Hey, Lipstick! You're the Balm!

 "I feel absolutely naked without my lipstick!"  bonus points if you know from which classic movie this quote has come.  Lipstick: love it or hate it, need it or forget it.  Personally I'm of two minds about lipstick, because I love the way it looks but hate the way it feels.  I always remember to take it with me but almost always forget to put it on.  If you're on the fence about this cosmetic staple, let's go over the benefits of wearing lipstick and a few work arounds if it's not your most favorite accessory.

1.  Protect & Heal.  A moisturizing lipstick can protect against chapping, pealing lips, and one with SPF can even protect against sun damage on this very delicate skin.

2.  Confidence Bump.  Hey, remember that post about power suits, well think of lipstick as the power suit for your smile.  No, wait, don't think of it like that, that's a terrible analogy.  The psychology is the same though.  Lipstick, particularly a bold bright shade, makes you feel beautiful, powerful, confident, and that's the best reason to do anything.

3.  Define your lips.  In the same way that shoes can make or break the outfit, pale lifeless lips can ruin even the best features or make-up application.  And, let's face it, when you talk to people they're going to be looking at your mouth, so why not make it look its best and put on a little color and shine.

Those are just a few of the benefits of wearing lipstick, but if you're still not a fan, here are a few work arounds.  1.  Go Matte.  Most people's problem with lipstick is the sticky feeling or the fact that it smudges.  Finding a nice Matte lipstick, I like NYX Suede Matte-$8, feels like wearing nothing at all and I haven't had a problem with smudging, but I do still remove my lipstick for mealtimes and reapply afterwards, just in case.

2. Lip Stain.  Lip stain goes on wet but then dries leaving behind a color that won't smudge or have that sticky feeling many don't like and is supposed to last for 8-12 hours.  L'oreal Rouge Signature Lightweight Matte Lip Stain has great reviews and only costs around $10.  Personally, I love this stuff for wearing to work where I feel like I need to have some color on my lips, but I don't have time to be constantly checking for smudges, but I do have to reapply at least once during the work day.

3. Tinted Gloss.  A nice tinted gloss like Baby Lips by Maybelline, is very lightweight with just a hint of color so it feels and looks very natural.  You get a little color with this brand, plus you get the benefit of being protected from chapped lips!

Shopping Info: Ashley Dress in Blue Lipstick print from BernieDexter.com-$172, Lipstick Shaped Clutch Bag - $18.00 from: SHEIN