Ladies,
I’m not one to advocate joining gangs – makes me want to don a baseball cap back to front and wear massive bling. But I have recently been invited to join one and like many gangs, its hard to say no especially when they are persistent ;) They call themselves the Lipstick Bandits but the only thing this gang does is terrorize your wallet by making you WANT more and more lipsticks. Especially the red ones. The redder the better. I think I’ve found my niche :)
At the pestering urging of Rae, I was unwittingly happily co-opted into this lipstick loving gang. And like all not-so-secret societies, I needed to be initiated. Here is my initiation.
Me in a bandit-esque mask, rocking a red lipstick :)
A month ago, I’d have laughed and said “Pish! Me, do something creative with makeup? You gotta be kidding! I don’t have a creative bone in my body!” That’s what I told Rae the first time she asked. But then I celebrated a birthday recently and with age, as they say, you lose your wisdom :P Suddenly you think “There’s nothing I can’t do if I just put my mind to it!” And so when Rae sneakily (banditly?) asked again, I said yes. I did this, on the eve of turning a year older but looking back, not very much wiser :)
The red lipstick featured here is NARS Manhunt. Like Nars Gipsy I featured before, its in the NARS Sheer lipstick texture and its got a lovely smooth texture that glides on the lips beautifully. It isn’t drying and actually applies quite sheerly as the name implies. You can layer it on and build it up without having it look thick, waxy or cakey.
Colour-wise, its a bright red that isn’t too warm nor too cool and if you apply just one layer, isn’t as bright nor as scary as you might think. I of course can never stop at just one layer :)
Manhunt is a lovely shade that instantly brightens up the face, isn’t scary, isn’t aging and is definitely one to pick up. Do eet! :D
For interests sake, here is a close up of the ‘mask’ I did. This is the most ‘creative’ I’ve ever gotten with makeup so be kind :P
Its not terribly imaginative nor precise but it suits its purpose, I think :) I went for heavy blue-silver tinted eye makeup and a black racoon mask to bring it all together. Bandit y’know ;) It would have benefited from a liberal dose of false lashes but I couldn’t put them on properly. I rather like the eye look though so I will redo it in a slightly toned down version for regular wear – can’t go round scaring people in a mask. Well except for Halloween :P
Here’s some of the products I used and what I did with them.
Face: Dior Forever liquid foundation 010 (Ivory), Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer
Cheeks: Lunasol Contrasting Cheeks blush in 02 Natural Red
Eyes: Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow #1 Blast of Blue as base and on lower lid blended over black liner, Make Up For Ever Star Powder #90906 on upper lid, Bourjois Suivez Mon Regards loose eyeshadow in Etoile d’Argent as highlight, Giorgio Armani kohl pencil to line top and bottom lashlines, Shiseido Perfect Mascara, Shu Uemura Shimmer Eyeliner in Comet Silver for inner corners and as accent on the mask
Lips: Nars Sheer Lipstick in Manhunt
Mask: Korres Soft Liner in black all over, Urban Decay Blackout to blend over the liner, sprinkling of Bourjois silver glitter and Shu Uemura glitter liner on tip
Urgh! It bugs me that I used so many things I haven’t reviewed! :P
I did the eye makeup first, liked what I saw and then, with shaky hands, drew in the mask, praying all the time I wouldn’t mess it up because I did not want to redo the eyes. In the process I had to sharpen my eyeliner pencil twice, and used the most black shadow and silver glitter I’ve ever had in my entire makeup life. I rather like it! :D
Readers in Asia will be wondering why I’m breaking schedule by posting in the night. The Lipstick Bandits project is international and appears to be HQed in Canada so I’m conforming to Canadian time for simultaneous posting from all the Bandits :)
Here is the first wave of the Lipstick Bandits to hit the interweb. Gloriously inventive and creative and was what got me intrigued in the first place.
Collage credit to Rae
The first wave of Lipstick Bandits pictured above:
- Rae – theNotice: a beauty blog,
- Larie – Eye Heart It,
- Tracy – Beauty Reflections,
- Arianne – Glitter Geek,
- Dani – call it beauty., and
- Makeup Morsels.
The Bandits since then:
- Danielle – Bloomin’ Beauty,
- Jen – My Funny Valentine,
- Rocaille – Rocaille Writes,
- Xiao – Messy Wands,
- Paris – My Women Stuff.
I haven’t seen the masks of the newest Bandits in the team, so I’m just as keen as you are to see what these talented ladies have come up with! :D
I hope you’ve enjoyed this and if I’ve made you want to pick up NARS Manhunt lipstick, I’ve succeeded in my mission! :D
Viva la (red) lipstick!
Paris B
Major thumbs up for being so brave, and bonus points for ROCKING that look! :D especially liked the very first pic on top..
Teehee thank you Bee! Wasn’t quite sure how it’d turn out but glad it was quite alright in the end :)
WOW! You make a darn good bandit, Paris! This look would certainly invite cat calling. I’m eager to know what you Lipstick Bandits come up with and hope to learn of a perfect red lippie to try.
Lol thank you Peach! Stalk the Bandits and we might just help you find your red lip yet!
You look so cute – high five for creativity! How long did the mask take you? (I kind of want to see the look without it – it looks like it would make for very pretty going-out makeup) :)
That’s a great idea RM :D I’ll try to recreate this look without the mask. The whole thing plus shooting pix took me perhaps an hour? Not too long actually.
LOL! You look great!
Hehe thanks Jamilla :)
OMG! PB! You look HAWT! Very Catwoman! OMG! I can’t stop gushing! Love love love the pix and the idea of Lipstick Bandits! :D
Hehehe thank you Rinnah! Mrreow!!! ;)
You look too cute! And sexayyy! I can almost imagine you busting into with this look and a skintight leather outfit! Great job! Haha!! :D
Haha thank you Jenn :D I think I’d prefer to burst into a room with a cape whee!
Whoa. You rock that bandit look for Halloween, PB! ^.^
Re: Jenn’s comment, I suggest them whips as well, ala catwoman. Miaw!
And I seem to have developed somewhat of a resistance towards your… red lippie lemming generations. Hopefully. *Gulps* *fingers crossed*
Ah well if you’ve found a good red lippie it’s easy to be immune. I’m not as strong willed hehe ;) and thanks! Catwoman is nice and lithe and sexy… Even if i’m not into cats ;)
Wow! The mask is pretty darn awesome for a 1st attempt ^_^
Red lippies do really suit your lips – the defined cupids bow is so cute ;)
I’ve been taking baby steps lately to bolder lip colours by using red lip balms :p
Kinda pathetic, but hey! I’m trying, rite? :D
Yay! A red lip balm is better than none! ;) thanks Sue Lynn it took nerves of steel to post this ;)
Whoops – sorry – double posted :P
Have no idea why but the mask reminds me of Batman :X ehehe
Lol! It might have been my inspiration too! Batgirl maybe? ;)
Love this and I so want to join the gang!!!
Cool! :D thanks Ling!
How awesome! I love the silver in your mask. And Manhunt, oooh – there’s another one for the wishlist!
Hi Fellow bandit Larie! Manhunt is gorgeous and much sheerer than I expected :)
See, you can totally do creative! :D The mask looks awesome, Paris. Crushing on that delicate little silver “v” in particular – I mean, the whole thing is great, but I <3 that detail!
So v. glad you could join us ^^
Thank you Rae for pushing me into this and out of my comfort zone. Am looking forward to the next one! :D
Very very cool! Top it with a black hat and cape and you could be Zorro with that mask too =) Perfect for today’s celebration! Someone mentioned Catwoman… of course, that’d be waaaay sexier than Zorro. LOL!
Yay I like Zorro! what a swashbuckler :) Thanks Lily
YAY Another Lipstick Bandit!
“I had to sharpen my eyeliner pencil twice” And only twice?? I feel like the Lipstick Bandits would use up 3 in the process of mask making!
Thank you Ashley :D I started out with a freshly sharpened pencil that’s why it only took me 2 sharpenings :D I filled up the rest with black shadow :)
What an awesome job you did and you totally rock that red lippie! Love your mask too!
Thank you Lyn! I think you’d like Manhunt actually! Too bad there’s no Nars here but do keep it in mind ;)
Beautiful mask and gorgeous lipstick choice!!
Welcome to the gang!
Hi Tracy, thank you! And thank you too for being so welcoming :D
Oh wow the mask looks absolutely lovely! :D And it does suit you too, in a good way haha :P It’s great! C’est magnifique! And not to mention that the red lips goes very well with the whole look, too.
I have to second Jenn and Hanny- leather outfit and whips ala Catwoman. Not the Halle Berry version, though :P
Haha whips so suit the dominatrix look eh? ;) thanks Stephanie :)
Gorgeous, great choice of lipstick, it looks amazing against your skin :)
Thank you Rocaille. You did a great job too! :D
SHO CUTE! Or perhaps that wasn’t the reaction you were looking for :P great job on the mask! And the lipstick looks hot!
Haha ok yes cute wasn’t quite what I wa going for ;) but thank you :D