[Disclaimer: This product was provided to me for review purposes.]

What It Is:
Lime Crime Lipsticks in Countessa Fluorescent & Centrifuschia

Why This Should Be in Your Bag:
Bright lipsticks are such a fun way to spice up your look. I’ve only recently busted out my brights again and have really enjoyed experimenting with them. Even when I’m just going to school, I love to swipe on a bright lipstick. Trust me, people notice you.

Lime Crime makeup began when “New York makeup artist, blogger, and self-proclaimed ‘Unicorn Queen,’ Doe Deere, couldn’t find makeup bright enough for her tastes, so she teamed up with a group of chemists to create makeup ‘so bright, it’s illegal’!”

Some of the colors in this line are pretty outrageous and completely unwearable for everyday (bright baby blue to class? No thanks!), but I found two that seemed pretty “everyday” and decided to test them out!

How To Use It:
Because these colors are so opaque, you’re going to want to make sure that you exfoliate your lips properly before application. You don’t want to end up with major flakes! This can be done with a fancy lipscrub or a simple washcloth and some sugar. You’re also going to want to line your lips to keep the color from bleeding onto your face. Pretty picture, right? Finally, you can either use a lipbrush or just apply directly from the tube. I’m not fussy enough to bother with a lipbrush and you’re not missing out on anything if you skip it too.

(Countessa Fluorescent)

(Centrifuschia)

CC Rating: A+
Not only are the colors totally beautiful, but HOLY CROW these things last. I only reapplied once throughout the day and it was because I felt weird not reapplying my lipstick, not out of necessity. Also, after a long school-day of wear, I had to use copious amounts of makeup remover to get Centrifuschia off! Color me impressed!

[Need some new makeup but not sure what to buy? Check out Alex's other beauty reviews here.]

And now that I’m actually old enough to be wearing the stuff…well, lipstick scares me. Although it defined icons like Marilyn Monroe and Christina Aguilera, I find the whole thing a bit stressful. There is a very fine line between looking glam like Gwen Stefani and looking like you’re just trying too hard to look glam like Gwen Stefani. And I always worry I’m in the latter category.

But I still want it! Lipstick is classic. And if it’s done right, it’s glamorous.

So how does one do it right? How do we college girls find the right lipstick to enhance our lips without making us look like a clown? I’ve been doing my research (OK, so it was for my own selfish reasons, but I’m sharing it with you now!) and I found some general lipstick guidelines for choosing the best shade and wearing it well.

Picking a Color: For everyday wear, choose a color that is only a few shades darker than your natural lip color.  Remember, your lips are naturally a few shades darker than your skin tone so if you’re testing a color on your hand (you know, to avoid germs…I’m a freak) keep that in mind.  Choosing a color this way will enhance your lips naturally and not scream, “I’m playing with my mom’s makeup bag!” In general, the lighter your skin tone, the lighter shade you should choose. 

If you are going for a less-neutral/more dramatic nighttime look, light skinned girls should go for pinky tones, medium tones should choose berry shades, and those with dark skin can go for deep browns or reds.  This article on eHow talks more about undertones and specific shades of colors, but in general the simple guidelines above work well.

Pick a Type: Lipstick comes in several different types like matte, long-lasting, liquid, metallic… Matte and long lasting lipsticks are great to provide a defined look, but if you are looking to make your lips appear fuller, a lipstick with shine or gloss will be a better choice.  Another option is a lip-stain, which provides intense, lasting color and shine.

Lip-liner: My girl New York is known for her beautiful lip-liner, but I’m guessing you don’t necessarily want to emulate her style.  Basically, most of us college-aged girls don’t need lip-liner.  Our lips are pretty full already, so lip liner isn’t necessary until we get old and our lips thin.  At this point lip-liner is just going to look ridiculous and over-the-top, so stay away.

Don’t be afraid to use some color on your lips. If you do it right – i.e. pick the right shade for your skin – you can look beautiful and glamorous just like Marilyn, Gwen…and your mom.

Since most of us don’t usually (or ever) rock the lined lip I’ve compiled some basic do’s and don’ts so you know what to use and when to use it for the perfect pout.

When you DO need it:

Lip liner is a MUST if you are wearing dark lipstick colors or opaque glosses. If you want to try for some Hollywood red lips you NEED to match it with a good liner. It’s also a good idea for formal occasions or for professional photographs. Using lip liner will make you look polished and glamorous.

When you DON’T need it:

You shouldn’t use lip liners for every day makeup. You might be mistaken for a theater major. Never use liner with sheer glosses or lipsticks. The liner stays longer than the lip color so you can end up looking a little Bozo the Clown.

DON’T color outside the lines.

Makeup experts will tell you that using lip liner just outside your natural lip line can make your lips appear larger. Especially if your top lip is smaller than the bottom like most women. This works great in photos and if you are competing to be the next Miss, such as, South Carolina. BUT if you aren’t on stage or in front of a camera lens and have to converse with people less than a foot away from your face, it’s pretty freaking obvious.

DO line exactly on the edge.

When lining your lips, follow the ridge of your lip exactly. Anything else can just look sloppy. The purpose of liner is to keep color from feathering, not create new lips for yourself. You are not Mrs. Potato Head. You’re stuck with the lips you’ve got so line them accordingly.

DON’T use a shade too dark.

There are plenty of makeup experts who will tell you to use a lip liner a shade darker than the lipstick. This might work for magazine covers or the red carpet, but it can be a disaster at your sorority formal. When you are going to be talking to people face to face, the difference in color can be pretty obvious. Especially once the lipstick starts to fade through the night. You’ll quickly find yourself heading into Paula Abdul makeup meltdown territory.

DO match the shade of your lips.

The best way to use lip liner in a non-catwalk/photo shoot type setting is to find a lip liner that closely matches the color your lips are naturally. This allows you to use one lip liner shade with just about any lipstick or gloss. Plus, if the liner and lip color wear off differently (as usually tends to happen), you don’t have to worry about looking all Pam-Anderson-two-toned.

Duwop makes lip liners with just this idea in mind. Their Liptones Retractable Lip Liners ($18 sephora.com) come in four shades designed to match natural lip tones. They are a little pricey but when you consider that you can wear them with just about any lip color they’re definitely worth the price. And if it matches your lips closely enough you can totally break the earlier rule and wear it with sheer colors and glosses!

In this weekly series, actress / model and fabulous CC blogger, Jen, will be using her make-up know how to teach us all how to look flawless in class, out at a party, or grabbing coffee with that cutie from Psych 101.]

This week Jen gives us the lowdown on skincare: keeping it clean, beautiful and not-so-obvious that you were up until 4am playing Quarters with the roommates writing a paper. Grab a pen and paper – you will want to take notes.

If you have a specific make-up question, leave a message in the CC Facebook group, or email Lauren@collegecandy.com with the title “CC Make-Up Question,” and she’ll make sure Jen hears your woes and addresses them.

In this weekly series, actress / model and fabulous CC blogger Jen will be using her make-up know how to teach us all how to look flawless in class, out at a party, or grabbing coffee with that cutie from Psych 101. If you have a specific make-up question, email Jess@collegecandy.com or Lauren@collegecandy.com with the title “CC Make-Up Question,” and we’ll make sure Jen hears your woes and addresses them.

I mean, who wouldn‘t want their own make-up specialist? It’s like being on What Not To Wear, except you don’t have to deal with that dude who always wants to chop everyone’s hair off.

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