Lip Product Addict Tag

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This tag was created by a couple of awesome Youtubers, Essiebutton & Amelia Liana. Check out the original video here. I’m pretty obsessed with lip products, so when I saw it I knew I just had to bring it to the blog!

#1. Fav Balm/Lip Treatment?

I’m completely and hopelessly addicted to lip balms. I loooove me some balm! I really enjoy tinted ones that I can wear as my lipcolor for the day if I’m having a chapped lip day. My favorite tinted balm right now is Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me. It’s moisturizing, has SPF 20, and gives a great pink tint that is bright enough to wear alone while still being mellow enough to wear with a darker eye. For a product that is just strictly a balm, I’ve been using Epic Blend More Moisture lip balms – I keep the Cherry one on my vanity, the Grape one in my purse, and the Green Apple by the bed. See? Addicted. (By the way I have a full review of the Epic Blend balms here on the blog.)

#2. Best Eye-Catching Red?

This question was really hard for me, because red is just about the only eye-catching color I don’t wear. I don’t really know why, but I’m just not into reds. I love bright lippies – pink, coral, orange, whatever! I just don’t really love red, so I hardly ever wear it. I do occasionally enjoy MAC’s Hot Tahiti lipstick, which is a very soft red and probably pretty underrated. It’s a glaze formula, so it goes on sheer but can be built up. And hey since I’m so pale, even a sheer red is bright on me…

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#3. Best Luxury & Best Drugstore?

The most luxurious lipstick I have in my stash is an Hourglass Femme Rouge Velvet Creme lipstick in Fable. I splurged on it during a Sephora F&F sale. The formula on these is excellent – super creamy and oh-so-pigmented. I would probably own more if they weren’t $30 a pop. You can get a refill cartridge for $24 – cool idea, but who honestly finishes a lipstick?!

Best Drugstore lipsticks have got to be the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters. I’ve mentioned them countless times on my blog because I’m obsessed. I am pretty sure I own all of them including some limited edition ones. I also have doubles of a couple of my favorites. I know…weirdo…(the ones I have doubles of are Pink Truffle and Juicy Papaya).

#4. Best MAC Lipstick?

MAC Flamingo. I convinced myself a long time ago that I did not need Flamingo. That is because at the time it was limited edition and impossible to find. Flamingo was going for $50+ on blogs and forums, and you probably don’t even want to know what people were willing to pay for this $15 lipstick on ebay. Yikes! Then MAC does what MAC always does – they repromoted it. In typical LE lipstick fashion it once again sold out in like no minutes flat. BUMMER. But I was able to get it from another blogger for $15 + shipping *grumble* – see for me that is more than usual because as a MAC PRO  cardholder I’m accustomed to getting 40% off MAC lipsticks. I know, I know…spoiled! But it was so worth the wait, and DEFINITELY worth paying full price. Now MAC has made Flamingo permanent, so I actually picked up a second one with my discount. Chyeah! Flamingo is the perfect sheer corally pink. Glorious.

#5. The Most Disappointing?

Ack, Maybelline Color Whispers! I lusted after these for I don’t even know how long. In fact, I did a blog post just about how much I wanted to try them! I read so many other blogs and watched so many videos about how much people loved them and I guess I built up all this hype in my head because I was left underwhelmed. I have my review & swatches here, where I also said I only liked them it wasn’t love. Meh. So sad.

#6. Liner – Yes or No?

Just a weak yes for liner. I wear it sometimes, but I usually wear a clear one. In my Hot Tahiti pic above I’m also wearing Urban Decay’s clear liner called Ozone. Hot Tahiti is a glaze which is sort of a squishy, movable formula. It’s helpful to anchor it with a clear lip liner. For dark/bright lip glosses or squishy lipsticks, a clear liner can be a lifesaver. Very rarely I will do a nude lip with a slightly darker nude liner for a sorta pinup look. My go-to liner of choice for those purposes is MAC Cremestick in Beurre.

#7. Best Gloss?

My favorite high-end glosses are Chanel Glossimers (only the ones that have some actual color to them though, some are SUPER sheer), and NARS lip gloss. I have a few MAC lip glass, although they really are not one of my favorite formulas because they’re so thick and sticky. For budget brands I really like Rimmel Stay Glossy lip glosses. The formula on those is really excellent and comfy on the lips. I kinda go between lipstick and lip gloss in phases, and lately I’ve been more into lipstick than gloss. But on my next gloss kick I can assure you the first one I will reach for will be one of the ones I just mentioned. Bit of a creature of habit. ;)


NARS Lip Gloss in Giza – my go-to shade

#8. Something Extra:

There’s so MANY extra things I could mention here! But I have to give a shout-out to lip crayons/chubby pencils. I have a ton of these because they’re so easy to just apply and go. My 2 favorites are Revlon ColorBurst Balm Stains, and NARS Satin Lip Pencils. I recently repurchased Revlon ColorBurst Balm Stain in Honey because I’ve all but used up the one I had. I wear it a couple times a week.

NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Timanfaya, one of my favorites!

April Favorites

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Sure it’s a week in to May already, but I’m telling you my April favorites dammit. And you’re gonna like it. Maybe. Or something?

Not a ton of color things this month because I’ve been all about skin care recently! As you may or may not have read, I’m obsessed with Urban Decay’s B6 Spray (see my review here). That’s definitely been a favorite. I use it every single day before I apply my makeup, and sometimes in between as a little boost, or afterwards to calm my skin down even more. ($33, Urban Decay)

I’ve also been really enjoying the Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream. I still feel weird calling it a cream, because it’s totally not. But it’s still a great moisturizer even if you have sensitive skin like mine. I like the refreshing scent too. It’s very “spa” to me. In case you missed it, my review is here(~$10, Drugstores)

If you’re in the market for a fan-friggin-tastic spot treatment, do check out Murad’s Acne Spot Treatment. The active ingredient is sulphur, which I find way more effective than salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. It’s also much more gentle on my skin than spot treatments made with those ingredients. It works beautifully, even though it smells kinda funky. A little goes a long way, so the tube will last you a while. Just keep in mind the expiration date (usually about a year is par for the course for these types of products). ($17, Ulta)

Two other secret weapons I’ve been relying on for the past month are Proactiv’s Refining Mask and Origins’ Clear Improvement charcoal mask. I’ve been tag-teaming my skin with these two masks to try and keep my pores as clear as possible. Both masks also make my skin soft and smooth. The charcoal mask from Origins is better for dry skin, gently removing impurities from pores. The ProActiv mask has an active ingredient of 6% sulphur and contains kaolin clay to absorb oil. (Origins Clear Improvement mask is $24 from Sephora, Proactiv Refining Mask is available from proactiv.com and Proactiv boutique kiosques).

I’ve been using and enjoying Urban Decay’s Naked Skin Beauty Balm, too! It functions as a primer with a bit of coverage too. It’s weird, even though it only gives you a little coverage, the “optical blurring” effects truly make it look like you have more coverage than you actually do. Does that make sense? I don’t know. But it’s pretty magical. See my full review here($34, Urban Decay) Whether I’m just wearing the UD BB cream or doing a full face, I have been setting my makeup with Urban Decay’s Naked Skin Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder. The first time I felt this powder I literally said “holy shit” out loud. It’s sooooo silky smooth. Just a little bitty bit is needed to set your makeup and give it a smooth finish. ($34, Urban Decay)

Color-wise, my Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey has been a constant staple in my purse. How many favorites posts have I mentioned it in?? I wear it a few times a week. I can’t stress enough how much I love this lip. Mine doesn’t even have any lettering on the pencil anymore because I’ve used it so many times the lettering has worn off! These are so comfortable to wear, and the colors last forever. The particular shade Honey goes with a ton of different looks. If you like colors like MAC’s Viva Glam V, you should definitely check this chubby pencil out. You won’t be sorry. Plus, it’s super cheap. ($8, Drugstores)

A few days ago, I finished up my second Senna Sketch-a-Brow pencil. I’m sad because it’s gone, but happy because it happened. Does that sound like an InstaQuote? I’ve tried a lot of brow pencils that I like and enjoy, but I’ve never used up two of any one kind except Senna’s. On the one hand, I want to go out and buy more immediately. On the other, I’m hesitant because I apparently go through brow pencils super fast. I mean I just bought that thing the first week of March! It’s hard to decide. Bloggers have such weird problems. ;) ($18, Senna Cosmetics)

After finishing my last tube of my beloved Maybelline The Rocket mascara, I received a sample of Rimmel ScandalEyes Retro Glam to try. Great news – I really like this mascara! It agrees with my eyes well (certain mascaras irritate the crap out of my eyes). It’s buildable, it’s really black, it doesn’t clump. Every once and a while if it’s really hot conditions it will smudge slightly, but it’s over all really solid. I would definitely purchase it again sometime. ($7, Drugstores)

And there you go! Those were my favorites during the month of April. What were you loving on in April?

March Beauty Favorites

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Those of you following me on Twitter/Instagram know that I am on the brink of moving house. In fact, I am moving this coming Friday! Because of that, almost all of my stuff is packed already. Including my makeup. I’ve been living out of my makeup bag recently.

First, what bag do I use? It’s the super awesome set bag by The Kim Greene Line. The 2nd edition Essential Bag, in pink. It holds a TON of stuff. This bag is my life right now. :) It holds more than the items I’ve been using/am blogging about this month, believe it or not! Sometime I’ll do a “what’s in my makeup bag” post, but these are the creme de la creme. ;)

Complexion

My usual foundation if I am going to wear any is Urban Decay Naked Skin. This stuff is so flawless. I love it. It actually comes light enough for my pale ass self (I wear shade .5!), and it feels weightless once it’s on. My bottle is almost empty, and I’ve already made sure I have a second one to start using as soon as I unpack it. It’s a little on the pricey side, but one bottle will last quite a while since a little goes a long way! ($39, Sephora)

Along with the UD foundation I have been wearing Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Skin concealer in shade Y0. It’s perfect for spots as it blends naturally and wears like iron. Win! ($20, Sephora)

Cheeks

This month’s cheek looks can pretty much always be attributed to The Makeup Show LA and NARS. Both of my favorites are NARS products and I got both of them at The Makeup Show. I’ve been using the new Contour Blush in Paloma ($42, NARS), the lightest shade for contour & highlight. For a color, I am in love with the new blush shade “Love” ($30, NARS). It’s like a non-shimmery Deep Throat. Let’s be honest though, I’ve never met a NARS blush I didn’t like. As per usual, the gals at the NARS booth at TMSLA were very supportive of my crazy NARS addiction very helpful in helping me make my purchases.

Eyes

Since I still get up at the crack of dawn (just a few more days of that! yay!), my eye makeup has been pretty simple. I like the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette because it’s completely idiot-proof, no-brainer eye makeup. I go over the lid with Naked 2, the crease and/or outer V with Faint, and highlight with Walk of Shame. Boom. Done. Sometimes if I wanna get fancy I will do the crease with Faint and the outer V with a mix of Faint and Creep (mostly Faint, little tiny bit of Creep). I can line my eyes with Creep or Faint, so then all I have to do is add mascara and I have a complete eye look with one little palette. Seriously, it might be basics, but they’re AWESOME basics. ($28, Sephora)

I’ve also been sort of addicted to the Make Up For Ever Aqua Color  in 20E. It’s a pinky taupey basic BROWNISH shade with shine/shimmer finish. It’s one of those shades you can just pop over the lid, blend out, and be DONE with it if you want to. And I have, many times. Or other times I’ve incorporated it into a Naked Basics look to add a little ‘oomf’ to the mattes in that palette. ($20, Sephora)

You all know from my review that I am madly in love with the Kevyn Aucoin lash curler. I’ve been using it every day. Want more info? Read my review. ;) ($21, Nordstrom)

Also getting lots of love and previously reviewed? Maybelline The Rocket mascara. LOVE LOVE. Still love. I haven’t loved a mascara this much since I tried that ungodly-expensive Hourglass Film Noir. And Maybelline is MUCH friendlier on the wallet! Check out my review. ($6.99 at Drugstore.com)

Also at The Makeup Show LA, I picked up another Senna Sketch-a-Brow. Brows you can literally throw on in 5 seconds? Yes please. This time I’m actually wearing the shade “Blonde”, which is not too light. It’s just more ashy than the Brunette shade. I’m always really impressed with how these pencils wear, too. They wear like iron! A very important quality in an eyebrow pencil, I say.

Lips

I have been living in 3 shades of Revlon ColorBurst Balm Stain virtually non-stop all month. They’re really hydrating, and the color does leave a light stain. Moreso for the brighter colors, but even for the lighter more neutral colors too. The three I’ve had in rotation are Sweetheart, Honey, and Precious. Sweetheart is a bright bright pink. This one is the most staining of the three. Honey is a rosy pink. Precious is a pinkish beige nude. ($7-$9 depending on the drugstore you go to, $8.99 at Drugstore.com)

So those are my favorites… what are yours?

10 Lipstick Formulas You Should Try

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I’ve been really into trying different lipstick formulas lately and I wanted to share with you some of my favorite formulas! If you haven’t tried these yet, you should!

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September Favorites

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Following in my tradition of posting random awesome pictures on my monthly favorites posts, this month features Obama riding on a unicorn shooting rainbows out of his hands. Seemed pretty legit. Thanks, internet!

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What’s In My Purse

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I love those “what’s in my purse” posts and videos, and this pic got a lot of interest when I posted it on Instagram, so I thought why not share it all?! Some of these are pretty much permanent purse staples, others are just products I’m loving on lately.

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Weekend Drugstore Haul

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Who doesn’t love a good drugstore haul? I woke up before Mr. Boyfriend on Saturday and decided to adventure over to a Rite Aid I haven’t been in before, because according to the magical internet machine, that Rite Aid carries Black Radiance. BR is a Markwins brand, the same company that makes Wet ‘n Wild. 

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My Most Beloved Beauty Products of 2012

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It is the time of the year when we pause to reflect back…blah blah blah, here’s the stuff I was most obsessed with over the past 12 months. :)

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Face of the Day: Sundressed

This is what I wore on my face today. Well, you won’t be reading it the day I wore it, but this is what I wore to work on 11/26. :) I work in a chic business casual office and just wanted enough color to perk up my face and look polished. Read on to see what I used…

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Lazy Girl Makeup Look

I promised I would try to do more FOTD posts. The problem is I haven’t been wearing much makeup lately because I just want to get out the door quickly in the morning! This is what I wore on my face to work today and I thought I’d share it as an example of a typical ‘me’ makeup look lately. I basically do enough to look better than a zombie and avoid comments of “you look tired” or “are you feeling okay?” – you all know what I mean. Aren’t those awesome? So here’s what’s on mah face —

Face: Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse BB Cream, set with MAC Studio Fix Powder in N3 – this was a new combo…lately I’ve been using just Studio Fix, but I wanted to try this out. I thought maybe I could get the coverage I wanted without as much powder on my face. I’m not 100% sure how I feel about the combo yet. It’s not holy grail but it’s pretty good. The coverage was so good that I didn’t need any concealer, but that’s partially because my skin has cleared up really nicely since my previous breakout issues earlier this spring! More on how that happened later. ;)

Cheeks: NARS blush in Luster – this has become my go-to blush lately. It’s described as “golden apricot” and that’s exactly what it is. I wear a light application for a quick neutral cheek that just adds color without being all “HEY I’M WEARING BLUSH!!!!”. I didn’t contour this morning but sometimes I use my MAC beauty powder blush in Personal Style (this was LE with the All Races collection I believe, but I have a backup because it’s my favorite contour ever in the history of life!).

Eyes: Today I just swiped some of the NARS Luster blush over the entire eye area very lightly. When I had my makeup done by Napoleon Perdis once, he swiped some bronzer over my eyes before the eye shadows, and I thought he was nuts. However, he explained that bringing warmth to the eye area draws attention to your eyes, so when I am going more or less bare, I still swipe some bronzer (or in today’s case a neutral blush – other times I use my contour) over my eyes. And you know what? He’s freaking brilliant. I love this tip! It’s not even necessarily noticeable, it just adds a little “je ne sais quois” that keeps me from looking as tired as I feel at 7:45. I forgot to do my mascara until after this photo, but I use Great Lash Lots of Lashes in black. My eyebrows are filled in with the Senna Sketch-a-Brow I use so often.

In this photo my lips just have Aquaphor, but I keep a supply of lip colors in my purse that I can add later. Right now these live in my purse and I use them all at various times depending on what I’m in the mood for that day–

NARS Bolero velvet matte lip pencil
Tarte LipSurgence lip stain in Achiote
Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait
Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Truffle

Also in my purse is Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow in 20E, taupe. These crayons are magnificent for on the go. I probably shouldn’t admit this but I have applied this in the car many times on my way to work. It’s so fast that at a red light I can scribble on my eyelid and smear it out with a finger, and then do the other eye at another red light – bam, eye look, done.

What’s your go-to quick makeup look?