THANK YOU to everyone who popped by at Mecca Maxima over the past two days!   I had the best time ever in my 4 years of blogging, and it’s been a truly AMAZING two days meeting so many gorgeous faces and recommending you a lipstick shade.

A huge THANKS to all the wonderful staff at Mecca Maxima and Clinique, in particular -  Ann (my partner in crime), Emma, Lena, Cindy (Mecca Maxima Melbourne Central), Yvonne, Maria and Nicole (Mecca Maxima Highpoint), Courtney & Francis (Clinique)

I met hundreds and hundreds of women over the two days, and whilst there were countless warm fuzzy moments when I saw the look on your faces trying on a lip colour that I recommended, some of the highlights for me were:

• helping a woman with an autumnal colour palette discover she could actually wear coral with Coral Chic  paired with Clinique Quickliner for Lips in Cocoa Peach
• helping 3 teenagers find a lip colour they can wear without getting into trouble with their dad (RSVPink, Coral Crush, Bejeweled Pink)
• helping several women of all ages find their perfect red with Party Red
• helping a new mum feel feminine again with Berry Intense
• seeing mums & their daughters try the same shade of lipstick
• helping two brides find a lipstick for their wedding day
• inspiring so many gorgeous women to try  Spanish Rose – a hot fucshia lip which I wore for the two days
• seeing the look on so many faces when they tried Magenta Rose – it appealed to everyone from young & trendy through to career women of ALL colour.

You have no idea how much I wished to chat more with each and every one of you, but it was CRAZY BUSY with one person lining up after the other & and I nearly lost my voice by the end of it.

Whether you took home a lipstick or simply came along to try something new, I hope you had as much fun as I did at the event!!

Don’t forget to enter the Instagram competition to win a $200 Mecca Voucher! Competition ends midnight tonight & I look forward to picking a winner Monday morning~

Brand: Clinique
Range: Long Last Lipstick & High Impact Lipstick
High Impact Lipstick Shades: Flamenco, Coral Crush, RSVPink, Pink Style, Magenta Rose
Long Last Lipstick Shades: Party Red, Coral Chic, Silvery moon, Tropical Coral, Perfect Beige, Soft Bloom, Berry Intense, Runway Coral, Bejeweled Pink, Spanish Rose
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

As part of my EXCITING collaboration with Clinique & Mecca Maxima this 10th – 11th May, I have been busy preparing a “lip swatch” color selector to help you find your perfect lipstick shade.  The swatch card features the shades below including “colour notes” written by yours truly to help you decide on a colour group.

The swatch card will be available to those who attend, but feel free to browse from my swatches below before coming to see which shade you’re in the mood for on the day!

I recommend High Impact Lipstick for those that like a creamy, moisturising lipstick that has good grip that lasts really well & has SPF 15.  Long Last Lipstick will appeal to those who like a long wearing creamy-matte formula that won’t feather, stain or dry out.

Enjoy the swatches & I look forward to seeing you this Friday & Saturday!

Click to view enlarged image.

RRP: $36 AUD

These products were provided for consideration.

In the lead up to World MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Day on 29 May, “Kiss Goodbye to MS” is a series of events now in it’s fourth year that encourages Australians to wear, dare and share red to raise awareness of MS and fundraise for research into better treatments and a cure.  In support of the cause, Australians will be wearing red lipstick, clothing and dying their red.  You can also support the cause by purchasing merchandise with the “red lips” motif.

For those that plan on wearing red lipstick for the cause, here are 5 tips for trying red lipstick particularly if it’s your first time!

1. Look at the colour of your veins to see if you’re warm, neutral or cool toned

Before choosing a red lipstick, take a moment to look at the colour of your veins to see if they lean towards blue or green.  You are cool toned if they look bluish, warm toned if they look green, or you may be neutral toned if the colour is in between.  Cool and neutral skin tones are suited to blue toned reds, and warm skin tones are suited to warmer reds.

2. Choose a shade of red that you’re comfortable with

If you’re wearing red lipstick for the very first time, a great way to ease your way into a red lip is to start with a sheer red  (Revlon Lip Butter “Candy Apple”) or a tinted lip balm  (Lanolips Lip Ointment in “Apples”).  If you are planning on going all the way with the ultimate red lip, choose a creamy, hydrating, long lasting formula to minimise the need for touch-ups during the day.  My top picks are Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick #11 for fair skin tones, Revlon Colorburst Lipstick “True Red” for medium skin tones,  and Maybelline ColorSensational Lipcolor “Red Revival” for darker skin tones.

3. Make your lipstick last with a lip pencil

The most effective way to make a red lippie last all day is to fill the lips entirely with red lip pencil before applying lipstick.  It also helps prevent lipstick from bleeding or feathering, and also helps create a precise edge that looks more polished. Some of my favourite yet affordable lip liner brands that have classic reds are Rimmel, Natio and Revlon.

4. Don’t have a lip brush? Use the shape of the lipstick bullet!

Place the tip of the lipstick bullet starting from the corner of your mouth & drag it along to your cupids bow to create a precise line. Repeat on the other corner, and use the same method for your bottom lip starting from each corner working your way to the centre.  Clean up any excess with a cotton tip or a clean finger.

5. Blot & remove excess with your index finger to prevent lipstick smudging

To prevent lipstick from smudging, blot the excess by stretching a tissue paper and pressing it gently against your lips.  Then insert a clean index finger into your mouth and pull it out.  The excess (that would have otherwise smudged on your teeth) will come off on your finger.

Other “red lippy” posts you might like to check out:

• Chapter 3 of my “Pout Perfect” eBook that shows you how to build your lipstick wardrobe, one colour group at a time
• Ingenious Lipstick Tips from MAC Senior Artist Nicole Thompson
• Flirtatious Red Lips for Valentines Day
• Swatches of all red lippies on Beauty Swatch

To find out more about “Kiss Goodbye to MS” events in your area, just click on your state at www.kissgoodbyetoMS.org

Blazer: Helmut Lang | Earrings: Dara Ettinger | Bag: Mulberry | Bracelet: Hermes | Shoes: Coach | Lipsticks: Chanel, Burberry, Lanolips

Lately it seems that everyone around me has been searching for a new job, and it got me thinking about my own options that will set the scene for the next decade in my career.  Whilst I have a clearer idea of the eye makeup I plan on wearing, I feel as though I have to go back to first base with my lip colour to make sure the job interview is focused on my skills and expertise, and not the colour of my pout.  You can’t go wrong with a healthy glossy finish of a lip balm, and to play it safe there’s also the understated polished look of a “my lips but better” (MLBB) shade.  But I also like the idea of displaying an air of confidence with a sheer hint of colour, to express that I’m creative and approachable in the hope of setting myself apart from the zillion other applicants.  Over to you now…

Which lippy would you wear to a job interview?

Sheer pop of colour, MLBB or Lip Balm?

This post may contain affiliate links, which gives us commission when you click and purchase something from that link. By purchasing via these links (at no extra cost to you), you’re supporting Beauty Swatch.

After months in the making, I’m so pleased to finally unveil the news of my collaboration with Clinique & Mecca Maxima….

*drum roll*

I’m SUPER EXCITED about this opportunity to help you find your lipstick shade with Clinique & Mecca Maxima.

It’s been an amazing journey since launching my Pout Perfect eBook and I’m so grateful for all your support & the opportunities that have come along.

There’s also an AMAZING INSTAGRAM GIVEAWAY for those who come say hello, see below for T&C’s.  I’ll be choosing ONE best photo that will win a $200 Mecca voucher, so I encourage you all to use your Insta-creativity to snap a shot that best captures the theme of the event.

In my next post, I will reveal the lip swatches that I specially prepared for this event to showcase the exciting new Clinique lip colours now available in Australia.

If you are in Melbourne PLEASE come and say hello!

I’d love to meet you and help you find a lipstick shade!