Lips: NARS Rouge Basque

I got NARS Rouge Basque just for the name, and was delighted to find that it straddles both of my favorite red families: wine and brick.

The wine in this shade makes Rouge Basque dramatic, while the brick undertone makes it daytime. It's a pretty nifty balancing act. Part of the trick is the satin finish, which gives the dark color a lustrous softness.

There is absolutely no slip to Rouge Basque, and it applies easily.

You may have to root around a bit to dig up a tube of this limited-edition shade, but in my view NARS Rouge Basque is quite worth it.

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Lips: Dior Nocturne

My schedule through March 10 is very tight due to play rehearsals, but I feel like I would shame myself if I didn't post here at least once a week. So here is a quick swatch of Dior Nocturne, taken back around Christmastime.

Dior Nocturne is a rich berry red infused with very subtle golden shimmer that gives it warmth and depth. What else is there to say?

A perfect lipstick for winter parties.

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Nails: Chanel Distraction

I see why this polish is named Chanel Distraction. I am in the midst of important tasks, and I can't stop looking at my nails.

Doesn't your heart just race at the sight of this bold coral? I assure you that these photos are true to life. Distraction is practically neon.

I took the second photo outside the salon, around 5:30 PM. The sky was fairly overcast, and the color still pops right off my fingers. The third photo does the best job, I think, of showing the intriguing mix of orange and pink.

When I first saw the bottle, I couldn't figure out what Distraction was. Orange? Pink? And what's up with the fuchsia microshimmer? I actually had doubts about it looking good on my hands, but these evaporated at the first thin, smooth stroke. The shade is a pulse-pounding neon coral balanced perfectly between orange and pink. It instantly makes my skin tanner. The microshimmer is invisible to the naked eye, but it does allow the saturated color to be opaque without being flat.

Chanel Distraction is absolutely amazing. Wear it poolside this spring.

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Lips: Chanel Rouge Coco Baroque

It was love at first sight. The moment I saw Xiao's glamorous photos on Messy Wands, I knew Chanel Rouge Coco Baroque had to be mine.

I have an absolute weakness for brick-red lipsticks -- somehow they bring out the green-gold in my eyes -- even if I do have to stay away from the ones that are too brown. Baroque nails the shade with an urbane luxuriousness. It is a deep rust color with a hint of maroon.

This is my first Rouge Coco, and I love it immediately. I have several Rouge Allures already, but the formula is so rich that I feel like I can wear them only with a full face of makeup and porcelain skin. Rouge Coco is much more approachable, without sacrificing shine and depth. The rounded tip makes applying directly from the bullet easy.

For the original shoot, I piled on the lipstick. Then to my delight, I found that Rouge Coco Baroque survives dinner as a warmer, flattering stain.

Chanel Rouge Coco Baroque is a wonderful everyday dark red lip for the city sophisticate to wear in winter. Pair an oversized white sweater with it.

Really, I suggest a white sweater with everything.

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Lips: NARS Casablanca

The Pantone color of spring 2012 is tangerine, so this seems like a good time to pull out my swatches of NARS Casablanca.

I took these last summer, when it felt appropriate to walk around with orange lips. And NARS Casablanca certainly is orange, or more accurately and according to the website, a "classic, full-bodied coral." The saturated shade contains a hint of peach to make it more wearable by fairer gals like myself. I can see this color being stunning on darker skin.

Pardon the shadow.

Strangely, I feel like Casablanca could almost work as a bright neutral on me. It's a look-at-me color, no doubt about it, but NARS lipsticks seem to be formulated with a lightness that prevents even the most dramatic shades from taking over the face completely. This particular shade belongs to the satin finish family, so it is moisturizing and has a sheen, though it still is very opaque. After several hours, Casablanca fades to a pretty stain. I like it bold, however.

NARS Casablanca is a gorgeous retro coral.

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Lips: NARS Bilbao

NARS Bilbao totally strokes my sweet spot for edgy neutrals.

Described as a "shimmering topaz," Bilbao is a warm mauve-beige in the brown family with a frosty finish. As odd as that sounds, it works.

I think Bilbao would be amazing with spring's Estee Lauder Eyeshadow Palette in Topaz Mosaic, incidentally.

Plus, I'm a huge Frank Gehry fangirl.

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