BrownGal Makeup

Giacomo is a Tom Ford lipstick from his Lips & Boys collection.  It is supposed to be moisturizing, long lasting and have a smooth velvet texture.  It also has a 'pearlescent, metallized finish' and comes in a 'clutch-sized case' and very sleek black & gold packaging.  The color of Giacomo is described as a 'playful pink' color.  The pros: This is indeed a highly moisturizing lipstick.  It shows as a slightly dark pink color in the tube.   If you have slightly darker lips, on first application this lipstick is quite sheer and will look like a translucent pink shade.  However, the color is buildable and doesn't feel heavy or flaky with multiple applications. On my Indian, darker skin tone, this shows up as a nice, natural, wearable pink with slight blue undertones.  It is long lasting (as long as you don't eat or drink anything).  It is easy to wear for long periods of time and feels like you are wearing lip balm. Th...

The Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lost Cherry lipstick is one of those lipsticks that looks so different on different people.  The Charlotte Tilbury website describes this lipstick as a 'pastel fuchsia matte lipstick'.  It is supposed to be a long lasting and buildable lipstick and is said to have '3D glowing pigments' that give the illusion of wider and fuller lips. Charlotte Tilbury: Lost Cherry Lipstick Charlotte Tilbury: Lost Cherry Lipstick  From my observation, the color is more of a pink and coral mix.  It is not highly pigmented and does not have full coverage.  If the natural shade of your lips is darker, on first application, this color goes on a little sheer in the sense that you can see your natural lip color under the first layer of this lipstick.  It takes a few applications to get good coverage of the Lost Cherry Lipstick.  The other issue with this lipstick is the more you apply, the lipstick gets a little flaky (or clump...

A bold red lipstick is such a classic. The right shade of red will instantly transform your face.  It is confidence, glamour, sophistication all rolled up in a little tube.  Every woman should have at least one power red lipstick that suits her complexion and transforms her face.  I’m always on the hunt for that perfect red lipstick.  And trying to find the right shade of red is a little bit of a struggle.   Every time I see a great shade of red on a friend or in a magazine I get this impulse to purchase it.  However, most times, when I try it on me, it looks all wrong.  It shows up as either a plum / maroon shade or it turns out too orange.  And for some reason, magazines always seem to recommend a Plum / Maroon shade of 'red' for darker complexions which drives me crazy. I am always on the look out for a true red, a red that shows up as a true red against my brown skin. In comes the classic MAC cosmetic shade of red 'Ruby Woo'.  Ruby W...

Looking for a great nude lipstick for darker skin tones? One that is very flattering for brown skin tones and is light and moisturizing and goes on smooth? Look no further than bareMinerals Panko. Panko is from the bareMinerals Gen Nude Radiant lipstick collection.  According to bareMinerals, it is supposed to have medium coverage and is meant to have a rich creamy texture and radiant shine. Panko generally refers to breadcrumbs that are used to coat food before frying or baking it.   The bareMinerals Panko lipstick is a soft brown color with a hint of coral in it.   The pros: it goes on very smooth and does have a creamy texture and is high shine.  It can be used  with or without lip liner.  In the pic below, the top image is without lip liner and the bottom image is with lip liner (Chanel - Spice lip liner). My lips felt like I was wearing lip balm and it was comfortable to wear and not drying at all. It does have medium c...

Have you ever had a lipstick Deja vu moment?  You pick up a lipstick and you feel the shade is just perfect and you must have it.  You get back home and realize that the shade you just purchased is exactly like 2 other lipsticks from different brands that you already have.  I hate these moments.  Especially when each lipstick cost upwards of $20. 'Dupe' is a term in makeup lingo for shades from different brands that are nearly identical (or are a duplicate of).  It is usually used to refer to a shade / product from a less expensive brand that is almost identical to that of a higher end brand.  In my case, I ended up purchasing three lipsticks (at different times), from different brands but they all ended up being almost identical.  The color I was enamored with was a shade of bright pink.  The lipsticks are: * MAC - All Fired Up, * Charlotte Tilbury - Electric Poppy and * Estee Lauder - Shock & Awe   Take a look at my s...