How to be a Pink Kind of Girl (even in a Blue, Boyish World)

Wed, 30 May 2012 2:21PM

I’m what you could call a girlie girl. I love anything frilly and flouncy and sparkly. Seriously, if I could get away with wearing fairy wings on a daily basis, I probably would. So, of course, I adore the colour pink. Truly: I used to live in an apartment that my friends dubbed the pink palace. It had musky-hued carpet, a pastel couch and rosy chandeliers casting a pretty glow everywhere. And yes, there was even a white Persian cat complete with pink collar. (Am I scaring you yet? I think it did frighten a few boys in its time).

So it’s slightly ironic (and, to many friends, hilarious) that I now find myself surrounded by boyness. First, there’s my husband, Andy (an interior designer whose idea of a great house is a minimal box-like structure, filled with sharp black furniture; we have many heated, uh I mean interesting, décor discussions). Then there’s my son Noah, who is two and a half. And now, there’s one-month-old Otto. In other words, it’s surround-sound (and –smell) boys! I do have a female dog, Daisy, but although she’s white and fluffy in theory, she’s more brown and scruffy in reality, so I’m not sure how far on my side of the gender divide she really is.

Anyway, what I have realised lately is that my newly testosterone-charged life is actually making me embrace pink more than ever. Alas, I no longer can get away with living in a pink-from-floor-to-ceiling abode (I have my one room – a kind of woman-cave – in which all of my pink belongings reside and to which I escape whenever I need a prettiness fix). But I have made up for my de-pinked lifestyle by suddenly amassing all sorts of new pink dresses and accessories. For instance, there’s my fuchsia Stella McCartney ‘Falabella’ fold-over bag, which I love like the daughter I don’t have. And my beloved rose quartz cocktail ring from Jan Logan. And a couple of new floral frocks, as prettily feminine as only those Zimmermann sisters know how to do.

Oh, and I seem to be wearing more pink than ever on my face. Or maybe I’m just in sync with some of the prettiest red carpet looks from recent times, which all happen to be twists on the pink makeup theme. For instance:

Emily Hampshire:

Kate Upton:

Nina Dobrev:

Cameron Diaz:

 

Inspired to throw your own pink beauty fit? If so, these are the top five pink beauty buys I’ve been lashing on lately:

YSL Rouge Volupté in Lingerie Pink, $55, from department stores

I can’t imagine a more divine lipstick – ever. There’s the exquisite packaging, for one. But it’s what’s inside that is really to-die-for. It’s a cool baby-pink colour in a creamy consistency that coats lips richly and beautifully. Fabulous when used to balance out a smoky-dark eye.

Nars Lipstick in Schiap, $45, from Mecca Cosmetica

At the other end of the pink lippie spectrum is this tube of fabulosity: a bright lolly-ish fuchsia in a semi-matte formulation. Stain it on for a subtle take, or build it up for a major mouth statement.

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow in Golden Pink, $44, Bobbi Brown

 

I’m generally not a fan of pink eyeshadow. It can too often make you look a little ill, like you’ve been feverishly rubbing your eyes for a week. There are, however, exceptions. Emma Stone looked a delicious treat at the Oscars, pairing a shimmering pastel pink shadow to sleek liquid liner. And then there’s this luscious Bobbi Brown number, which brightens up any eye with its perfect balance of warm and cool pigment – not to mention its glamorously glimmery finish.

MAC Powder Blush in Pink Swoon, $41, MAC

I don’t usually bother with blush. Bad beauty editor, I know! Thing is, I have rosacea. So I naturally have a rosy glow most days. On those days when my blush is more a crazy out-of-control flush, and I have no choice but to layer on the foundation and concealer, I usually go the extra step of adding blush, to put some colour back into my face. And lately it has been this oh-so-pretty one. Swoony indeed. It’s a sheer – and nicely non-shimmery – formulation that gives a healthy glow when applied lightly. But it can be built up to give pale skins a porcelain-doll effect, or to imbue darker skins with a flirty flush.

Revlon ColorStay Longwear Nail Enamel in Pale Cashmere, $16.95, from pharmacies

This shade is just adorable: think a milky-pale baby-pink. Have you tried this new line of nail polish by the way? Inspired by salon gels, it’s a fabulous opaque style of lacquer that is meant to last 11 days. Admittedly, I can’t seem to get beyond a week myself. But I’m okay with anything that clocks up more than three days of wear. And this is the perfect long-last shade, as it goes with just about everything. But especially anything pink and frilly and girlie.

 

So, all my fellow girlie-girls, do you have any favourite pink makeup buys you can add to the lust list?

And have you tried any of the above products, and similarly fallen in love?

Kat xx

Posted by: Katrina Lawrence

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Tags: bobbi brown, cameron diaz, emily hampshire, featured, fuchsia, kate upton, mac, nars, Nina Dobrev, pink, pink blush, pink eyeshadow, pink lipstick, pink nails, revlon, rosacea, ysl, zimmermann