The first mini lipstick I ever bought and this shade made me fall in love with MAC lipsticks, despite the horrible in store experience. Left to Right: Mac Mini in Twig and Velvet Teddy

So the mini lipsticks might not be in the most well made packaging, but they definitely help me a lot in travelling whether its international travel or everyday commute. I even have the mini Ruby Woo, which travelled to Pakistan and the bullet broke off in the heat. You can see that the MAC Minis below are not in the best condition, but that's what they looked like after first use. I have slowly developed a likeness for mini lipsticks because they are tiny and fit in every clutch or mini bag I carry. And these minis have literally travelled around the world (6 countries to be exact) with me this year and there is still plenty left in them. While I was preparing this post, I realized there are two more nude lipsticks that stay in my handbag for travel. These mid-tone nude lipsticks are great for all holiday events, everyday wear and also for work.

I do not like nude lipsticks that darken up my mouth or lighten it to the extent that I look dead. They are also the most flattering on many skintones and undertones. Left to Right: Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk, MAC Mehr, MAC Mocha, Chanel Mademoiselle and Chanel Abstraitīelow are all the swatches of my nudies - ranging from pink nudes, to brown nudes to red nudes. Its a beautiful nude shade for my neutral-medium skintone. I often layer on a cherry red lip gloss, that makes it more red, for more formal occasions, but even on its own, I love this shade. I don't feel the need to gain attention on my lips! At least not now, so whenever I am looking for something reddish but not ruby-woo-red, then this is what I go with, Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in Abstrait. I am never comfortable in a red lip and I always feel that it gets way too much attention, also because I naturally have a fuller lip so it appears more showy than I intend to. It pulls out the warmth in my skintone and brightens up my smile. I love to wear this with my whites and camel colored tops. It's a matte, velvet finish formula from Chanel, that never looks overdone. The red tone nude for a nude lip lover! I love how wearable and chic this shade is all year long, especially the holidays.

Mac velvet teddy temptalia