MY FAVOURITE THINGS | red lipstick

i've never been the biggest wearer of makeup, with the exception of high school me where i would cake it on. the only product i never really leave my home without these days is concealer but as of late i've been wearing lipstick on the regular, specifically red lipstick. 

i've always preferred reds that were dark but bright. i used to have the perfect colour from l'oreal's infallible collection, it was a red with just the right amount of a blue undertone, but then they discontinued that shade. i was never able to find another lipstick in that colour so i would resort to layering NARS' velvet lip pencil over revlon's just bitten lip stain, until one day where i decided to wear the lip pencil on it's own. the day i wore dragon girl by itself was the day i received so many compliments on the colour. i always thought that particular shade of siren red was too bright for me but i guess i was wrong (very wrong, according to my makeup artist friend that lovingly threatened me to not mix the colour again). 

since this awakening i now want to expand on my red lip collection and try other bright shades, even going in the direction of orange (i think that would look totes amaze with my "summer complexion" when my skin turns a darker golden brown). i'm even tempted to revisit other bold colours that i used to wear as a fearless youth. as much as i love NARS and have become a lifer i am not about being exclusive with my makeup relationships; there are many more brands i want to try. my requirements, and i don't have many: it must not be glossy or pearlized, matte is preferred but it can be moisturizing, and it must be long lasting (i don't want to do multiple touch ups through the day). très facile, non? i think so.

below is a collection of various lip colours. a few colours i already own and love like NARS' lip pencils in dragon girl (of course) and bahama (i know it's not red or even an edgy colour but it really is the perfect pink brown). some i'd like to revisit like makeup forever's satin blueberry and satin black lipstick (i wore these colours in high school; i wore electric blue and even dark green as well but have no plans to go back to there). the rest are colours and brands i'd like to try, especially ones from toronto based all-natural lip care company bite beauty. 

it's a good thing i have reward cards for the bay, sephora and shoppers drug mart because i will be racking up some serious points with these future purchases.