M.A.C.'s "Grey Friday" VS. Kate Moss' #15 VS. Urban Decay's "Oil Slick"

So, I stepped out of my "Frugal Box" and went ahead and purchased my first M.A.C. lipstick. "Grey Friday" went on sale on Black Friday so I was compelled to purchase. Many reviewers stated that there were dupes to this, so I decided to go on the hunt. After reading several reviews, I decided to compare it to Kate Moss' #15 and Urban Decay's "Oil Slick".

Now the veteran's of M.A.C. stated that "Grey Friday" originally was debuted in the 90's as "Jet". I was only into Avon at that point in time only because my Aunt sold it. The go to color for me was "Cherry Jubilee" lol!

Left: Urban Decay's "Oil Slick", Rimmel's Kate Moss in #15 and M.A.C.'s "Grey Friday"

These lipsticks are very different in color and in texture as I intially noticed. Looking at the textures, I wondered about the payoff in the color.

Urban Decay in "Oil Slick"

Urban Decay's "Oil Slick" is EXACTLY what it says: OILY. I didn't like the texture or the payoff in color. I felt as if I was putting on a lip gloss opposed to an actual stick. I buffed my lips before applying and "Oil Slick" still found a way to find creases and dry skin on my lips to make it stand out. It was a definite thumbs down in my book.

Rimmel London's Kate Moss in #15

Rimmel London's Kate Moss in #15 is more of a purple frosty color. (Think of 80's lipsticks). It is definitely a cool based lipstick, and it can possibly be pulled off for a 9-5. This is definitely the wearable color out of all three.

M.A.C. in "Grey Friday"

M.A.C.'s "Grey Friday" is a frost lipstick as well. Though the color is an absolute go for Gun Metal, I would say that the texture and the payoff in color makes it worthwhile to play in makeup to create different looks. I want to try it with a black lipliner to see how it would look.




All in all, these colors look NOTHING alike. Oil Slick is too oily, #15 is a good frosty purple to wear to the office and Grey Friday is definitely a fun color to play up or down, depending on your mood.









 



Reds for the Winter/Guide to Wearing Red Lipsticks

Ever since I was introduced to "Ruby Woo" by MAC, I have been on the hunt for different types of reds to wear. I have found TONS, but these are the ones I adore... so far.

1. Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Color in Pirate. This color is a deep, but vibrant blue-red. The colour is true, and the texture is creamy and luscious. Zoe Saldana was spotted wearing this color very recently.  For $34.00 you can purchase this on the Chanel website.

2. Kate Moss Rimmel Lipstick Collection. Exclusively produced, Ms. Moss' line offers 7 shades to choose from. Kate's Signature look is shown in the color 01 of her collection. Shade 01 is a deep Bordeaux red that looks fairly brown in bullet form, cool in tone with a blue undertone. Several bloggers have stated when it is swatched and applied, it transforms into a cherry red shade almost a true red,which is much more wearable for the majority of red wearers. It is also been stated that Shade 01 does require a liner and/or a lip sealant as the shade does tend to bleed. IF you can find this shade, it is available in most makeup isles in any store.

3. NYX Matte in Perfect Red. Perfect Red is a deep blue base red. It is a semi-matte and is another one that doesn't need to be applied often. But be careful, if you have dry lips, you will need a primer and also a liner so it doesn't bleed or feather. For $5.50, you can purchase this color at any retailer that carries the NYX brand.

Stoplight Red vs Red Velvet
 

4. Wet N Wild Mega Last Lip Colour in Red Velvet. At first glance, one would think that Stoplight Red and Red Velvet were one in the same. Stoplight Red is much deeper in color. If you want a brighter pop, Red Velvet in Wet 'N Wild is the way to go.

5. Wet 'N Wild Silk Finish Lipstick in Cherry Frost. For the cost, this has DEFINITE popping power. It is a very moist lipstick, so it can bleed and feather if not too careful. Staying power is about 4 hours.


On to the TOP 5 rules of wearing Red lipstick:

1. If you are wearing a bold lip, go easy on the rest of the face. Red is a color that catches attention. A great tip is to do a natural eye with dramatic lips. The rule is: If you want to play up your eyes, go for a nude lip. If you want to play up your lips, go for a natural eye. It’s as simple as that.

2. Lip Liners are your friend. Unless it is a crayon based matte, red  has a tendency to bleed. Line your lips so that it will stay longer. A great analogy is thinking of a liner as the rubber mat you place in a bathtub to keep from slipping.

3. Find your shade. Research the correct shade for your complexion. If you have a pink undertone, cooler reds are a best match. If you have a yellow undertone, warmer reds will fair better for your complexion. "Ruby Woo" and "Blaze" by MAC are two colors that compliment everyone's complexion.

4. Don't Mix and Match your nail color with your lips.  Consider choosing a neutral nail color such as pale pinks and peaches. If red is really your thing, however, choose a shade that is closest to your lip color.

5. If that lip color isn't "for you", make it your own!  Let's face it, we all have seen a color that looked great on a celebrity and when we got home (without swatching a tester) to try it out, we looked like we stepped out of a Crayola box. One thing about lipsticks is if it's placed with a different color lip liner or lipstick, it can eventually be blended out to become what we want it to be! Experiment, play around and find a color that suits you best! If you don't like it, just wipe it off and start over!