LBS Beauty Review: MAC RiRi Woo vs. Ruby Woo

You guys remember how hyped I was for the release of bad gyal Rihanna's very first lipstick collaboration with MAC Cosmetics, right? I practically had my shopping cart ready to go 24 hours before the grand premiere. I was one of the lucky hopefuls who scored a stick of Rihanna's MAC RiRi Woo greatness before it sold out online only hours before going on sale.

As a red lipstick fanatic, I'm obsessed with finding new ones to try and obsess over. And now that I have RiRi Woo in my beauty arsenal, here's a snapshot of the main differences I see between RiRi Woo and my absolute fave MAC Ruby Woo. Check out the review below:

So upon first glance, RiRi Woo looks VERY similar to MAC's classic Ruby Woo. It's a matte, highly pigmented red that works for a myriad of skin complexions. That's what drew me to the color originally - so many recommendations from women of different shades.

Looking at them side by side from afar they look basically identical. On the left is MAC RiRi Woo and on the right is my highly-used (I literally wear it almost daily) Ruby Woo stick.

Upon closer inspection though, you'll notice that RiRi Woo has a deeper tint with more bluish undertones. This works perfect for skin shades that are deeper because the color really comes through with a bold finish. Here's a swatch of the two on my skin:

Top: RiRi Woo, Bottom: Ruby Woo

Here you can see against my skin that RiRi Woo (top) is a little deeper with a bluish base. It has more of a sultry night-time feel to it.

 Next up, I took pictures in both colors. Here's how they look on (don't mind me coloring outside the lines lol):

Very subtle difference between the two that's barely noticeable but there's a difference for sure. So for those of you wondering which one works best for you (or whether to splurge on RiRi Woo once it comes back out later this summer), here's a snapshot of what they look like.

Wearing MAC Ruby Woo

I'm still obsessed with my Ruby Woo. I don't think anything can separate me from my first love.

Wearing MAC RiRi Woo

But I'll be rocking out with Rihanna's namesake this summer as well. I'll probably alternate between the two. For you lovelies of different skin complexions, here are links to some of my favorite fellow bloggers doing reviews of Ruby Woo vs. RiRi Woo debate:

For deeper-skinned beauties, check out Danielle of Style & Beauty Doctor 

The Glamazons also have a review featuring Glamazons Jessica and Margo

Caramel-skinned beauties, check out Melanie of OSoChic's review

Olive-skinned ladies, check out Marisa of You Had Me at Makeup

Would you purchase RiRi Woo? What are your red lip faves? Soundoff below!

LBS Beauty: My Top 3 Winter Lip Shades

Last week, I posted about my Winter Lip Care Regimen and I promised that I would also do a post about my favorite lip shades this season. You guys know I love a red lip, but in the winter, I like ti=o take my reds a little deeper and experiment with wines, plums and oxblood (this season's it-color).

So, without further ado, here are three lip shades I'm obsessed with this season:

1. Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Lip Colour in Sienna

What I love about the Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Lipstick in Sienna, $26.00 lipstick is that it gives my lips a deep berry-brown look, without being too overpowering. It also does so while moisturizing my lips - win/win!

It's a really great everyday shade.

The perfect cross between berry and brown.

There you have it! On to my next fave...

2. Makeup Forever Aqua Rouge in Dark Raspberry

If you follow me on Instagram (@LoveBrownSugar), you know I've been raving about this Makeup Forever Aqua Rouge Dark Raspberry ($24.00) lip color since Thanksgiving. I put it on this past Thanksgiving before the festivities started, and two plates in (even after dessert!) my lip color was still going strong. After hours!

The beauty of this product is that it's two in one. It's matte lip color on one end of the stick and on the other is a color-sealing lip gloss that gives your lips a nice luster and long lasting shine.

Sold. Great deep plum color and it lasts from day to night? Hands down my favorite this season.

3. TIGI Cosmetics Decadent Lipstick Luxury

On the brighter berry side of things is TIGI Lipstick in Luxury ($19.00). I blogged about this one for my Perfect Red Lip post. It's a deep cherry that compliments my skin well and is also creamy, which is great.

Love the packaging on this one too. So sleek.

 So now that I've shared my favorite winter lip shades, what are some of yours? I'm looking to try some new ones - soundoff below!

LBS Beauty: Winter Lip Care Regimen

As you guys may know, statement lips are my favorite fashion accessories. Whether it's bright red, punchy pink or matte plum, I love how statement lips can take your beauty look from drab to fab in a matter of minutes. Last year, I wrote a post Talk That Talk: 5 Tips For Kissable Lips that highlighted some key tips for making sure your lips are soft & kissable through the winter.

This time around, I'm giving you guys a list of my personal favorite lip care products. As my favorite beauty accessory, I treat my lips with care. The same way you maintain your favorite leather bag or fur stole, you should pay special attention to your soup coolers especially in the winter months:

The Tools:

1. Bliss Fabulips Treatment Kit, $45.00, 2. Thank God I'm Natural Shea Butter Lip Balm, $5.00, 3. Karen's Body Beautiful Butter Love, $18.00, 4. Lip Brush, (similar here for $18.00)

 Bliss Fabulips Treatment Kit

The best way to keep your lips in tip-top shape is to exfoliate them and make sure they're treated regularly. I really love the Bliss Fabulips Treatment Kit because it has everything you need from a lip cleanser, to an exfoliating treatment, a lip plumper and a moisturizer.

 Lip Balm

This is going to sound weird, but I apply lip balm every morning after getting out of the shower, washing my face, brushing my teeth, etc. I keep it right next to my face moisturizer so I don't forget to apply it. This lip balm from Thank God I'm Natural is really great. It has shea butter and other goodness in it that keeps my lips super soft on the daily.

Lip Butter

For those of us who need a little something "extra", especially during the harsh winter months, lip butter works wonders. It's richer and more concentrated than lip balm. This Karen's Body Beautiful Butter Love (Unscented) is actually supposed to be used as a hair butter, but the all-natural ingredients make it perfect for any part of your body really. I use this on my lips on especially cold days, or after a long weekend of statement lip after statement lip. The lip color removal process can be stripping. I smooth some of this on before bed, and in the morning my lips are smooth and soft.


Lip Brush

The lip brush is a staple everyone should have in their makeup kit. Not only does it help immensely with precise lip color application, it can actually help preserve your lip color for longer. Using a brush, less lip color is actually necessary, because it spreads the color around. You'll find that you go through your lipsticks less quickly with use of a brush.

So there you have it! The top 4 products in my arsenal for winter lip care. Stay tuned because later this week I'll be posting about my favorite winter lip shades of the season (the one featured above is part of it!).

How do you keep your lips kissable & soft? Any favorite products?

LBS Beauty: The Perfect Red Lip

I never used to be a "bright lipstick" kind of girl. I was the friend with JUST mascara and lipgloss in her beauty arsenal. But over time, I've grown to appreciate and embrace a statement lip. I can throw on the simplest outfit and a bright red lip will pull it all together. Since starting this blog, I think that's one of the biggest beauty requests I've gotten. "What red lip shades do you use? Which should I try?" This one's for you! LoveBrownSugar Top 5 favorite red lip shades:

1. Matte Finish: MAC Ruby Woo, $15

This is hands-down my favorite red lip of all time. I used to be a non-believer. Until I tried it! Not only does it give a vibrant red color, it's matte so it stays put for long periods of time. Warning  - it can be drying! I would prep lips with moisturizer before applying it.

2. Pinky-Red: TIGI Decadent Lipstick in Luxury, $19

When I want a red that has a hint of a pink punch behind it, I go for this shade. It goes on smooth and creamy. Really perfect for summer BBQ's and daytime looks.

3. Budget-Friendly: Covergirl Lip Perfection in Hot, $6.99

Wearing Covergirl Lip Perfection in Hot

This is my day to day favorite! Why? Because I can restock with no guilt. It offers vibrance and it's a great red for a number of different skin shades. It's also moisturizing. It does smudge though, so plan to reapply throughout the day.

4. Sheer Finish: LiSi Cosmetics Cream Color Lipstick in Matinee, $6.90

When I want an orangey-bown undertone to my red lip, I spring for LiSi's lipstick in this dewy orange-red called Matinee. Also a budget-friendly pick, it offers just a sheer amount of color but just enough to make an impact.

5. Splurge: Rouge Dior Lipcolor in Warm Red, $32

Feeling special? Just-got-paid-Friday-night? Spring for this luxurious lip shade when you have a few extra coins to spare. It's offers runway-ready color payoff. Save this one for special occasions

What's your favorite red lip color? Share your picks in the comments section!

Berry Fly: A New Take on the Statement Lip

It's been a long time since I posted about a beauty fave. If you follow me on Twitter, you probably know that I paid a visit to Sephora a few weeks ago and went HAM on some new beauty treats for winter. One of my purchases was a daring departure from what I'm used to. I bought...wait for it...purple lipstick! It's SEPHORA Collection in Crush 23 ($12) and I love it.

Yeah, I know what you're thinking. That sh** cray. But, it's not really. It's actually pretty cool. I'll tell you what influenced my decision:

1. I love red, but I needed something new. You guys all know I love a red lip moment. It gives me life, daily. But I really wanted a way to switch up my statement lip for the new season.

Photo courtesy Meek-N-Mild.com

2. I saw someone else do it. And I loved it! If you guys haven't checked out Shirley Beniang from Meek-n-Mild Blog, please do. She's absolutely amazing and this post she did inspired me to try something new.

3. It works, for multiple skin tones! Ladies (especially my friends of color), don't assume that you have to stick to only neutrals and deep reds. There are a myriad of colors out there to try. Sometimes, it just takes the right person bold enough to do it, for you to think it's ok to try too.

Hopefully this inspires some of you to try something new!

Lips: SEPHORA Collection Rouge Lipcolor in Crush 23, Nails: Nicole by OPI "I'm A Pool For Love" & Ginger & Liz "Swagger".

Talk That Talk: Top 5 Tips For Kissable Lips

Aside from my obsession with Rihanna's new album release Talk That Talk this week, I've been thinking about the importance of beauty tips that are catered specifically to the cold & harsh winter months. Considering the dead of winter will be upon us soon, now is as great a time as any to chat it up about winter beauty must-haves. Often overlooked in the winter beauty regimen, the lips are a focal point on the face and deserve a little extra TLC when the temperature decides to pop, lock & drop. Here are 5 important tips for maintaining kissable, pucker-worthy lips: