Lipstick Diary: What I Wore That Day

Omigod, new lipstick-shade obsession. I actually squealed a little when I first tried it. A smile-brightening fuchsia red, it's The Body Shop Colour Crush Lipstick 201 Red Hot Raspberry, part of the new range of lip colour the brand released this Fall. And the compliments it gets are enough to pull a girl away from the season's blackened berry trend.

The Body Shop Colour Crush Lipstick 201 Red Hot Raspberry ($13, thebodyshop.ca) is a pearlescent shade with a hint of shimmer. Thankfully, that shimmer is barely noticeable in the tube and on the lips -- I prefer a subtle sheen rather than obvious shimmer at my age.

Pigment-rich bright colour glides on easily with a lighter texture than expected from a hydrating formula. Within a couple of hours, the finish settles into a bit of a stain. (If you're prone to lipstick bleeding, you'll need a clear lipliner, or one of these keep-colour-in techniques.) Smooth lips pre-application are essential (this new smooth-lips technique calls for a cotton facial pad and hot water).

If you haven't tried The Body Shop Colour Crush Lipstick, there are 24 shades from nude to pink to red to deep berry from which to choose.

I'm officially a fan of the  texture and excellent shade range. Would love to know what you think of the formula and colours.