Nude Lips for Darker Skintones

It's been quite a battle finding the perfect nude for my skin tone. A lot of the nudes out there are great for lighter skin tones but the light pinks don't work well on my skin. I've always known my perfect nude would be a balance between brown and pink but all the brown lipsticks are far too dark while all the pink ones are far too light. Whine whine whine.

But I've finally done it. I've finally found some perfect nudes for darker skin tones that don't make my lips look like I smoke a pack a day. It's been a few months of digging and swatching but I've finally done it.


My journey started with a lip liner I've raved about before.  I wear Rimmel's Exaggerate Automatic Lip Liner in Epic on a daily basis to work with nothing on top as it's the perfect nude for me. It's light brown with a pink/peach undertone. At first I felt as though this lip liner was drying but after several months, I realized it's just sticking to my lips (not sticky either). I wish I could find a better word for this; know that it's not drying or sticky, it's just ...there. After using this for so long, I don't feel it on my lips and it gives my lips a my lips but better look. It also lasts for a good long while (at least five hours) but it does start to rub off once I eat (lasts through drinks though!). It also makes my lipsticks (when I do wear any on top) last for ages. Knowing that this was my perfect nude, I then set out to find matching lipsticks which brought me to...

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in London (04): I need to have a moment of silence for the death of Target in Canada. Also, if any Canadians could tell me where else I could find these, that'd be great. This is a lovely light brown and I wear it on top of my Epic liner as I feel as though it's not dark/pink enough in it to wear on it's own. It lasts for a long, long while, it doesn't smudge or run and it doesn't dry out my lips. It's a win-win-win-win-win. There's also a slight vanilla scent which I love. The only downside is that it's hard to find even in the States as NYX SMLCs are so popular.

The last is a higher end brand that is darker that my previous picks and it's a creamy lipstick that I've really been liking. Buxom's True Nude Lip Foundation in Revealed is very pigmented and creamy. It's not drying and it lasts so so well without smudging or rubbing off. The colour is just as pigmented after eating as when I first put it on - it doesn't fade or transfer. It's easily the best formula of the three nudes though (get ready for more whining) I wish it was a tad lighter/more pink. Now if only I could get the Buxom formula with the Rimmel colour..

Have you tried any of these products (in any shade)? What are your thoughts on them. Leave your favourite nude lipsticks in the comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe! Hopefully we can get great nudes for a variety of skintones! 

The Sunday Mind: Sex for Minors?

If you've seen one of my fairly recent tweets (shameless plug here: follow me on Twitter!), you'll know that I really wish I could write incredible, thought provoking opinion pieces. It's not that I don't have the opinions, I just don't think I have the technical skill that many wonderful writers do, to write something that is worded wonderfully and gets people thinking.

Anyway, I've decided to write my thoughts out - no recipes or reviews, just general thoughts I had - in the hopes of figuring out a writing style for opinion pieces. *EDIT* After writing some thoughts out, I've realized what a rambly writer I am so I'm going to break it down, one thought at a time. Here's what's been on my mind lately:

The Ontario Sex-Ed Curriculum. If you live in Ontario (or maybe anywhere in Canada), you'll know there's been a huge fuss on the new sex-ed curriculum. The plan is to start sex-ed teachings from grade 1, a decision many parents think is unsuitable. Here's why I'm confused as to why parents oppose it (and correct me if I have any facts wrong):

1. The curriculum will be age appropriate. In grade 1 students will learn the correct names for body parts, grade 3 will teach students about sexual orientation and gender, etc. I don't understand what's inappropriate about that - they're not tossing Karma Sutra at the kids and telling them to figure it out.

2. I think it's great teaching kids about sexual orientation and transgendered people will make them more broad-minded and tolerant. I hope it reduces bullying and suicide of LGBTQ.

3. I also love the fact that consent will be a topic. A lot of people I've spoken to says consent and values like that should be taught at home from parents; the problem is consent isn't been spoken about at home. I think parents assume their sons and daughters understand consent and respecting others but it's not an easy assumption to make. While I'm sure most parents don't teach their kids to rape or assault, they're not teaching them to not do such things either. If consent was stressed at home, there would be fewer cases of rape and assault. But that's not the case and I don't blame parents for not explicitly teaching their children so, I just think it's time they start.

4. I've also heard that parents have the choice for their children to opt-out of the class so why can't people just do that? I personally think that people just don't understand what the curriculum offers and at which ages. I'm curious to see all opinions so comment below on why you're for or against the curriculum!

Have you heard about this curriculum change? What are your thoughts on it? What's been on your mind lately - comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

STWW: Body Acne (and how to get rid of it!)

Here's a little story about something I've had for years and years that I was always so shy about: Bacne. It's not a "pretty" topic but it is common and human and natural so I thought why not share my story if it helps someone out.

I had fairly bad breakouts on my back for many years which I hated. As I got older, the frequency of these breakouts reduced (not by very much) but the scarring was still prominent. I was always so shy about wearing tank tops or strapless tops and wouldn't unless I wore my hair down to hide my back.

Around six years ago I made a decision that I wouldn't let something on my body affect me so negatively and started not caring about my scars and bacne - writing it out sounds silly, like I'm making it a bigger deal than it is but, back then, it was a huge deal to me. After appreciating my body for the wonderful things it does for me, rather than hating something small like scarring, I decided to take action on my breakouts. I visited a doctor who prescribed an acne cream for me. I did this for a few weeks and, while it worked, the second I stopped, my back would break out again. It was also incredibly drying on my skin and the chemicals would bleach my clothes. I spoke to a friend who had done research on this and she recommended something that's so easy and that I use everyday and swear by.

Head and Shoulders. That's it. Or any dandruff shampoo, really. I use it in place of a body wash - it's enough to combat my acne without drying my skin and I've used it for a few years now and love it. I break out much less frequently and my scars are gradually fading (though this isn't because of the shampoo). I also don't use a moisturizer on my back as I don't want the oils and chemicals to irritate my skin. This is the most effective thing I've used without drying my skin or bleaching my clothes.

Is body breakouts an issue for you? Write any products/ways to reduce body breakouts (and if you use Head and Shoulders) in the comments below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!

The Easiest Summer Everything Sauce

Last week we had a barbecue for mother's day where my brother and I cooked for my mom and some family friends. I was able to learn a lot since my mom sat around like the Queen she is and instructed me on how to make marinades, sauce and dressings. We were originally going to use this sauce as a marinade for chicken but we decided to make some shrimp orzo instead and this versatile concoction became the dressing for that. It has a fresh flavour without being too lemony or garlicky - the perfect sauce for any picky eaters! It can also be drizzled over any salad for a light dressing - it is quite literally capable of flavouring anything!

All it takes are the whisking of a few ingredients: the juice of one and a half lemons, double that amount of Olive Oil, 3 tsp. Salt, 1/2 tsp. Pepper, 1 tsp. Oregano, and 5 cloves of garlic chopped finely. That's it! 

What's your favourite summer dressings/marinades - homemade or otherwise? Hope you guys try this easy recipe out since barbecuing season is upon us! Comment below or tweet me @SundayWardrobe!