It is going to be an exciting year for me with the arrival of my third baby, and all the craziness that comes with a newborn. In the meantime, however, I am getting used to my rather large baby bump, and investing heavily in things that make me feel good. At the moment, that seems to be lipsticks that add a bit of colour to my knackered face. A good red lippie makes me feel great and is also something that will also work post pregnancy. My red lipstick make up bag staple was a lovely red Chanel Lotus Rouge coloured lipstick – that was until the peeps at Chanel kindly decided to discontinue it. It was the perfect colour – subtle enough to work during the day, and strong enough to take me through the night. Now it was gone, what was I going to do?!
When I first found out that the lipstick had been discontinued, I attempted to sparingly eek out those last remaining bits in the tube, only to discover that my lotus love had found its way out of its well guarded home and had decorated both the kids’ delightful cherub faces and also my treasured Missoni print chair! This mishap made me more determined to find a colour similar to my Lotus Rouge and I was on a mission. And everyone knows not to get in the way of a pregnant mama on a mission.
As luck would have it, in the end I didn’t have to spend any time shopping around the make up halls in town testing out lots of lipstick shades. I was working on a photo shoot with the brilliant make up artist Jo Bull recently, and discovered a new replacement for my now obsolete Lotus Rouge. When a make up artist recommends a product, you know its going to be good. Oh, how pleased I was to discover this little pot of plenty, and it actually looked better than my previous love.
I have always loved Aveda for their hair products and skin care, and I had never, until now, tried their makeup, and I must say, I am impressed. The Smoothing Lip Colour in Rare Orchid is the perfect colour – it is a creamy, full coverage lip colour made from plant waxes and fruit butter, and not only moisturises and plumps, but also smooths the appearance of fine lines…. and who couldn’t do with a little help in that department?! Multi tasking lipsticks are the future and this lippie even smells and tastes good, with peppermint, ginger and vanilla… all lovely smells to a heavily pregnant, ravenous mama.
Other colours I also found that I liked, which were quite similar, and are great alternative options:
1. ) Bobbi Brown’s Crushed Lip Colour in Plum.
2.) Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution Lipstick in Shanghai nights .
3.) Nars have their Satin queen in Afghan red.
4.) A great new brand that hasn’t been around for that long, but is gathering a cult following is Milk Makeup- this I love this shade of Lip Colour- it is called Dip Out.
5.) Another favourite, although pricey, is Tom Ford’s Jasmine Rouge Lip Colour in Bruised Plum.
6. For something a little darker Smashbox’s Femme Fatale is a great colour to add a little drama to your day! 
plus a few grubby pink finger marks along the wall to boot!
All this before walking out the door and starting your day.
Another job to add to my long list of to do’s, find lotus rouge again!
