One of the best compliments I have ever received was from someone who told me that my eyes were the color of a root beer float. Now, I’m pretty sure it’s just because I adore root beer floats, but I thought it was the best compliment ever, and I’ve received some original ones. While playing around with my makeup last night, I decided that I needed to take that line of thought to my makeup as well, and so I came up with this: Continue reading »
I’m one of those people who doesn’t wear lipstick very often, but when I do, I want it to be gorgeous. I’m not a fan of cheaper lipsticks that fade quickly, or leave a ring of color around the outer edges of my lips. If it flakes, forget it. I want it to be smooth, long lasting, and have amazing pigments. Also, I don’t want to pay a fortune for it, because it’s lipstick, not a Prada bag. And overall, I can usually find a color I like in any line, no matter the price point. But I love to explore new lines, and this week I was able to play with the Bonita lipsticks by new cosmetic company Yagolicious. Continue reading »
Pin ItYes, I’m obsessed with my hair. I have at least as many hair products as I do makeup and skincare items, and I don’t see that changing in the foreseeable future. I recently added about $200 worth of extensions (myself!), and I’m still coloring like crazy. So when I see something that helps the actual condition of my hair, because I put it through hell with all the coloring, heat styling, and other crazy things that I think are ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, I jump on it. Especially something that not only conditions but helps keep my color straight.
Mascara is life. If I were stranded on a desert island and only had one beauty product, I do hope it’s an excellent tube of mascara. It’s the one thing I will always put on, even if I don’t do anything else to my face. Mascara helps make eyes pop, and when you find the right formula that works for you, you hang on to it with everything you’ve got. Continue reading »
I have received a good number of questions and comments about the Ruby Kisses line, and wanted to update and post a list of online retailers. This line is carried primarily in beauty supply stores, but because those vary from city to city, it’s hard to keep a list going. However, these are the online retailers that I have found:
So, I’ve taken on the project of photographing my makeup stash, focusing on my favorites that I can’t live without. Surprisingly, there are a lot of products that I can’t live without, and I haven’t even scratched the surface of what is in my makeup closet. Yes, I have an entire closet just for beauty products. It used to be my linen closet, but all my stuff has taken it over. As I move through what I have, I’m throwing things out and searching for better organizational systems. So you’ll start seeing posts focusing on my makeup bag staples pop up every now and again while I complete this project. It will probably take me a year, and I’m only half kidding. Continue reading »
Since retro makeup is having a moment (Pan Am, anyone?), liquid eyeliner is right on trend. Unfortunately, many are intimidated by it, thinking that it’s not as easy to use as a pencil. The truth of the matter is that it can be that easy with the right product and some practice. The right product looks a good deal like the NYX Super Skinny Marker - jet black liner with a felt tip pen that leaves a dramatic look behind. Continue reading »
Before you ask me who the Real Colors brand is, I’ll just go ahead and clear it up. I’m on a beauty supply store kick, trying to decide if their makeup is as good as what I buy in specialty and department stores. This brand is sold at Sally Beauty, both in store and online.
The first palette I swatched was Feign. For $8.99 you get six metallic shades ranging from charcoal to silver, dark brown to light bronze. These shadows are baked, and can be used either wet or dry. I swatched them dry, but wet they make a FANTASTIC liner, especially when used with an angle brush.
The next palette was Faux Pas, full of dramatic brights, and I can’t really decide if they are foiled or metallic. Again, they look fantastic dry, but wet creates a whole new level of bright liner goodness. These were really great shadows, nicely pigmented and easy to blend, especially for the price. The only downside I could find was the very thin area of shadow in the packaging – it makes it hard to pick up with a bigger brush – my angle brush was no problem. I’m sure it’s easy to use with the included sponge applicator, but I just can’t use those because they are worthless.
Other shades include Trickster, Con-Artist, Facade, and Counterfeit. Check out the slideshow of the swatching below.
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tars: vegan and cruelty-free
If you haven’t tried the OCC lip tars yet, you are really missing out. They have an entire line of amazing cosmetics, and now you can play with all of them at their new flagship on the Lower East Side in Manhattan.
“OCC chose the Lower East Side because it has really become the true hub of all things creative and artistic coming out of New York. The neighborhood’s latest renaissance is producing cutting edge design fashion, designers, salons and art galleries, and that’s where OCC needs to be,” says David Klasfeld, CEO/Creative Director.
Walking into the flagship store you will see an array of makeup in bold and dramatic colours with pops of neon and saturated pastels, radiating from every corner. Professional Makeup Artists are standing by to offer private consultations, makeup applications, and will even show you how to perfect airbrush makeup. Customers will not want to miss OCC’s Mixing Bar where they can custom create their perfect shade, or recreate their favorite colour. Gone are thedays anyone has to live without their favorite discontinued beauty product! With over 36 shades of Lip Tars, highly pigmented loose eyeshadows, and an array of vibrant nail polishes, OCC’s flagship store is sure to become the next beauty haven for any makeup artist or beauty buff.
Cynthia Rowley’s makeup look for her Spring/Summer 2012 show was all about sporty, glowing, and just a bit masculine. Key artist Lottie focused on a strong brow and bare lips. The makeup combined with the hair all pointed to an almost sweaty look. In fact, more than once I heard the look described as the “New York City girl who hasn’t washed her hair in a few days, and is running around the city pushing her hair back away from her face.” Interesting, no? More to come on the hair, but for now, here are the details on the makeup looks:
Check out FabDiva20′s Gold Stroke Recreation Look inspired by Fullybeatable!
Read all about Krasey Beauty’s purple hair transformation!
Musicalhouses shows you the Sleek Au Naturel Palette swatches from the Nude Collection, the first neutral and permanent collection to be launched by Sleek Makeup!
At Musing on Beauty, Mariella can’t help but go back for more Chanel Fall!
Jen from A Beauty Junkie in London is currently loving Carmex Moisture Plus!
Whitney’s World of Beauty swatches, reviews and shares her FOTD with newer products from Physicians Formula!
$115 foundation!? Fleurissante checks if Sisley Phyto Teint Eclat is really worth it.
Back to school this week (or not), be sure to check out Shivani of Adorable On Your Vanity’s top 5 natural glosses.
At Beauty Reflections, see how the new Sephora Smoky Kohl Eyeliner performs!
Do you suffer from dark circles or puffiness? Sherrie from Mirror, Mirror On The Wall is on the quest to find the best products for dark circles. Check out her RAVE review of Estee Lauders Cooling Eye Illuminator.
Is it that time of year already? Anita at Pleasureflush looks at Guerlain’s Holiday 2011 collection: Belle de Nuit.
L from Beautifully Addicted To runs you through her must have Autumn and Winter nails.
Ready for fun new Fall makeup? Pammy Blogs Beauty scopes out the new Pixi Fall 2011 offerings and Pixi creator Petra’s new blog.
Polish Insomniac has started cataloging her entire collection for insurance purposes – should you?
LaaLaa Monroe at Dolce Vanity is being enticed by the feathers of the peacock, and turns this desire into a nail art design.
Beauty Info Zone did a little shopping at MAC, found someMAC Me Over favorites, and chose some for a giveaway.
If you are at all a fan of smokey eyes, you might want to consider adding the Pin Up Pop palette to your arsenal of eye makeup. While it has the standard black shadow, it also has some other fun shades that can be used to create a fun, funky look that is much different than your usual black/gray smoke. I picked this up because I couldn’t resist a retro palette that was so versatile.
Organized into shade families such as neutrals and darks, every shade you need to create a beautiful eye are right here, including shadows that are best used as liners. From navy blues to a white opal shade, this makes a perfect travel palette.
Find the Pin Up Pop Palette by POP Beauty at Beauty Bridge for $10 at Beauty Bridge, although I picked mine up at my local Ulta store.
Yes, more on the inexpensive makeup! I can’t help it – I’m obsessed with a good deal these days. Is it just me or is the economy just not getting any better? While I stress about my retirement, I have been scoping out all the deals and sales, and picked up a batch of e.l.f. makeup during a Total Beauty deal. I had never tried the polishes before, so I ended up with two bottles, totaling a whopping $4, plus my discount. They might as well have given them to me.
Overall, I thought the e.l.f. Mint Cream polish applied really well. I needed two coats, but that’s nothing unusual. I don’t tend to apply heavy coats, because I’m so impatient when it comes to drying time. The wear was what I have experienced with almost all polishes, but I’m hard on my nails, and I don’t get more than three or four days out of any given manicure.
Find e.l.f. polish on their website, and I have also occasionally seen a selection of e.l.f. cosmetics at Target. Grab a few – I promise you’ll be impressed at this little $2 nail polish.
I’m on an affordable makeup kick lately. Especially when it comes to what is in local beauty supply stores – it’s amazing what you can get for such a small amount of money. When I saw these at Sally Beauty, I knew I had to pick them up. Metallics are having a moment, and I don’t have very many of them. Nothing like a season change to get me excited about some new trends!
Sometimes I’m a fan of having all your colors in a palette in one pan, and other times I’m not. This is one of those times where I’m not such a huge fan. The colors in the Real Colors Baked Trio Foil Eye Shadow are gorgeous – nicely pigmented with an excellent metallic sheen. But the center color is so difficult to get to that it can be a problem with my makeup brushes. Also, like many of these baked metallics, the shadow is soft, so be careful and don’t dig in too hard, or you will have an intense mess on your hands.
That being said, I love these shadows. The color payoff is lovely, and the price couldn’t be better. I think these would make an excellent smoky eye, especially paired with a striking kohl liner.
Real Colors Baked Trio Foil Eye Shadow is available at Sally Beauty for $3.99, and comes in seven different trios: Phony (neutrals/copper), Foiled (rose/silver/black), Bogus (gold/tan/copper), Fools Gold (copper/gold/purple), Frills & Fancy (copper/silver/gold), Sparkle & Shine (dark blue/silver/blue), and Trinkets & Treasure (brown/gold/dark brown).
Swatches below:
Summer’s almost over, and I can say that I’m relieved. I’m always happy this time of year, not that I don’t love summer, I do, but I always look forward to the cooler weather, the autumn holidays, and the preparation for the upcoming holidays.
What I don’t always love is losing my summertime tan. I haven’t been a huge self-tanner this year, but a touch of color helps to even out skin tone, especially when I’m still wearing clothes for warmer weather. And my face, well, that always looks better with a touch of color. So I’m still reaching for my Ruby Kisses All Over Glow Bronzing Cream.
I was introduced to Ruby Kisses at The Makeup Show back in May, and received quite a number of products that I have been playing with and trying out all summer long. This is one of my favorites by them, and I will be repurchasing it just as soon as I run out.
This is a lightweight cream that can be used over foundation or all by itself. It’s a lightly tinted bronze with just a touch of luminosity. It’s not glittery or overly shimmery – it’s perfect even for older skin that needs a touch of lightness. You can use it to highlight and contour if that is your thing, or use it as a light tinted foundation on days when you don’t want a full face of makeup.
This cream runs about $4.99, which makes it an incredible value. The only downside to this entire product is that it is hard to find. You can find it in independent beauty supply stores and online at several retailers. But it’s worth it.
