Saturday, January 19, 2013

Color 101: Lucious Lips

It has been a while since I was able to create a post. I am now back in the States after nearly a year deployed in Afghanistan. It's good to be home, but it was an adjustment. In addition to getting home, I started college again. I haven't been in college classes in 12 years. It's definitely another adjustment. But, I have to finish a degree. So, that's what I am doing.

So, for today, we are going to talk about lips. Hopefully, I'll have some information in today's post that is new or helpful. Before we start adding color to the lips, we need to start at the beginning. Lipstick and lip gloss won't sit on the lips well if they are dry, chapped or rough. We start with Satin Lips ($18, plus tax for the set). This is a two step treatment to smooth the lips. Step 1 exfoliates and Step 2 moisturizes. You can use the lip balm (step 2) as often as you need. It's one of the items I use regularly (even as a guy). Step 1 should be used only once or twice a week. If you buy the two steps separately, you'll end up paying $1 extra. Save yourself the money and buy them together.

Another often skipped step is a lip primer. Mary Kay has Timewise Age-Fighting Lip Primer ($22, plus tax). We are back to another Timewise product--so we are anti-age and anti-wrinkle. Based on a 12 week study, 100% of women saw an improvement in the fine lines and wrinkles on and around the lips. Again, that is EVERYONE! Not only will this product help keep your lips soft and wrinkle-free, the Lip Primer will help keep your lip color in place--on your lips! I personally use this product underneath the Satin Lips Lip Balm (step 2) and find it helps keep the lip balm in place, too. Which is what I want. I use the lip balm to moisturize.

The last often skipped step is Lip Liner ($12, plus tax). Mary Kay has 9 shades of Lip Liner. These have been updated from the former concept. Previously, a person would buy a pink Lip Liner to go with a pink lipstick or lip gloss. A brown or chocolate Liner for a brown lipstick or lip gloss and so on. You needed a different liner for each shade of lipstick. Mary Kay as updated that. Now you pick a Lip Liner to match your LIPS, not your lip color. That way, you only need one Lip Liner, no matter which lipstick or lip gloss you use. Lip Liners help give you that Hollywood finished lip look and they help keep your lip color on your lips. If you are new to Lip Liners, try Mary Kay's Lip Liner in Clear. It does the same thing, but leaves no color.

Mary Kay Creme Lipstick ($15, plus tax). Mary Kay has 39 shades of Lipstick in a range of color families (Pink, Tawnies, Reds, Metals, Neutrals, Chocolates, Berries and Reds). If you wear Lipstick, Mary Kay has a shade for you. The Creme Lipstick is moisturizing and has vitamins C and E in them. Additionally, the Creme Lipstick fits in the standard Compact and the Compact Pro.

To finish your look, try Mary Kay NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss ($14, plus tax). 14 incredible shades. These can be used to amp up your lipstick color or to mute it a little. You can also use the Lip Gloss to add shine to a matte lipstick color. You can mix Lipsticks and Lip Glosses to make a custom lip color all your own! The NouriShine Plus Lip Glosses also fit in the Compact and the Compact Pro.

And new to the Mary Kay Lipstick family, Mary Kay True Dimensions Lipstick ($18, plus tax). This is an intense moisturizing Lipstick and comes in 10 shades. This Lipstick debuted in December 2012. The tube is also the right size for the Compact and the Compact Pro. Made with natural ingredients and age-defying benefits, this is a great Lipstick.

Again, I hope this information is beneficial. And as always, I welcome comments, questions and product reviews! Mary Kay has some great things happening this year. It is the 50th Anniversary of the company. Be sure to check things out. I look forward to hearing from you. www.marykay.com/dmanor.

Take care!