Hello peeps!

If there's one make-up product that I apply every single day without fail, it is a lipstick or a lip gloss. When you're running late and want to look fresh, a lip product is all you need to get that made-up look. When you don't have enough room in your purse and want to have some make-up handy in case you plan on going out after work, a lipstick is absolutely that go-to product you need. When your hormones are acting up causing too much acne (kinda like my situation right now!) and you need to cut down on make-up.... well, a lipstick is your best friend! Our mothers, even grandmothers swear by it and lipsticks might probably be the only make-up product they own. Last month I was out shopping at Central with my sister-in-law, trying out some lippies for her and I came across the L'Oreal Paris Infallible Lip Gloss that just blew my mind, quite instantly!


That brings me to the million dollar question - How do I know what lipstick I should buy? I have been a lipstick consultant (sounds like a fancy profession, doesn't it? :p) for a lot of my family members (proudly showing off :p) and while picking out a lipstick, here are some of the things I consider -

• The shade : The shade needs to compliment your skin tone. I have noticed that nude shades don't suit me well and brighter shades like blush, violet, tomato red etc. make me look less dull. There's no hard and fast rule here and it's mostly trial and error. This particular shade called 'Aphrodite Kiss' looked fabulous on my sister-in-law as well. So, make sure you try it out before you make a purchase.
• The brand : When it comes to make-up, it's best not to experiment too much. Try to stick to brands that have been in the market for a long time and read a lot of reviews on the internet (especially HOTH reviews :p) before you buy something. Some brands that never disappoint are Lakme, MAC, L'Oreal, Bobbi Brown, Maybelline, Revlon.
• The feel : In contrast to my earlier statement, just because a lipstick belongs to a reputed brand need not necessarily make it the best product for your lips. Some lippies are not meant for dry lips and you might end up with chapped lips. Do pick out something that is hydrating enough and leaves the skin of your lips moist and glowing.
• The texture : Matte or glossy? That's yet another concern that most people seem to have. I have definitely been a big fan of glossy lipsticks back in the day when I was a teenager, but lately I have been collecting matte lipsticks. It's entirely your choice, but a matte lipstick suits pretty much everyone! 
• The duration : If you want your lipstick to last all day long, then you should opt for highly pigmented shades and brands. I could do a whole other post on this topic. But for someone like me, I prefer a lipstick that fades away on its own because it's not very healthy to use deeply pigmented make-up products. To be on the safer side, prep your lips with a lip primer before using these shades.
• The price : Now the price entirely depends on how much you are willing to spend. The more you spend, the better your lipstick quality would turn out to be and they tend to last longer as well. That being said, there are some drugstore brands that are pretty amazing as well.