Everyday Lips + musings

Bellaire by Paris City Jazz 

Everyday makeup is the kind of makeup that you care enough about to commit to. It could be a set of false lashes, bold orange lips or a simple swipe of mascara. A dichotomic experience that is both personal as it is a conversational statement and or imprint of one's societies belief.

 Are your eyes the window to your soul, are your lips a sensual suggestion and the glow of your highlight, is it an ample reflection of your physical or cosmic eternal youth? 

I think when it comes to beauty - we all have our preferences that interplay between physical and non-physical realities. Do we want to look kind and gentle or wild and exciting? What colours and shades can achieve that look, why does it matter and what we gravitate towards - how much does it actually correlate towards our inner self and nature?

For me, I guess it's a delicate, slash haphazard balance between subtle enhancement and a playful venture into the gates of an unknown confident feminity I have yet to grasp (this is how the adventure would cinematically sound - Les deaux Guitares by Opa Tsupa). 

Does the woman you see before you exist or is she a fragment of your mind or her creativity? 

Whenever I set myself a mini-mission to formulate a concrete beauty routine, I find myself postponing the inevitable through musings and stuck on inspiration rather than formulation. This time though, I pulled up my sleeves and did the work, after being inspired by the mysticism of Parisian beauty - the effortless chic damsel who has her mind on skincare rather than "makeup" and still manages to have her fingertips wrapt around the heart of fashion. Yes, she dances between a nonchalant but in fact, carefully planned aesthetic which doesn't prescribe to looking like anything else but a better her. 

... Perhaps she's a myth made by magazine articles to sell boat necklines, sailor stripes and trench coats (Nah, trench coats sell themselves). Since the very creation of her is a catch-22 - as aspiring to follow her footsteps may perhaps mean stepping away from your own. Anyway, mulling aside - here I am showcasing what I came up with and perhaps showing up my very Un-French ways (a Parisian is never meant to tell her beauty secrets, shush!).

*I've been inspired by French fashion too but that's for another post (style files). 

01 Everyday Lips

Step 1: Since skincare for French women is much more important than makeup - I thought it befitting to use a rich and moisturising lip balm as my base. What's even better about this lip balm other than it being a French brand (1 point to me for authenticity) is that it has a matte finish which looks natural (double points right there). Plus, it works well with other products.

Step 2: Keeping up with the natural vibe I used a nude beige shade for my lips which delicately tones down my pinkish lips (they were a bit stained from prior swatches - this stroke of genius warrants triple points). I purposely used an older product which is line with my minimalistic goals to use and love what I have (1 point again). Also, this product is no longer available so in a way that makes it an exclusive and unique shade which is very-very French (10 points). 

Step 3: To give a polished but understated look, I lined my lips with NYX lip liner in Urban Cafe. This lip liner is smooth, soft and pigmented and very easy to blend. So to keep with the French lady vibes of understatement and naturality, I blended it all together with a smoosh of the lips. 

Step 4: The end. The pictures above show how it looks when its dried down. It takes a really long time for the liquid lipstick to overtake the lip balms moisture but, even when its dry it still comfy and moisturised. Mission accomplished *pats self on the back*.

Products Used
Nuxe Reve de Miel - £10
Collection Cream Puff in Angel Delight *discontinued - Alternative shade and formula can be bought from NYX in Abu Dhabi £6 or Collection Velvet Kiss in Caramel - £2.99 (going by how they look online?)
NYX Slide On Lip Pencil in Urban Cafe - £6 

Of course, there is more to a face than mere lips and perhaps I'll commit to doing an Un-French deed again and show some tips and tricks ...  Until then adieu/au revoir mon ami!

What's your everyday lip look?
What do you think it says about you and does it even matter?

Your comments are always welcomed and appreciated!