Thinking outside of the box - Lipsticks you never use

Often it's the simplest ideas that rock our worlds. Ok, in terms of this post that's a bit of an overstatement I guess, but this little revelation I've had recently has certainly meant that I can view my entire lipstick stash with new eyes.

So you have one, two, five, ten, maybe more lipsticks that you don't wear much because
a) they're too bright/dark/vampy, or
b) you realised that the colour doesn't suit you or 'do' anything for you.

It's a shame not to use what you've spent your hard-earned cash on and it's a waste of resources just to throw them away. So here's a little tip that could just bring them out of the depths of your make-up bag and onto your dressing table (ooooh, dressing table. Fancy. I don't have one, but someday I will.... )


DON'T APPLY THE LIPSTICK STRAIGHT FROM THE BULLET.
DON'T USE A LIPBRUSH.
These application methods are only for lippies you are happy to wear in their traditional guise.

Instead:

USE YOUR FINGERS. SWIPE OVER THE LIPSTICK AND APPLY TO YOUR LIPS LIKE A BALM. MASSAGE THE COLOUR INTO THE LIPS, BUILDING UP THE COLOUR TO YOUR DESIRED INTENSITY.
You will be so surprised by how the most 'unwearable' of colours can be transformed using this method. As a bonus it totally plumps up the lips too. The colour melts into the lips leaving you looking like you've just bitten into a sacred fruit from the garden of Eden....

That bright red which you loved in the shop and swore you would wear more often (and consequently don't) becomes the prettiest, most natural berry flush.

The deep vampy purple which you bought in a 'power dressing' shopping frenzy will stain your lips with a wash of morello cherry-bitten gorgeousness.

Other 'unsuitable' colours can metamorphose into an altogether more flattering hue. 

Lisa Eldridge also shows you how to wear lipstick 4 ways in her video here. This method is one of them. NB If there is just ONE guru to subscribe to on YouTube then it's her. Just do it, people.

I've taken to wearing all my lipsticks like this recently, not just the bright ones. My favourite 'stain' of the moment is created by Rouge d'Armani in Rouge 400, a glorious vintage true blue-red. It looks fabulous applied neat from the tube which is why I bought it over a month ago but it hasn't had many outings because it's just so striking.

Armani Rouge 400

Oh, and it's the one Megan Fox is wearing here:

When I use my fingers it gives a soft red voluptuous (yes, really!) lip which looks retro and modern/fresh at the same time. (By the way, this lipstick has the best staying power I've ever experienced. I need a full blown make-up remover to get it off if I apply it neat from the tube.)

Don't believe me? Brace yourselves....

Bare lips

A little Rouge 400 'massaged' into lips with finger....

 And just to compare:

Rouge d'Armani - Rouge 400, applied straight from tube

Get the picture? Now get out those abandoned lipsticks and show them some love.