There’s a giant photo of my head on my blog. Bye-bye, comfort zone!
I didn’t start wearing brightly-colored lipstick until I was in my mid-30s. I was into deep reds in my teens and early 20s, and then I pretty much just moved on to sheer, pinky-natural glosses. The lipstick that brought me around was hot-orange MAC Lady Danger, which I wrote about in 2010. And for about four years, that was the only color I wore when I wasn’t opting for a gloss. (By the way, I’m still on my first tube—that’s how slowly I go through lipstick. Please don’t tell me it’s expired and that my lips are probably coated with invisible fungus. I don’t want to know!)
Late last summer, I started to branch out…but just a little. After seeing Jenna wearing a beautiful shade of hot pink lipstick, I went for it: I picked up a tube of NARS Funny Face, and suddenly I had TWO brightly-colored lipsticks that I feel good in! I’m kind of shocked that it works with my skin color, since cool-toned makeup is usually Bad City on me.
I really like the texture of NARS lipstick. It doesn’t wear quite as long as MAC’s matte formula, but it’s a little kinder and less drying to my lips. It’s also a bit more forgiving during the application process. When I run out of my MAC Lady Danger, I may try NARS Heat Wave for the sake of the formula since it’s a very similar shade.
I still only wear real lipstick once or twice a week, but it’s fun to have two to choose from. I don’t feel like I’m wearing a costume, I just feel…fancy. I guess that’s the lipstick look that’ll define my late 30s. (Hey, I still have a few more months before I have to say “my early 40s.”)
Oh, and in case you’re curious, here’s a list of the rest of what’s on and around my head today:
✚ Lipstick: NARS Funny Face
✚ Mascara: Ardency Inn (I wrote a review of this magical stuff a while back.)
✚ Dress: H&M (Looks like they don’t have this exact print anymore, unfortunately.)
✚ Black earrings: & Other Stories
✚ Gold earrings: Madewell
✚ Necklace: Madewell (Oh hey, it’s on sale! You can see much of it in my photo, but I love this necklace. I wear it almost every day.)
p.s. Semi-related, since this is the “vanity” category: This interview with Fran Lebowitz in Elle is so fantastic. I adore Fran.
(Giant photo of my head by John Vairo Jr.)
40 Comments
Well, you know I can talk makeup forever and ever. I have Funny Face as well and as does my bff, and it’s weird – it’s super iridescent on me, but not on her! I bought a similar color from the sephora lip stains and it’s super amazing: http://www.sephora.com/cream-lip-stain-P281411?skuId=1296102 (strawberry kissed) – can’t recommend it enough, does not budge but doesn’t dry out. Also, I love Heat Wave but I also love MAC’s So Chaud, which is a super similar color but not as matte as Heat Wave. Also I bought NARS new color “Olivia”, which is a dark oxblood and it’s fun for nights out. Feel like you’d be into it too.
Ooooh. I’ve never really tried any of Sephora’s own line of cosmetics. I’ll check out those stains for sure. Thank you!!
Loving the colour !!!! AND you have the most amazing skin…. Fab photo 🙂
Cosmetics + lighting + Photoshop = not so much skin as it is an idea of skin. 😉
Mmmmm, fungus lips! 😉
The colour looks amazing – you look great!
Thank you, Louise!
GIANT HEAD. I mean… PFFT. *shakes head.
You’re a beauty, Anna. YES. xox
OK, fat head. Is that better? 😉 xoxox
Hey! I live in the same town as a JCrew/Madewell distribution center, and every couple of months they do big warehouse clearance sales. I got two $100+ cashmere scarves for $8 apiece in Feb, it was crazy! You have to wrestle with like 500 people and dig through boxes. So much fun. If you’re looking for anything, lemme know and I can keep my eyes peeled next sale. 😀
That’s pretty amazing, Christina, wow! I don’t really know much about Madewell stuff beyond their jeans and accessories, so I wouldn’t even know where to start, but I appreciate the offer. 🙂 I hope find more great stuff!
i’ve been wearing funny face for the past year! It’s the best.
Have you checked out any of the rad matte liquid lipsticks that are all the rage these days? There are some awesome colors and they last forever on the lips. I’m loving Anastasia Beverly Hills in Carina right now.
No, I haven’t, but I’m curious! I’ve definitely check out this one and the one that Kate mentioned above. Thanks!!
Wait wait! But what about the under eye concealer you’re wearing? It looks **flawless.
Lately I’ve been using Tarte CC underye—it’s great! I should probably write a post about it…
The pink lipsticks gives you such a fresh look! I love it! 🙂
Anna, that color looks great on you! You might like Marc Jacobs Lip Vinyl in Boom Boom too. Xo
You look so good in that shade, and with your dark eyes and hair I bet you can carry off peach/coral really well too. Your skin is like porcelain!
Thanks, Ann! I can definitely do corals, but anything I’d describe as “peach” (and I realize these kinds of color names are subjective) tends to disappear on me a bit.
No wonder Fran’s Elle interview made me think of you! She is amazing. Officially on the list of “people I want to be like in ___ years.”
She is incredible. I hope people read the last paragraph in particular.
I thought I was the only one that didn’t discover lipstick until my 30s 🙂
You look so fresh and pretty, I can’t stop smiling.
Now I can’t stop smiling, either! 🙂 🙂 🙂 xo
Totally random question, but are your two ear piercings horizontal to each other? Or does it just appear that way in the photo? I love the placement of your earrings and have been debating a second hole…but I’m not a fan of ‘earrings up the ear.’
Hmmm. I never really thought about it before (I have a lot of ear piercings, and with the exception of the first hole, I did them all myself with a safety pin when I was teenager), but I guess maybe the second hole is kind of low? I don’t know if there are any guidelines about that stuff, but if you want a second hole horizontal to the first, just go for it. 🙂
Love the look! I may need to be your earring twin.
Great look for you! So, I have a question-are the wonderful eyelashes all due to the mascara or do you use anything else?? I’ve noticed as i have reached the mid-forties (ugh!) that my eyelashes have gotten thin and kind of stumpy……another joy of getting older!
The only other thing I use is a lash curler. Maybe they’ll all fall out in a few years, haha. 😉
I saw your tweet for the latest post and noticed the new profile picture, and immediately I had to know what lipstick this was! We’re similar coloring and I can never find a cool pink that works on me, but I love them so much. The funny thing is my mom had this lipstick years ago and never wore it and offered it to me, but I thought it wouldn’t work. Dammit. It looks incredible on you!
Thanks, Melissa! Yeah, it’s a really forgiving pink. My friend Jenna (who I first saw it on in person) has very different coloring from me, and it’s gorgeous on her as well. I hesitate to call it a universally flattering hot pink, but maybe it comes close!
You. Are. Brave. I struggle with that particular comfort zone all the time (as evidence, see my Gravatar/blog/usual online identity photo, which is a picture of me taken, oh, 49 years ago?). Yay, Anna! And thank you for being courageous for the rest of us.
Also, that is one amazing shade. I have been looking for a hot pink. Might be time to go check it out–although truthfully, everything turns pink-ish on me anyway (yes, even Lady Danger!).
I’ve been trying to remember lip color consistently these days and have been mining through some vegan/cruelty free brands. Right now I either use Pacifica’s Firebird, Armour’s Funhouse or Lush’s Santa Baby but I’d rather a more brick red.
I recently discovered Lady Danger and love it! I’ve never been as obsessed with makeup until now and I’m 34. I LOVE it. So fun.
I of course want your lip color now too. 😉 Such a delightfully fun pink for spring.
And not to come off too much like a stalker, but I totally bought that Madewell necklace. It was too chic to pass up – well that and the mark down! Talk about SCORE.
P.S. your style is so super rad.
Perfect post and perdewct timing, I am just searching for a lipstick like this! Great informations also in a comment section!
I like your dress and also H+M prices, but polyester is something in what I smell bed until the end of the day. :-((( and to buy only silk would be to expensive.
I forgot to emtnion how young you look!!! No sign of aging at all!!!
And Madewell necklace is amazing.
I recently got my first (hot) pink lipstick as well, and it’s awesome! Never thought this would work for me, but tried it on a whim and am really loving it. It’s MAC Viva Glam Miley Cyrus, which surprised me most of all.
youre so adorable!
I recognized the H&M dress right away because I just tried it on couple of days ago in the store (I live in the Bay Area). I love the print but didn’t end up buying it.