It's a man's world today on Rocaille Writes as part of the Lipstick Bandits collaboration! Our challenge this time is to feature a lip product that's been chosen by our significant other; or, well, any other significant male in our lives.
As I only have my dearly wed available for some such brain-picking and, to put it mildly, he's not very much into beauty products, I was really dragging my feet to even start the conversation. But, one sunny day, after having fed him a late breakfast (because asking a hungry morning grump is a sure way to fail just about anything in this household), we had this memorable exchange:
'Umm, so... I know this is a bit off-topic, but which lipstick color do you like on me?'
'I don't know.'
'But if you had to choose one?'
'Not red. Red doesn't suit you.'
'...'
'Something dark.' (At this point, seeing his obvious frustration with my inquiries, I brought out my lipstick organizers from the vanity and had him pick a color he liked, thinking that would facilitate the process.) '... Dark brown maybe? Here, this is ok.'
'Wait, what... DARK BROWN?!'
Now, I'm sure we can all gather in sorrow and utter confusion resulting from my beloved beau having picked a freakin' dark brown lipstick. If there's any shade of lipstick I furiously avoid and associate with nineties sitcoms, it would be brown, no doubt about it. But, according to the mister, Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Color in Plum Perfect (...) is a prime example of a dark brown, and thus we shall roll with the punches, so to speak.
According to myself, Plum Perfect is a dark wine with (all right, admit it) warm brown undertones. As you may know, Maybelline Color Sensationals are one of my favorite drugstore lipsticks, closely tied with Revlon Superlustrous. Maybelline Plum Perfect is creamy, opaque in just a couple swipes, quite long-lasting and has that signature whiff of coconut scent to it. Compared to some other plummy wine shades in my collection, Maybelline Perfect Plum (left) is a lot warmer and more red than Wet'n'Wild Dark Wine (middle) or Revlon Black Cherry (right).
I like to imagine Perfect Plum as the perfect 1920's silent movie star lip, something Clara Bow might have pulled out of her minaudiere. I tend to wear this shade mostly in the fall and winter, paired with a subtle neutral eyeshadow and a warm cheek. In the photo below, I coupled it with some shimmery bronze shades from theBalm Nude'tude palette and the NYX Powder Blush in Mauve.
Don't forget to check out the gentlemen's picks of these fabulous Lipstick Bandits:
Which shade would your significant other choose for you? Are there any lipsticks you would absolutely hate for him to pick?
I think it's actually a great choice, you really look lovely with it. I hate that the 90's ruined the dark brown lipsticks for us, as they actually were really suited to lots of skintones iMO. The little touch of Wine in the color you chose made it more modern, though, and it's really pretty!
ReplyDeleteI think you're right that brown can definitely look good on many skintones but most browny shades fail miserably on me - especially of the terracotta variety. I do like this shade for something different though!
DeleteHAHAHHAA dark brown?! You pulled it off, Monika!
ReplyDeleteOOO OK, I cheated. When I pulled photos out for my boyfriend to pick, I didn't pick anything in the brown family because I am not a fan, either. I wouldn't call this one brown though. It's a nice wine shade! Definitely something for autumn/winter!
ReplyDeleteYou look good in dark brown. Your mister knows what he's talking about :-)
ReplyDeleteHahaha! This "dark brown" looks gorgeous on you, Monika -- and (gasp!) surprisingly plummy! :P I feel like I've swatched this once or twice in-store and passed over it for some reason, but... I might have to go back. You make a pretty darn good case for it, and I'm a sucker for subdued colour!
ReplyDeleteI think it would look stunning on you, Rae! Thank you :)
DeleteHah, my bf went straight to the plums as well, I guess they don't really care it's mid summer right now ^^. I do have to say that this plummy brown suits you very well, it doesn't looks like you went back to the nineties, The lighter eye make-up is a perfect fit for this look!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely no sense of summer trends, these men have :D But... I do like me some vampy lip action no matter the season!
DeleteOoooh, brown! That is surprising! And different! I love it. You look great as always, Monika!
ReplyDeleteHAHAHA dark brown hahaha! Your man is hilarious! But he's right! This shade looks fantastic on you Monika! Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteGuys know best! A while back I was looking at some lipsticks in an Avon catalog and I asked a classmate of mine how would one of the pink shade look on me. He said something like "No, that looks ugly on you, try some of these, they would suit you" pointing at the warm shades. I was actually a bit surprised he somehow figured out what looks best on my warm-undertoned skin. They never seem to be wrong. :)
ReplyDeleteOMG DYING - dark brown!!
ReplyDeleteSo, red lipsticks on fight days and dark brown on his birthday. LOL I threw out all my brownish lipsticks last year and felt so much better. At least this one is pretty and has a glamourous tone to it like you said. Looks great!
Didn't peg you for a dark brown lipstick but clearly your man saw something in it! Looks gorgeous on you!
ReplyDeleteHilarious! It was a similarly awkward conversation for Mr MFV too. I agree with you on the 1920s silent movie feel to this. Gorgeous on you, and not at all '90s!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that shade! I feel like I need it...
ReplyDeleteWow, darker shades really suit you :)
ReplyDeleteYou know, the man's got good taste! I'm not sure I would have picked that shade out of a lineup but it's beautiful on you and it compliments your complexion and beautiful hair color to perfection.
ReplyDelete♥ Jessica