Many Shades of "NUDE": My Lips but Better for Spring

As there are ranges of skin tones in this world, there also were creates many shades of nude. For me NUDE means My Lips But Better Color. To make your perfect your-lips but better Nude Lip Color search, I categorized them into three different types and present to you this list of nude lipstick compilation.

[ FIRST CATEGORY ]

Peachy Pink Nude
This is the classic nude that we think about. Suitable for many skin tones, but be aware of the undertone as cool undertone of pink nude shade might be too contrasting and stark.

Chanel// Ingenue

 Chanel// Sentiment

Edward Bess// Forbidden Flower

 MAC// Illustrated Nude

Marc Jacobs// #144 Flirt

[ SECOND CATEGORY ]

Honey Bronze Nude 
This is definitely a flexible category. Some may not appear to be very nude-like in conventional sense, but I think they can be great enhancing lip colors for deeper or tan skinned people! Or even people who want to fake that tan.

 Guerlain// Galante

Maybelline// #940 Touchable Taupe

 NARS// Pagopago

Too Faced// Sweet Maple

[ LAST CATEGORY ]
Coral to Pink Nude
Can coral be natural too? Dolce & Gabbana model shows that the answer is yes! Coral, what I normally associate with a pop of color can be wearable and add just a right amount of hint of color for the spring pout.

 Chanel// Interlude

 Chanel// Mystique

NARS// Descanso

Tom Ford// #5 Sweet Spot

Hope this inspires some for trying out different shade of "nude" this spring.
All Lip swatches from:
http://www.temptalia.com/

Catherine
xx

Oh my Cream! One of the cutest Beauty boutiques in Paris

I have searched for a good selection of diverse skincare and makeup and it was all hiding in this small Boutique named "OH MY CREAM!" in the 6th Arrondissement in the beautiful and luxe street, Rue de Tournon. It is a quiet little place, also not very far from my favorite pharmacie, City Pharma.

3 Rue de Tournon, 75006

They also do manicure with a great natural nail polish range named Kure Bazaar which is actually an amazing nail polish brand that has great finish, long lasting, while being natural (formulated without Formaldehyde and Dibutylphthalate).

 Antipodes Hosanna H2O Intensive Skin-Plumping Serum

A very interesting serum that feels like a boost of moisture without feeling heavy. It leaves a slightly tacky feeling, reminiscent of hyaluronic acid products. It has a honey-like scent, non offensive and effective. I like to use it in the morning to plump up my skin and it wears great under makeup.

Antipodes is a brand that is very rare to find. It is an organic brand from Australia, not easily found in the USA or in France which explains my over-excitement to see it in person at the boutique. 

Alpha H Liquid Gold

The cult Glycolic Acid Treatment. And I am in the bandwagon. It truly delivers. 

A. It helps with dark spots, post-acne marks, and even active breakouts.

B. The effect is immediate. Put it on the night before and the next day, you will have diminished look of any blemishes or clogged pores.

C. It does not sensitize my skin too much. I would avoid it if you already have problems with chemical peels, but my skin loves it and it really works.

Fine print:

Be warned. Some people use it daily at night, but I would only use it every other day to avoid over-exfoliation. NEVER use it in conjunction with other chemical peels. If you used a chemically exfoliating scrub or another serum with any AHA or BHA, do avoid layering them on the same night. Last thing is to use sunscreen the next day. Exfoliating takes the top layer off your skin (whether it be the dead skin cells or clogged pores), it will sensitize your skin a bit. That being said, I would never use it in the daytime. I would only use it at night time for full benefit without exposure to the sun. 

Oh my cream! may be my favorite beauty spot to shop for new innovations as well as great brands that are not so readily available elsewhere. 

Catherine

xx

Most Moisturizing: For Body, Face, and Lips

Although the coldest months have passed, the need for moisturizing never diminishes even in the Spring. These are very moisturizing creams and lip balm that one can use even after sun burn and other skin damages that may need some help from our moisturizing friends.

 Avene Cold Cream

The Cold Crème de la Crème! This is my go-to cream for night time when I need maximum moisture. Appropriate to use anywhere on the body wherever that feels chapped and dry.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant

Winter Staple for many people for generations. This legendary cream is more of a balm. Less of a cream. The balmy texture really protects the skin from the heater drying out your skin. Also good on lips as lip balm. It almost feels like a moisture mask.

Nuxe Reve de Miel

The thickest lip balm ever. Might take a few days to get used to the unusual paste-like texture. But this is the only thing that would mend my chapped lips.

Catherine

xx

Bobbi Brown Skincare Purchases: My staple toner of choice

So Bobbi Brown had its Friends & Family Sale with 20% off. This should also remind you that you should sign up for newsletter if you want to get discounts for brands you are interested in purchasing new items. Aside from Sephora Friends & Family sale, it is pretty difficult to get discounts on skincare items so this is definitely the way to land on good discounted brand-name skincare or makeup.

I am currently trying to trim down my makeup stash so no makeup purchase unfortunately, but I purchased skincare items. 

Bobbi Brown

Hydrating Face Tonic 

$30

This has a divine herbal fragrance and it is great at taking off some leftover makeup when I have missed any from my cleansing routine. It appears to have helped me with my occasional breakout. I have used the Bobbi Brown Brightening toner before and I do not see much difference although this toner is cheaper. I would repurchase it when I run out.

Hydrating Face Cream

$55

I love Bobbi's face creams. One of my favorite cream from them is her extra repair eye cream. They have great consistency and restores moisture very well even in harsh weather such as in New York now. I don't see any remarkable effects other than hydration, but I would think this could be a very good staple cream for any type of skin. 

http://www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com/
Catherine xx

Byredo Parfums: Black Saffron Eau de Parfum

BLACK SAFFRON by BYREDO

Eau de Parfum

Made in France

Top: Pomelo, Saffron, Juniper Berry

Heart: Black Violet, Accord Cuir, Cristal Rose

Base: Blond Woods, Raspberry, Vetiver

One of my latest perfume purchases was this beauty of a fragrance, Black Saffron, by ByredoIt is a bit on the synthetic side, not so subtle. It has raspberry accord which gives it a bit of a tang and lusciousness. I hoped for more saffron as per its name sake and more leather. But both of these qualities are not very strong which makes it wearable but there is a bit of both Saffron and leather and it is great as it gives a bit of a dirtiness to the crisp transaprency of cristal rose and berries. The vetiver tones down the uber-feminine qualities and makes it earthy. 

I wasn't such a great fan because of its crisp and almost synthetic quality but it has definitely grew on me as I wear it more and more.

Catherine xx

London Shopping: Books, Tea, Cleansing Balm

Koenig Books are one of my favorite bookstores in the world.

EVE LOM cleanser 

is a great cleansing balm with wonderful buttery texture and such relaxing aromatic and herbal scent. You can use muslin cloth to take it off, but I like to use just warm water and it leaves my skin feeling perfectly cleansed and pores feeling unclogged. 

Teapigs Liquorice and Peppermint Tea

One of my favorite naturally sweet teas. I wish we had teapigs in North America but I have only seen it in London.

Catherine xx

The Three Masketeers: Three Gorgeous face masks for three different purposes

I love face masks. I have tried many and have struggled to find different ones that work for my skin for different purposes. I have come to a conclusion about face masks and they come in three for me.

Cleansing mask

Exfoliating mask

and Moisturizing Mask

Cleansing mask: 

This is the type for everyday uses. You can use cleansing masks as often as two-three times a week. Clay masks are a type of cleansing masks. Great for clogged skin, combination skin, oily skin, acne-prone skin or just anyone who lives in polluted areas.

Cleansing mask of my choice is Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque.

It is a lightweight clay mask that dries to a hard finish. Cleans the pores like no other without making my poor winter-weathered dry skin uncomfortable.

Exfoliating mask:

Exfoliating masks can be enzyme-based or chemical-based. Most common are AHA (such as Glycolic or Lactic Acid) or BHA (such as Salicylic Acid) based. These can get your pores ultra clean and help with lightening the hyper-pigmentation or dullness. Could get tingling sensation and a bit of redness but it will pass. You should not use it in the morning because it will make your skin too sensitive to the sun. But amazing for night time use so the next day you can look glowing in the morning.

REN Glycolactic Renewal Mask

Quite an intense exfoliating mask with both Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid. I only use it once a week and I believe it keeps my skin problems at bay such as hyper-pigmentations and blemishes. 

and Moisturizing Mask:

This is the type of masks for dry, sensitive, and/or dehydrated skin. Great to use anytime such as night before a big event or in the morning. And Unlike other masks that need to be washed off, you can keep it on through the night. 

Galénic Argan Oil Extreme Comfort Mask

(from French Pharmacies)

Good but not the best. One that I would recommend is Origins moisturizing mask with Apricot oil. I have very dry skin and I usually wear it as a sleep mask when I go to bed.

Catherine xx