Instantly Brighten A Dreary, Post-Summer Day

Summer is unofficially over and it's been raining cats and dogs all week. That's enough to bring any girl down. It's bad enough 2011 has flown by and now your whole summer has escaped in a flash. 

I'm never quite ready for fall to roll around and neither is my brain. Therefore, I make it a habit to keep my carefree summer mentality intact by wearing summer-centric makeup shades as long as possible. 

Bright, punchy lip colors in lightweight formulas are a great way to spice up any day. Here are a few of my fav. products that have lifted my post-summer spirits and brightened my whole face in the process:

NYX Round Lipsticks ($4.00)- NYX is one of my favorite new cosmetic brands. I'm in love with their foundation, grinding powder and shadows, but at four dollars a pop you seriously can't go wrong by stocking on up on their fab lipsticks. The mineral-based emollient formula is super moisturizing and the colors are vibrant and rich. I love their vibrant hued-shades but their are actually 144 shades to choose from.  (NYXCosmetics.com)

Facade in Cha Cha

Facade in Livid

FACE atelier Cosmetics Facade ($26.00)- To get an all-natural lip and cheek flush invest in this ingenious cream. This silcone-based, 100% vegan liquid-to-powder formula feels silk on the skin and gives you a buildable matte color. The shades look amazing on camera and long lasting. I love shades Cha Cha and Livid. Both colors gave me the perfect post-workout flush and looked great when mixed together. I love the unique consistency of this product and love how natural this looks and feels on. (faceatelier.com)


Lipstick Queen Chinatown Glossy Pencils ($20.00)-Beauty and movie buffs collide! Lipstick guru Poppy King created yet another fun, fresh and flattering lip product in these chubby pencils inspired by her favorite movie, Roman Polanski's Chinatown. The stylish packaging will draw you in but the chapstick-like consistency and saturated finish of the color are the real stars of this masterful production. Throw one of these gorge. shades in your bag and swipe it on easily throughout the day.  The glossy look is perfect for the office and a night out on the town. (lipstickqueen.com)


 NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil ($24.00)-For a deeper, matte color opt for the drama with these super rich lip pencils. The shade will last long and give you a totally glamorous look. I love shades Dolce Vita (a dusty rose) and Cruella (a vampy scarlet). Wear these with a little liner and minimal shadow to let the shades really shine. (narscosmetics.com)

Maybelline ColorSensational Lipcolor ($6.63)- Maybelline is always a reliable go-to for drugstore cosmetics. Their shadows, mascaras and glosses rank among the best in the business. I'm already a big fan of their ShineSensational Glosses which smell yummy and make your lips look dazzling. Their latest lipsticks feel soft on your lips and distribute lots of shiny color. 
These tubes are also a celeb favorite. Selena Gomez rocked this affordable tube in shade Pink Satin at the Teen Choice Awards. (maybelline.com)