One of my latest lipsticks is the Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in 45 L'Adoree (P1,650). It's my first Chanel anything ever so at first I was eyeing one of its classic reds - it can be a nice signature color for years to come. But then I saw this dark purple bullet at the counter. I decided then and there that I'd much rather invest in a unique color, and a limited edition one at that! I have maybe over 200 lipsticks currently and I do not want to personally purchase anything that looks like something I already have. 

(And besides, MAC Russian Red is already a winner. I can't possibly need another red lippie.)

Chanel L'Adoree is part of the brand's Spring 2014 collection. I believe it's a limited edition shade, the only one out of the new lip products I believe! I knew I had to have it because it was dark, dramatic, and not easy to dupe. It's a creamy plum purple that is surprisingly quite wearable!

It's a muted shade so it's far from garish once worn. You won't look like a cartoon or something straight out of a goth romance novel (I'm sorry if that was what you were looking for, goth lips are awesome too!), because this is such a sophisticated shade. I'd stick my neck out and even say it's timeless, in its own way. 

M.A.C usually has a release or two every month which reflects the trends of the season. This June, where it's summer in the U.S., M.A.C presents Temperature Rising, a sizzling collection that is inspired by steamy summer nights and sweaty bronzed skin. The collection is all about warm, smoky colors with well-placed dazzle and requisite brights - the M.A.C trademark, of course!

The Philippine launch happened last Saturday at Rustan's Glorietta. One of the country's top models, Jessica Yang, graced the event. A M.A.C makeup artist demonstrated the scorching hot look of Temperature Rising using the products from the collection while a DJ scratched tunes in the background.

Here's a demo of the look, in photos! Later on you'll see a few swatches I've done on the lipsticks. 

Oh, lipsticks. There are so many colors out there that even when I feel I've tried them all, something always turns up to surprise me! One example is the MeMeMe Long Wear Satin Lip Cream in Berry Crush (P580 at Makeupholics). I requested for this shade because I just wanted another purple lippie, but when I finally saw it in person I got something better than I expected.

Berry Crush is a deep berry, almost purple shade that flashes blue frost. I like how it flatters my medium yellow skintone; the bold color is also impossible to miss. The blue frost sounds weird in your head I know but when worn it helps to brighten teeth and plump up the lips - trust me!