Red.

I have never really been "that" into makeup.  A part of me has always wanted to be, but when it comes down to it I am bare-faced more often than not. 

((And I know, I am not one of those that can pull off the no-makeup look.  I really shouldn't go without.  But I do anyway.))

Maybe it's because I am terrible at actually putting the stuff on... or maybe it's because I'm lazy.   Either way, I like the stuff alright, but generally I'd prefer not to wear it at all.

This shifted for me a bit when I decided to give red lips a try a few years ago.  I decided to try it, and after a while (and more than a handful of "I look like Bozo the Clown" moments) I started really liking the bold look.

Fast forward to now, and I don't like to be without my red lips.  Even if I have no other makeup on, I tend to go for the lipstick before I leave the house.  It's as though I feel naked without it.  There's just "something" to having a set of red lips that makes you fell put together and polished.  

And bold. 

Who doesn't want to feel bold?

I wore bright red lips on my wedding day, and when I look back at wedding photos, those lips are the only thing that feel like "me" in those photos.   I've grown out my hair and I've lost weight since my wedding- I really look quite different than I did just 18 months ago- but those red lips remain.

I am the WORST about being a creature of habit, so I tend to stick to the same one or two brands of red that I like the most. 

 ((It took a LOT of trial and error to find the tried and true reds!))

However, thanks to my wonderful friend ((and makeup junkie)) Claire, I have broken out of my habits and have been trying new reds again.  It feels fun to experiment!  ((Even if some of those experiments end in "Bozo the Clown" moments again. . .))

Here are the reds that my sweet friend sent me to try:

I LOVED getting this little goody package in the mail.  

I have the best friends. 

I laughed at myself when I was digging through my lipstick bin to see how many reds I have acquired...          I may have a problem. 

So, with 14 red lipsticks in the makeup drawer, I'm still wanting to try more! There are a few MAC colors I am dying to try, below.

  Do you have a favorite shade or red?  Please share!