Get the Look: Tips for Achieving A Wine Stained Lip

Thanks to BeautyHigh, the number one question I'm being asked right now via twitter is about the lipstick shade I'm wearing in their recent editorial, "The Top 10 Beauty Bloggers Share Their Beauty Tricks and Fall Must Haves."  Naturally, when I was asked to be part of the shoot, I focused my whole look around my lip as I knew I wanted to rock my favorite fall beauty trend – a wine stained lip.  The lipstick? Cle de Peau Extra Rick Lipstick in R10, but it's not just about the shade, the trick is how you apply it.  Here are the rules. There are two ways to wear a wine stained lip – literally stained or dramatically focusing on the pigment.  When it comes to choosing the perfect berry color, just like reds, consider your skin tone and hair color and test them on your fingertips.  Most people test lipsticks on the tops of their hands, but truth is, because of the blood flow, the coloring of your finger tips is more like the coloring on your lips.

Make sure to prime your lips with balm no matter which look you're going for.  I've been consistently using Bite Beauty Line & Define Lip Primer, which plumps out my fine lines and keeps my shade in place.  To get the stained effect, dab your color of choice onto your pout with your finger and then blot with a tissue.  For a more precise, dramatic look, use a lip brush and paint the pigment on carefully stroke by stroke.

As for the outfit, here are the deets:

Top: Mark Call It A Tie Blouse, Skirt: H&M faux leather, Cuff: Alexis Bittar, Shoes: Stuart Weitzman

The Best Wine Stained Lipsticks for Fall

While most fashionistas were busy pulling their wardrobes for NYFW, I was more concentrated on pulling together my lip looks.  Whether I was reporting or gallivanting, each day I hit the shows and events sporting a different wine stained lipstick out of my new fall collection.  So allow me to present you with my favorite snapshots of my lip looks and berry shades for fall.  Get 'em while they're hot! MAC Yung Rapunxel Lipstick (limited edition)

NARS Semi-Matte Lipstick in Fire Down Below

Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioner in Arabian Nights

Why Guys Hate Red Lipstick, Plus Three of My Faves

"I'm really not liking this red lipstick trend," says Joe, my boyfriend after I applied my new Nars lipstick that I was ridiculously excited about wearing.  Well turns out Joe is not alone as most guys hate the red lip look.  The real question is how much do we care? "It just makes your lips stand out and your face look really pale," he comments.  "It's annoying."  After asking him a million and one questions I came to the conclusion that he believes "the look" or maybe it's any real makeup look makes it seem like we're trying.  The effort is a turn off.  Which is why the "no-makeup-makeup look" is so successful.  Of course, I wore the lipstick proudly anyway (who wouldn't) and got a ton of compliments from my girlfriends.  After all, we dress for the girls... right?

I feel like I've forever been searching for the perfect red lipstick and thanks to NARS Makeup Artist, Jenny Smith, I found it.  Well, she kind of put me in my place about it by telling me that I'm taking the whole red lipstick thing way too seriously and just have to have a little fun with it.  There is no perfect red lipstick.

Now, since I let my hair down about it (and don't listen to Joe when it comes to my makeup), there are three reds I rotate between: NARS Lipstick in Fire Down Below , Cle de Peau Lipstick (which I've written about before) in #213 and Estee Lauder Mad Men Collection Lipstick in Cherry.  They're all different shades and textures and great for different times of day and events.  Every time I reach for one, Joe cringes.  Have a hot date?  Skip the red lipstick.

Amanda Seyfried Celebrated Her Birthday with Cle de Peau and I Found the Perfect Lipstick at Her Party

On Tuesday night I attended Amanda Seyfried's 26th birthday party at Norwood in NYC thrown by Cle de Peau (she's the face of the brand).  The whole private club was filled with editors and we all eagerly checked out the brands Spring 2012 launches and wished Amanda a happy birthday by lighting individual candles promptly at 7pm.  The most exciting part – I found the perfect lipstick – Cle de Peau Enriched Lip Luminizer in Plum Pudding. ""I like darker lipsticks and I absolutely can't live without the Concealer stick. Clé de Peau's Mascara keeps my eyelashes curled even though they're really straight," she told People Style Watch.

While I've been a fan of Cle de Peau for years, but I just found the perfect lipstick at their lipstick bar that was set up surrounded by rock candy, maccaroons and caramel treats.  The lipsticks in the new Spring 2012 collection were all inspired by the sweets (specifically by a visit to Patisserie Valerie in London) and each have names that reflect it. There are 20 chocolates, berry and caramel shades that are super moisturizing and creamy in texture but offer a glossy like like.  The perfect combination of a lipstick and gloss if you ask me.

They're not available until February, but I absolutely can't wait to get my hands on Plum Pudding!  (I have a bunch of samples for now).  The coolest thing is that since it's a pricey lipstick (yet, well worth it), you can purchase a lipstick for $60 and then save the tube and get a color refill for $35.

Get the Look: Amanda Seyfried, "In Time" Premiere

A few days ago Amanda Seyfried attended the premiere of her new movie, In Time, in LA donning a floral, drop waist Prabal Gurung dress from their Spring 2012 collection, her classic blow out and sultry eyes.  Love her makeup look?  Read on for the how to from her makeup artist Monika Blunder. "Amanda was wearing a very colorful dress with lots of purple and pink shading and I wanted her makeup to reflect some of the same color tones," states Blunder.  "I focused mainly on a strong eye and kept the lip minimal with just a hint of pink."

Amanda's smokey eye was created  with Cle de Peau Beaute's Limited Edition Cream Eye Color in Moon Light n Night Brown.  For depth, Blunder used Night Brown (the darker grey shadow) just on the outter corners of the eyes and added a bit of Moon Light (the sparkly cream shade) on the inner corners to open her eye up.  She then traced her inner top and bottom rims with black liner and smudged it out a bit under the eye.  Three coats of mascara completed the look.

Blunder then used Cle de Pea's Cheek Color Duo in Number 2.  The color was concentrated on her cheeks and highlighter right along her cheekbones for added sheen. To finish, Extra Rich Lipstick in T9 gave her the perfect hint of pink on her lips.