Pucker Up!

Here at Park Avenue Photographers we get a lot of questions from brides. Lots of 'em! One of the recurring questions is (believe it or not) about lipstick. Grooms, you may stop reading here!

Brides (and their girls) all want to look great--- not only on the wedding day but for photos taken during engagement sessions. The wraparound on this issue is that you pretty much look great ALL the time, who doesn't want that?

A wedding day is a long one, punctuated by lots of hugs and kisses and precious little time for touch ups.  Good long lasting makeup and particularly lipstick to the rescue. Even when a bride has her makeup professionally done, the color can fade and get smushed off a bit. Here in this post, we're talking LIPS.
Choose a color that flatters your skin tone and the colors of your wedding. Think harmony.
A lipcolor should be "long lasting". This phrase means different things to different manufacturers so read the label and ask the questions. Many lipcolors are touted as having the ability to last 8 hours but during this time can look really dry and cakey even when the pigment itself lasts. Not your ideal look!
TEST TEST TEST--------- find a color you like and look good in. Wear it for a few days and really test drive it.

• Does the color last
• Does the color change
• Do you need to reapply a gloss over the color to keep it looking its best
• How long does the color last without touching it

Armed with that information, you can choose the lipcolor that will serve you best for your photography. Remember, a bit of color will help to brighten up your face and bring out your sparkle.
BEST CHOICE: Audition your lip color at your engagment session. You will see how the color translates to your photos------ and you can take it from there.
Some of our favorite choices:
Buxom, Laura Does London, a collection available at Sephora
The color doesn't last as long as some, and requires a gloss.
It is a great plumper, the color is good on a lot of skin tones
And really....... with such a great name how can you go wrong?
We also love (among others):

• Rouge Dior Lipstick in "Pink Songe 365"-- long lasting & looks great
• Lancome Color Design, Sensational Effects Lipcolor---- in "Corset"
• M.A.C. Pro Longwear Lustre Lipcolour, in "Betwixt". Mondo Super Dooper Stay There color.
• Estee Lauder Pure Color Lipstick, in "Wild Blossom"

An absolute favorite in a gorgeous case---- Yves Saint Laurent Volupte in Sheer Candy!

the drug store brands are definitely more affordable and easier to find sometimes but ALMOST never give the performance of all day color. We say almost because there are exceptions.
The bottom line is that you need to decide what makes sense for YOU. Cost, Long Lasting color, need to refresh/retouch/re-apply.
Find what works for you and please let us know what you love so that we can share your thoughts with others!