Review: MAC So Chaud Lipstick

I heard oranges were the "it" color this summer, and with my bronzy-olive skin tone, I thought I should give it a shot. Unsure of the brightness and warmth of orange in my comfort zone palette of deep, rich fall tones, I began experimenting with the color in my wardrobe. First to don the staple color were my nails, which I thought looked stunning. Then the color migrated to my clothing, a favorite being a monotone neutral, usually some shade of grey, and high waist jeans with an orange bag and turban. Then while browsing the mall I found the ultimate statement and addition to my makeup collection, MAC's So Chaud and Morrange. I ended up purchasing So Chaud, since Morrange was a bit too far out of my comfort zone. I didn't take a picture of the swatch in the store, but will compare the two colors in my review.

As stated in the photos above, So Chaud is a matte color. I was pleasantly surprised that this color was no where near as dry as Ruby Woo, which literally feels like crayon. Anyway, this matte goes on smooth, has an opaque application, and stays on all day.

The color is bold, but not as bold as Morrange, which has a neon quality to it (I believe Morrange has an amplified finish, explaining the neon quality). So Chaud is more on the red orange side of the color spectrum, whereas Morrange is more yellow orange, so keep that in mind when deciding which will work better for you.

Here is So Chaud swatched on my hand. It looks more red than it actually is, but I promise, it's orange.

The color will stain your lips, so I suggest a thin layer of Vaseline before application of this color (or any other mattes for that matter)

Overall, I believe that orange is a much softer alternative to red lipstick. It's also a lighter, more youthful choice for adding color to an otherwise neutral face. I highly recommend So Chaud for anyone looking for a way to incorporate orange into their wardrobe or wants to try something different.

Beauty Essentials

Hey there!

I was contemplating how to start the beauty/fashion section of my blog and came up with this. It is a rather generic start in a naturally innovative subject, but it's almost 2am and my creativity is basically shot. Despite the redundancy of this post, I do believe that all blogs should start with the basics before moving on to more complex, and creative, areas, so here we go.

The following products are used in my daily routine. Although I name certain brands, I am not telling you to get this brand and this one only. I do understand that different people have different skin types and allergies that need to be taken into consideration when buying products. And for reference, I am MAC NC47, MUFE Mat Velvet+ in 70, and Caramel/Dark 1-2 in Maybelline; I also have combination-oily skin depending on the humidity.

• Rosebud Salve - I have horribly dry lips in the winter. This product is the only lip product that keeps my lips moisturized and healthy looking. I bought this particular tin from Sephora about a year and a half ago and still have about 25% of the product left. It is reasonably priced at $6 or so, so it's a great investment to add to your collection.

                           

•  Smashbox Sheer Focus SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizer - This is such a good tinted moisturizer. It's medium coverage and thick like a foundation, but feels light on your face and blends beautifully. I would suggest that you match your tinted moisturizer to your undertone and not your overall skin tone. For example, I'm reasonably dark, but wear Medium in this moisturizer due to my olive undertone. Dark was way too orange for me. Anyway, tinted moisturizers are an easy way to cover two steps in one, it covers any marks you may have and moisturizes your skin.

• Maybelline Eyestudio Gel Eyeliner - This stuff is amazing. And honestly, the brush it comes with isn't bad either. This gel eyeliner is heavily pigmented, glides on like butter, and is a great price. I prefer gel eyeliners because it is the line between casual and formal, the perfect formula for the 'put together but not trying too hard' look. 

• Sephora Setting Powder - Setting powders are essential for keeping your makeup looking fresh all day long. This has the added benefit of oil absorption (although I would recommend blotting papers for that purpose). This is very sheer with a satin finish.

• High SPF Sunblock - You may be confused. Yes I am black, and yes I do use SPF 90 sunblock. I know that the high SPF doesn't do much more than SPF 30 but I'm a college student and this was the cheapest. No matter your skin tone, you need sunblock. The women in my family generally don't age very fast, but I don't want to take any chances with being the exception by ignoring sun protection. 

The following products aren't necessary or essential, but I do believe they help to complete a beginner's makeup collection.

•  Make Up Forever Full Cover Concealer - This concealer is waterproof, full cover, has an amazing color range, and stays all day. It is rather pricey, but does last 6 months of daily wear. A little of this product goes a long way. I am a shade 14 in case you were wondering.

• L'Oreal Studio Secrets Matte Eye Shadow Quad - Basically any matte eye shadow quad will do. This serves as a natural eye shadow, highlight not only for your brow-bone but also for the rest of your face, and contour color. As you can tell, I use this a lot.

 

                            

•  Rimmel London Sexy Curves Mascara - This is a very good mascara. It makes your lashes look longer and thicker. It does take a while to dry but maybe I'm using it incorrectly. I don't use mascara very often haha.