Blaq Vixen Beauty

Did you know that it will be my birthday in ten days? I was telling one of my friends yesterday that the countdown to my birthday officially begins. I have no plans; I'm pretty much fast-forwarding until January!

Since I don't really expect anyone to get me anything (maybe money), I bought myself some early birthday "gifts:" Lancome Color Fever Plumper Gloss in City Mauve (from their Pink Irreverence Spring 2009 collection), The Little Mermaid Collection Fish Hook Hoop Earrings, The Spiked Earrings in 18k Gold by Obey, Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick in Plum Perfect (435) and Revlon Super Lustrous Lipsticks in Berry Haute (signature shade; 660; creme), Iced Amethyst (pearl; 625), and Plumalicious (pearl; 465).

Earrings by Disney

I honestly don't know why I've been buying (and wearing) lipstick lately but it's feels...comforting. Especially when I went to the gym wearing Berry Haute. I made eye contact with several guys, all of them hella cute. Go me! I swatched them on my hand but am working on creating a collage so y'all will know what they look like on my lips. Until then, I want to know what shade of lipstick are you wearing now?

Editor's note: The product mentioned in this article was sent for editorial consideration.

While I don't have the ovaries to wear red lipstick every day, I'll gladly substitute this powerful shade with a flirty shade of pink - like Isadora Crystal Gloss Stick in Coral Rose. Coral Rose does start off sheer, but you can build the intensity to your liking. I found out that if I applied it over a lip primer, initial application is considerably more sheer.

However, this didn't stop me from sporting an opaque, pink lippie with a crystal-shine finish. The texture is a cross between a lip gloss and lipstick. It's more like a creamy, light finish lipstick enriched with shea butter and vitamin E. My lips didn't have that rough feel you sometimes get because bits of your lipwear is still on your lips. I'm talking about actual particles that stick around like snakeskin!

Well, with this gloss, I didn't have worry about that. I loved the fact that my lips stayed moist, even through eating a bowl of Hamburger Helper and devouring a hotdog. The color wasn't as intense, but it was like I was wearing a sheer fuchsia gloss. Isadora Crystal Gloss Stick easily doubles as a lip gloss and a chapstick.

For S12, I am looking forward to snatching up the rest of the colors - Mango Fizz, Bermuda Pink, Choco Breeze, In Red, and Taffeta Pink. Maybe, when I get my pair of "grown woman" ovaries, I'll be able to wear red on a regular basis, not just when I see an exceptionally gorgeous photo of Sade. Or even when I see any woman of color modeling the most flattering shade ever, I'll be that much more inspired.

What is your favorite bright shade of lipstick to wear? What puts you in the mood?