Like most women I have makeup over flowing out of stacks of boxes and a few makeup bags, not including the one I carry every day. While going through and trying to toss out oldies, I noticed that I had a lot of lipstick, and because I'm not wild about colors they were all a variation of nude, beigey, peachy, pink shades. I am in no way, a makeup artist, or guru, I simply like a small amount of very specific looks on me and stick with what I know. Though I have my favorites, and to some just looking my collection may seem as though its all the same shade of lipstick, I promise you I can identify each and every shade, what it does, what it smells like, the sheen, and what colors it goes best with. I thought back, and since I first began wearing makeup seriously (after realizing I didn't look as great as Foxy Brown did with black lipstick), and so many of the ads at that time, or even when I would go into department stores to purchase makeup because I was a person of color I was made to feel like I could only wear darker shades of usually berry tone lipstick or browns. Maybe, back then in the 90's it just wasn't as popular as it is now, to wear nude or pink shades. I don't remember when exactly I realized I could do whatever I wanted in life and in makeup but, I've had a love affair with lighter shades of lipstick for quite some time. When I first began, I received backlash. I was the girl in school with the big pink lips, or I remember dating a guy as an adult, who asked me if I wore pink lipstick because I thought I was white. So the stigma that black people should only wear brown lipstick still exists in some people. Could I have looked like a clown back in high school wearing the wrong shade of lipstick, possibly, I was young and just starting out with makeup and did whatever made me smile (as I still do now). The only difference now is, I'm a little more conscience of what compliments my skin tone but I believe any girl can wear any color lipstick she wants as long as she finds the right shade. While these things made me slightly self conscience then, I never stopped wearing pretty pastel colored lipsticks and I've been on a hunt since to find the perfect hue. While I've found some combinations that have been gorgeous, there's also a catch, I don't want to have to mix colors, and only want to add lipgloss for shine not to alter color. I want the perfect nude or pink lipstick that provides, color coverage, moisture, and slight shine, NO glitter, NO shimmer. I've decided to occasionally record my lippy findings and you can view my first video vlog below. Hope you enjoy!