Trends: Matte Lips

Matte lips are such an amazing statement to any outfit and In Style magazine couldn't have made a more gorgeous editorial to showcase the latest must-have beauty item! Here's our personal take on matte lips, how we like to wear it, and our current favorite product!

Tara

Summer is more easy breezy sheer lipsticks or tinted balms, but for fall/winter, you'll see us sporting matte lips. There's nothing more chic than bold liner, tons of mascara and a matte lip. Sure matte lipcolors have their ups and downs, but the impact makes it all worth it. I personally dread the look of a ultra nude matte lip (makes people look ill) so bring in the reds and berries for this season! The trick to keep matte lips look and apply flawlessly is to exfoliate! Unfortunately matte lips will exentuate any dryness or flakey spots, but keeping your lips exfoliated as well as moisturized is the key to success! P.s. look for more tips for wearing matte lips at the bottom of this post (; 

Lani

Matte lips have always been a favorite of mine since I usually avoid anything too glossy as it reminds me of being in middle school and applying layers upon layers of grape-flavored lip gloss. (Insert shudder going through spine.) I definitely love a natural lip and matte red lipstick gives a great flush of color when you apply it first on your finger and dab it into the center of your lip (after having applied chapstick), then gently dab it everywhere else to avoid any harsh lines. Bold, matte lips also tend to be my favorite accessory when I'm dressed down a bit more. Red is such a classic and looks good with virtually any outfit and hairdo! It's like the perfect trying-without-trying accessory.

Lipsticks pictured from top left to right: MAC in Diva, Tarte in Hope, MAC in Ruby Woo, Sonia Kashuk in Berry Natural, Tarte in Fiery, Rimmel's Kate Moss in 101

Tips for Wearing Matte Lips

To make it last: There's only one word you'll need to remember-BLOT! After applying a first layer of lipstick, blot away the excess to create a stain. Repeat this step 3 times and your matte lips won't budge! Another good way to make them stay is to create a stain using lip liner, except remember to fill in the lips too so in the case that they do fade, it won't create an outline.

Keeping dryness at bay: Lip balm is always key to matte lips. It helps to apply a good balm (we like using Burt's Bees, Vaseline's Balm, and CO Bigelow) first thing in the makeup process. When it comes time to apply the lipstick, gently wipe off any excess.

Current Most Used Products / Early Fall 2013

Tara

Who says you can't have pink lips in the fall? I am adoring the rosy flush of Benefit Pillow Talk lipstick and Maybelline Baby Lips in Strike a Rose! Maybelline surprised me with this product (Baby Lips are usually pretty sheer or non-existent) but I love the vibrancy of Strike a Rose- it even has some staying power! Obviously I need to give my lashes a little love with my holy grail Buxom Mascara. I will continue to repurchase this forever......and ever. On my last trip to Sephora, I was looking at their eyeliners and and I usually don't buy Sephora brand products, but their Waterproof eye pencil in Cocoa caught my eye- I am absolutely in love. I wear it everyday smudged on my lower lash line and it gives the perfect amount of smokiness to any eye look! So, I'm not going to lie, I'm a little bummed about summer coming to a close, but once I roll on my Pacifica Blood Orange perfume- it's like summer never ended. Who doesn't want to smell like a succulent orange?! (; Unfortunately my skin stays oily no matter what time of the year it is, so to set my foundation, I powder with Make Up For Ever Super Matte Powder- it's amazing! And since I'm currently almost out of mine- and Sephora is sold out- I'm having withdrawals. 

Lani

The summer heat is still going on strong, as well as my laziness when it comes to getting ready. I'm still sticking to simple dab-and-go products, my latest favorite being Rimmel's Scandaleye! I apply it in the outer corners of my eyes and gently dab it inwards so that it gives my eyes a bit more dimension. I then blend out any harsh corners or shoddy dabbing job with Sigma's Blending Brush (E25) that Tara generously gave me-it's my new love! I usually follow up with a heaping load of mascara, my favorite being a sample of Chanel's Inimitable Intense. Ugh, I can rave about this product forever and how it puts all of my other mascaras to shame but it's Chanel, so what else should I expect? As for lips, I stick with either a simple balm like C.O. Bigelow's Rose Salve or Nars' Pure Sheer Lipstick in Paloma, which gives off a playful wash of coral. And then voila! Effortless, quick, but still looks pretty decent. It almost feels like I'm cheating Mother Nature.

What are you guys' fall favorites? Have you tried any of ours?

Tara Goes to Canada / 2013

This summer I took a week-long trip to Alberta, Canada! We stayed in the city of Canmore while driving up to Banff National Park. These are some of my Canadian beauty, fashion, and food finds !