What a weekend it’s been! New York Fashion Week kicked off last Thursday with a plethora of designers showcasing their upcoming trends for AW18. Some made a huge splash with gorgeous collections that will soon be featured on starlets and models. I went to a few shows but opted to consume most of the shows from the comfort of my own couch via Instagram. The collections I did attend were worth the trek through the rain and New York rush hour traffic. I was inspired to make my own impact with some beauty looks of my own.
As a woman of color, I have embraced the advantage I have of being able to wear colors that flatter and not shying away from vivid hues. Let me back track for a quick second. For years, I tried to hide my big, full lips by wearing muted colors. As my beauty aesthetic evolved, I began wearing more vampy colors, but chose matte lipstick formulas. I still count MAC Ruby Woo, Lime Crime Red Velvetine and Gucci Iconic Red Red as my go-to reds. This season however, I have been playing around with glossy colors and I found a few brands I am obsessed with.
Enter Maybelline with its Color Sensations Vivid Hot Lacquer Lip Glosses. I have several colors from the colors and wore ‘Retro’ for the first time last week. I was, in the words of Beyonce, “feelin’ myself.” One swipe of this glossy matte color is all it takes to make a vivid impact on the lips. The color goes on wet and sticks like a stain on the lips, giving a full dose of color and shine. It’s an opaque formula that doesn’t budge. I applied two shiny coats for my morning shows and did not reapply the gloss until four hours later. The staying power is unreal. ‘Retro’ is my new favorite, which is what I’m wearing in these photos. If you’re looking for a power red color, go for ‘Classic’ which reminds me of the red glossy shades worn by the ‘Addicted to Love’ girls in Richard Palmer’s 80s videos.
Most of the colors flatter my skin tone but there were a few that were so off base when I tried them on. I promise you’ll find a shaded that works for you. Check out my favorite colors swatched in the second picture. You can try them on at Ulta Beauty stores around the country. The Maybelline Vivid Hot Lacquers are available at drug stores and Target for under $8.
