Let’s say you’ve already squirreled away some of MAC’s classic pink lipsticks (like Girl About Town) but still feel the urge to wear a slightly different pink this spring. What do you do?
I’m glad you asked! 🙂 I might have just the thing.
MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Speak Louder ($14.50) does pink by way of blue. Part of the permanent collection, it’s a blue-based pink lipstick with hints of reddish orange.
It’s bright, for sure, but the poppy/reddish-orange undertones dial it back a bit, at least compared to full-tilt fuchsias and pinks like Impassioned, or Force of Love, from the new Chenman collection.
For me, that makes it a little easier to wear than many of its punchier pink counterparts.
Speak Louder and I hadn’t been on a play date in a while when I pulled it out after my chat with Bobbi Brown last week. On the call, Bobbi suggested swapping spring’s bolder neon lip colors for something a little quieter (but far from silent), like a bright pink lipstick, as opposed to a straight-up neon or fuchsia shade, and then pairing those lips with minimal makeup on the face, eyes and cheeks.
Speak Louder could be perfect for something like that.
For a light whisper of semi-transparent color, like a creamy stain, I’ll just dab the tube on my lips. But when I want my lips to SPEAK LOUDER (sorry, couldn’t resist), I’ll apply a layer, blot with a tissue, and then slick on a second, intensifying layer.
Maybe it’s the makeup talking, but I keep seeing myself Speak-ing Louder at a barbecue this spring… It could be my go-to barbecue gal.
I can see it now… Me, wearing Speak Louder and a loose springy dress, sitting in a lawn chair with a glass of iced tea in one hand, and my copy of The Hunger Games in the other. 🙂
I haven’t completely sprung forward yet…
I don’t know about this whole Daylight Savings thing. I know it’s just a one-hour change, but I still feel a little off. I even had trouble falling asleep last night, and when my alarm went off this morning (technically, an hour earlier than usual), my body was like, “Oh, hell no, hookah!”
Needless to say, exercise was not the first thing on my mind, but Jillian Michaels kicked me into gear. I finally got around to trying her 6 Week Six-Pack Abs DVD, and WHOA! — wow.
Jillian’s workouts are never easy for me (experience the sweet, sweet pain of her Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism DVD), but this one was brutal. It’s probably worse if you, like me, 1) have absolutely no core strength and 2) have a cat that keeps lying down on your yoga mat.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
The MAC Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sandy B Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Club Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Uniform Technakohl Liner
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Red Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Tempting Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Phloof Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Crème in Your Coffee Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Paramount Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Mocha Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Oh Baby Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Mulch Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Cremestick Liners
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sable Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soft Ochre Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ricepaper Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: This Cremesheen Glass Is a Veritable Deelight
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lipglass in Spite
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Impassioned Lipstick (and Watermelon)
- MAC Unsung Heroes: This Lip Pencil Is In Synch
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soba Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bombshell Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sunbasque Sheertone Shimmer Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Clear Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Humid Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Naked Lunch Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Russian Red Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Syrup Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Blushbaby Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Speak Louder Cremesheen Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sweet Satisfaction Pro Longwear Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lady Danger Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ruby Woo Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Retrospeck Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Twig Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Party Line Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Melon Pigment
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sumptuous Olive Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Vex Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Costa Chic Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Fast Response Eye Cream
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Strobe Cream
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Blot Powder/Pressed
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Subculture Lip Pencil
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soft Brown Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Woodwinked Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Powersurge Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: All That Glitters Eyeshadow Is Not Just Another Gold
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Technakohl Liners
- MAC Unsung Hero: Groundwork Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Hero: Nymphette Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam V
- MAC Unsung Hero: Blacktrack Fluidline
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lychee Luxe Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Hero: Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Patina Eyeshadow
Antonia at Swedish Love Affair says
March 12th, 2012 at 9:06 pmWhat a nice name for a lipstick! It really looks great on you! But then again, what doesn’t?
Antonia at Swedish Love Affair recently posted … Spring here and there
Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 9:28 amHi Antonia,
Aw, you’re so sweet. I hope you’re having a lovely day!
Emily says
March 12th, 2012 at 9:39 pmi love how its bold, but its still subtle at the same time. You always look amazing!
Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 9:28 amThanks, Emily! How’s your day going so far? Good, I hope.
Jenna says
March 12th, 2012 at 10:18 pmKaren, that’s a really lovely shade on you! I have that lipstick except it doesn’t look like that on me. I think my lips are too pigmented because even the amplified finishes look a little “off” on my lips.
Have you tried Bob Harper’s core workout DVD? His DVDs are pretty good, too!
Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 9:28 amHi Jenna,
Nope, I haven’t! He’s a new to me. Is there a specific DVD that you really like? I
Jenna says
March 13th, 2012 at 5:12 pmWell if you go to his website mytrainerbob.com all his DVDs are $5 at the moment so maybe you can try a couple out. I like his Inside Out DVDs and his “Totally Ripped Core” DVD.
Phyrra says
March 12th, 2012 at 10:38 pmIt looks lovely on you!
Phyrra recently posted … March Central Florida Beauty Bloggers Meetup Look
Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 9:27 amThanks, Phyrra. 🙂
Karen B says
March 13th, 2012 at 12:11 amI really like this colour. It’s going straight on my want-list 🙂
Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 9:27 amYou should try it! I bet it would look really pretty on you.
Paris B says
March 13th, 2012 at 3:09 amOh wow, I love this colour and I love this set of your photos Karen. You look like a model here! 😀
Paris B recently posted … Your Say: Do You Pack Your Favourite Makeup When You Travel?
Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 9:27 amI’ve been taking lessons from Tabs, LOL!
Hope you’re having a lovely Tuesday, Paris.
Nika says
March 13th, 2012 at 3:11 amShade looks amazing on you, Karen. 🙂
Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 9:26 amThanks, Nika. Do you think you might give it a go?
Kate says
March 13th, 2012 at 4:56 amKaren, I love this color! Just bought it a few weeks ago and I really like it on both of us. What direction do you go in with eyes/cheeks when you do a slightly bright lip like this one? That the only part I have trouble with…..
Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 9:26 amHi Kate,
With bright lips I like to usually keep it very simple on the eyes, otherwise I feel like it’s a lot of look on me. I’ll usually do either a classic cat eye or something like in the look above, just a matte brown shadow on the lid and a little bit of liner smudged along the lower lash line.
You could also pair this with gold or bronze for summer. Maybe even a little bit of teal liner along the upper or lower lash line if you’re feeling adventurous!
ines says
March 13th, 2012 at 6:23 amI love this. Do you think it would look good on me? I’m in between NW15 and 20 at the moment. In terms of core exercises – have you thought about taking a Barre Method class? Classical dance training really helped me get the abs I wanted (and helped me with my dancing too).
Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 9:24 amHi Ines,
You could totally rock this pink.
As for the Barre Method, I’ve heard of it. There’s something similar in my town called the Dailey Method which I think I’m going to try. I’m a little scared though and want to build up a tiny bit of core strength before I go in because it looks tough.
Taylor says
March 13th, 2012 at 8:35 amSpeak Louder is one of my new loves from MAC. I loved it so much I got one for my makeup table and another one for my purse. To me its the perfect pink. I wear it just about everyday. I didn’t think there was a pink better than Girl About Town but Speak Louder is definitely it.
Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 9:23 amHi Taylor,
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoy this shade. BTW, if you happen to have Evolution Revolution Lipglass, it looks lovely layered on top of Speak Louder.
Pooja@IBC says
March 13th, 2012 at 8:36 amSPeak Louder loos gorgeous on you perfect for spring summer. BTW Tabs totally rocks that Yoga Mat
Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 9:23 amDoesn’t he though? I’m pretty sure he thinks it’s his, LOL!
Sunny @ Mostly Sunny says
March 13th, 2012 at 9:42 amOoo I might have to try this one (though I’m eyeing the Force of Love lipglass too haha)! I’m a little skittish about it being blue-based, but it doesn’t look too cool so I think I might be fine!
And haha Tabs on your yoga mat! My cats would sit on a piece of paper if they can find it lol
Sunny @ Mostly Sunny recently posted … In These Shoes?
Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 2:12 pmTabs does that too! If I have poster board on the ground, he immediately makes a beeline for it. He also has to climb into any and every cardboard box that’s around, even if it’s really, really small.
Cats are just so weird!
Linnea says
March 13th, 2012 at 1:29 pmAgreed about the daylight savings time AND the JM dvds.. I did her 20 minute workout for a year, and enjoyed it (still kicked my ass into gear).. I then wanted to try her 6 week six pack.. I didn’t make it 10 minutes in 🙁 It was awful. I do not have any core strength, and unfortunately did not have the cat excuse to stop 🙁
Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 2:14 pmHi Linnea,
Her workouts are NO JOKE. I’m about to do the Banish Fat DVD in a few minutes, and I’ve needed all day to mentally prepare myself!
Do you do any other workout DVDs? I’m always looking for new ones!
Evani says
March 13th, 2012 at 1:56 pmThis is one of my FAVORITE colors. Speak Louder goes amazing with everything! I love when you review my fav products Karen!! 🙂
Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 2:14 pmHi Evani,
Yay! I’m so glad you like this color. What do you usually like to wear it with?
Evani says
March 14th, 2012 at 9:09 pmOkay, can I tell you right now how star struck I am? I can’t believe you take the time to reply to your comments! Haha I’ve been a fan for a long time but too shy to leave a comment. Anyhoot, I love to pair Speak Louder with my all black work dresses so that it really pops as my statement piece. Or with dark denim, something about Speak Louder packs the perfect punch! 🙂
Karen says
March 14th, 2012 at 9:22 pmAww, well I’m glad you finally decided to say hello! 🙂
I hear you about Speak Louder working really well with black dresses! I love that look, especially paired w/something classic and clean, like a sheer neutral eyeshadow with a little bit of sparkle (NARS Night Star!) and thick, black cat eyeliner.
corallista says
March 13th, 2012 at 2:24 pmI love a bright lip with a soft eye! Are you wearing a new concealer, your base looks wonderful here! And Tabs looks adorable lounging on the yoga mat!
corallista recently posted … Illamasqua launches Spring/Summer 2012 Collection : Human Fundamentalism
Sam says
March 13th, 2012 at 2:35 pmHahah oh gosh, Cleo keeps laying down on my yoga mat too! She squirms around, rubbing her body all over it… I think she really likes the texture of it. I have No More Trouble Zones, and I really like it… except it is BRUTAL. I’ve only had it for a few weeks, so I hope I see results in about a month!
Nina says
March 14th, 2012 at 6:13 amTabs in a yoga mat – Epic!
I think I need to take a look at the lippies from the perm line again, esp the ones I own. I hate stressing myself when new collections come out and I cant get stuff. 🙂
My Budding Love order from Nordies just got cancelled. I sad.
lexi says
March 14th, 2012 at 7:22 amI’m not entirely up on the lipstick – although it looks great on YOU! But – Imma steal yer tanktop 🙂 too cute!
lynn says
March 15th, 2012 at 8:22 amHi Karen,
I was thinking about trying the bright pink lipstick trend, but it’s difficult for me to find a pink that isn’t too fuchsia for my indian skin. I really like your post on mac speak louder and mac impassioned and would like to know which one you would recommend to try?