#mac deepest wish

[makeupbox]

How to Wear Plum Lipstick, plus L'oreal Color Riche Intense Plum Demo!

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Plum is an odd cross between purple, brown AND red. It has the ability to look very goth OR very posh and chic depending on your outfit and the rest of your makeup. 

If you're looking for some good options, you'll be happy to know drugstore brands do carry good versions of this shade. The one I'm working with today is L'oreal's Color Riche in Intense Plum because it goes on evenly (some are patchy), comes in a creme formula (some people don't like mattes because they're very drying) and is not too dark or light so it works for most skin colors.

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PLUMS

Not everyone likes plum because when done wrong, it can make you look sallow, but here are some tips to make it work, as well as a few alternate ways to use that untouched tube in your drawer!

The brown and purple tones can bring out any uneven-ness in light to medium skins. If you don't have perfect skin tone, remember to even it out with a good base.

Unlike red lipstick, there aren't enough red-based tones to brighten the skin. Wearing a more intense pink blush can help to add life into your face without competing with the lips.

If you're wearing a creamy formula like the L'oreal, it might bleed into the fine lines around your lips. You can either wear a matching lip liner beneath or else run around the edges of your lips with a tiny bit of silicone-based concealer (pot forms work best for this purpose) on a lip brush. Make sure the color matches your skin or you'll end up with a light ring around your mouth!

Here are 2 alternate ways to make your plum lipstick go the extra mile!

As a stain: I'm a fan of those luscious berry-tinted lips a la Liv Tyler 

Apply lip balm all over your lips

Rub some lipstick onto a finger tip and then dab it around the center of your lips

With the residual amounts on your finger, spread and pat the color outwards toward the corners of the lips.

For a dramatic metallic look: this looks good on almost everyone, but if you have very dark skin or you love emphasizing your lips, you have to try it!

Apply a layer of your lipstick

Use a flat shadow or concealer brush to pick up plenty of a rose, red or fuchsia metallic pigment (I used MAC's Crushed Metallic Pigment in Moon Rose; Bright Fuchsia pigment would work)

Gently press - don't rub - a layer of shimmery pigment over the lips. You can choose to concentrate the pigment around the center of the lips for more dimension and drama or just wear it all over for a custom lip shade nobody else has!

It's optional to apply gloss over it, but I prefer not to as this gives a longer lasting satin finish.

[makeupbox]

Fall Look: Black Orchid Lipstick (Make Up Store) Swatches and Tutorial

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I am one of those people who own beautiful dark lipsticks but never ever wear them out of the house. 

Since we're into the Fall fashion season, I decided it was time to introduce one of my favorite dark, dark  lipsticks, paired with an eye look that's smoky and coordinated, but not overdone.

Meet Make Up Store Black Orchid Lipstick, an intense black plum creme. 

I prefer not to use lip liner when I'm wearing a dark lip, as I like the "ripe" look when the inside is darker than the edges. But that's just my personal preference.

The eye is very simple to do and just softly defined without any harsh lines.

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Step 1: Apply a black matte shadow along the upper and lower lash lines in a rough winged liner shape. No need to be too precise. Just make sure the shape is there and the base of your lashes is dark.

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Step 2: Use a plum or eggplant shade (try MAC Shale) and sweep it over the whole lid. This gives a sheer wash and also smokes out the black at the lash lines so there is no discernible line, but the base looks darker and smokier. Do it sparingly along the lower lash line as well.

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Step 3: Apply mascara to top and bottom lashes. And that's it for the eyes!

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Step 4: For the lips, you can either use a lip primer (I like something with a nude color so that it can hide pigmented lips and clean up the lip line) or just run your foundation slightly inwards over the edge of your lips when applying your base. Then apply a dark plum lipstick. 

As some dark formulas tend to go on a bit streaky-looking, blot lightly and then apply a second coat. I would leave out the gloss, but if you really want intense drama, go ahead. Just note that it will not last as long, and smears easier, which can be very visible with a dark lip.

To keep the look soft, I applied a bit of matte bronze to the cheeks just to add some contour and a hint of color without detracting from the very dark monochromatic shades.

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If you can't get hold of Make Up Store's Black Orchid lipstick, MAC Amplified Lipstick in Deepest Wish is very close. It does not build up to the same level of dark, juicy saturation, but it goes on more evenly and requires less effort to apply.

If you want to go REALLY dramatic, apply a matte version like MAC's Prince Noir from the Mac Me Over collection for full opacity, and dab a touch of clear gloss in the center.

Swatches (L-to-R): MAC Deepest Wish, Make Up Store Black Orchid Lipstick