaLast Lipsticks in the front (l-r) are:
-Cherry Picking 
-Wine Room
-24 Carrot Gold

Check out the swatches below. In natural light, Shy Girl barely shows up!

lipstick swatches for women of color

And these are the swatches on my lips. Shy Girl, which is on the left, is a go-to nude for me. I love how smooth and creamy this lipstick is. I usually pair a mauve liner or chestnut colored liner with this lippie. Pink Nouveau (top right) is one of my favorite pink lipsticks. This lipstick is a must-have for us bubblegum-pink lovers and is very long-lasting. I recently grabbed up Flat Out Fabulous (bottom right) a couple of months ago and fell in love. If you are a fan of the retro matte finishes (like Ruby Woo), this baby is a must-have as well. Each of these lipsticks can be purchased at www.maccosmetics.com and retail for $16.
soshewritesbymissdre
Cherry Picking (top left) is a beautiful shade of magenta and packs a punch of color! Though these lippies are matte, I put a touch of lipgloss on before applying them because my lips were dry. If you don't apply a lip balm first, the MegaLast Lip Color can be pretty drying. Wine Room (bottom left) is more of an everyday lippie for me than the others (except Shy Girl). It's a soft, feminine pink that isn't too overpowering. Now 24 Carrot Gold (right) on the other hand, can be a shocking lipstick shade if you aren't used to wearing orange lipstick. I toned mine down with a bit of gloss and paired it with NYX lipliner in Espresso. I'd say this is a safe way to wear orange lips since they are really on trend this season. I usually grab these lippies from my local Walgreens, where they are currently on sale for $1.49!
soshewritesbymissdre
Since I shared my favorites with you guys, now I would like to know your favorite lipsticks of the summer. Do you have any recommendations of others I should check out? I would like to know in the comments! And if you have a fierce picture of you rocking your favorite lippie(s) be sure to share it with me on Facebook or tag me on Instagram! I wanna see!

Summer Book Challenge 2014 | Month 2


Remember last month when I told you guys about the awesome summer book challenge on Megan Stroup's blog (Semi-Charmed Kind of Life)? Well ladies and gentlemen, I'm glad to say that I'm still reading and taking part! As I shared earlier on the blog, one of my current goals is to read more. So participating in this challenge has really encouraged me to make time for happy reading! Since the last update, I haven't changed any books on my preliminary list, but I'm contemplating switching up a few of them. I'll be sure to let you guys know with my next update if I decide to, though. And if you didn't catch the first post about the book challenge, here is my preliminary list along with the books I've finished. 

5 points: Freebie! Read any book that is at least 200 pages long.
— The Untethered Soul , Michael A. Singer (200 pages)
10 points: Read a book that was written before you were born.
— Go Tell It On The Mountain , James Baldwin (256 pages) [1953]
10 points: Finish reading a book you couldn't finish the first time around.
— Life Overflowing , T. D. Jakes (427 pages/300+ pages remaining)
10 points: Read a book from the children’s section of the library or bookstore.
— Stargirl , Jerry Spinelli (200 pages)
15 points: Read a book that is on The New York Times' Best Sellers List when you begin reading it.
 #GIRLBOSS , Sophia Amorouso (232 pages) [No. 6 on the Advice, How-to list]
15 points: Read a historical fiction book that does not take place in Europe.
— Song of Solomon , Toni Morrison (337 pages) [set in the United States]
15 points: Read a book another blogger has already read for the challenge.
— TBD :)
20 points: Read a book with “son(s),” “daughter(s)” or “child(ren)” in the title.
— Daughters of the Dust , Julia Dash (310 pages)
20 points: Read a book that was/will be adapted to film in 2014.
— The Fault in Our Stars , John Green (337 pages)
25 points: Read a book written by a blogger.
— Happier at Home , Gretchen Rubin (320 pages) [gretchenrubin.com]
25 points: Read a biography, autobiography or memoir. 
— I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings , Maya Angelou (291 pages)
30 points: Read a pair of books with antonyms in the titles.
— Rock My Soul , bell hooks (240 pages)  
— Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self , Danielle Evans (229 pages)

In last month's reading, I completed one book from the categories:

✓ 25 points: Read a biography, autobiography or memoir. 
— I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou (291 pages, 5 stars)

With this month's reading, however, I completed 4 reads! Yay me!

✓ 30 points: Read a pair of books with antonyms in the titles.
— Rock My Soul , bell hooks (240 pages, 5 stars)  
— Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self , Danielle Evans (229 pages, 3.75 stars)

✓ 10 points: Read a book from the children’s section of the library or bookstore.
— Stargirl , Jerry Spinelli (200 pages, 4.2 stars)

✓ 5 points: Freebie! Read any book that is at least 200 pages long.
— The Untethered Soul , Michael A. Singer (200 pages, 3.5 stars)

PREVIOUS POINTS: 25
TOTAL POINTS: 70


Are you participating in the Summer Book Challenge

What books are you reading this summer?
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