Look: Silk Naturals Colours for a Cause - Carpe Diem, Red Lippie

Syen's recent post on Rimmel red lippies made me eager to break out my Carpe Diem lipstick that I'd gotten from Silk Naturals. Now a quick disclaimer, that is NOT me trying to look sexy, that is me trying to open my eyes half way so my double lids don't hide ALL my black eyeliner! Read on for my review of the lipstick, and review of Live and Laugh eyeshadows that are also part of the colours of a cure set. Also, more details on my "red lipstick look".

The Look
As I had a rather high-powered day ahead of me, I opted for a classic black shift office dress accented with a deep red belt. As such, a red lippie seemed like a good way to accessorise. I kept my eyes neutral and slightly shimmery, with a strong black eyeliner (similar to what I did with the Fuschia Lip). Used a very light hand with the blush in a peachy shade that would wake up my face but not scream "BLUSH!".

I'll admit to being slightly afraid of looking entirely too dominatrix (especially with my uhh.. very chiseled eyebrows courtesy of Shu Uemura) but decided what the hey, I'll work it. At least I'm not wearing my corset belt, and spiky black boots *grins*. I've been getting compliments all day though, and no one has run from me gibbering in terror, so I must have done something right.

The wonderful Carpe Diem!
Oh man, Carpe Diem is SUCH a good name for this lipstick. It really is a great way to "seize the day" (pardon my cheesiness). I've read in beauty mags that the best way to tell if a lipstick suits you is to swipe it on, before applying any other colour to your face. The moment I applied Carpe Diem, my entire face lit up and I knew I was onto a winner!

Carpe Diem is a cool, berryish red shade with oodles of pure 23k edible gold shimmer. I'm usually somewhat iffy around shimmer-lippies as I hate the frosted look and have rather, well, wrinkly lips (it's like I have too much lip in too little area). But these super fine gold particles give a glowing, rich and decadent sheen to the lipstick that warms it up and makes it look... amazing. I can't imagine this not suiting anyone!

As a red lipstick too, this is a very forgiving shade. It manages to make you stand out, instead of just having your lips enter the room 10 minutes before you. It allows for quite a nice light smokey eye (I did that by mistake when I smudged my liner) without making you look overdone - great for evening events. Plus it's sheer (I'm wearing two layers), so can be toned down further, and worn without a liner.

Eyes: Live & Laugh mineral eyeshadows

Live is a very shimmery creamy off-white. I love its finish as the shimmer is so fine it resembles Bobbi Brown's metallic eyeshadow collection. No chunks of glitter. It can be layered on thickly or blended out into wash. All the Colours for a Cure shadows have this finish incidentally. Personally I adore Live as a highlighter, on the inner corners of the eyes and under the brow bone. But I'd love it even MORE if it was ever-so-slightly warmer to suit my skintone. As it is I have to be careful to use very little and blend it out well.

Love is an amazing medium taupe shade - lighter and slightly warmer than Shu's Brown M 850. I paired it with Nudge Nudge, a dark taupe, for this look. On fairer girls it would make a great wash shade, swipe it on with a blender brush for a wash, and with a more precise blush for a crease shade. On me though I need a little nudge (tee hee.. sorry, couldn't resist!).

Look breakdown
Eyes - Live (highlight), Laugh (mid-tone), Nudge Nudge (crease), Blackheart (foiled with eyedrops to use as a liner), and Shu Uemura's Ultimate Expressions Mascara.

Cheeks - SN blush in Climax

Lips - Carpe Diem (as if you didn't know)