Bliss Fabulips Softening Lip Balm

I think I've found my new favorite lip balm! Bliss's Fabulips Sotening lip balm is easily the best balm I've tried. I got it for six bucks at T.J. Maxx, and put it on immediately. The product came in a simple white tube, and the balm itself was white. It had a light sugary smell to it, and went on smoothly. It felt amazing on my lips; they felt immediately softer and more moist. The balm soaked in after about forty five minutes, leaving my lips baby-soft and quite supple. I would definitely recommend this lip balm!

Revlon Powder Blush

I wanted to try a new blush, so I picked up Revlon's Powder Blush in "Softspoken Pink," and when the label said "softspoken," it meant it. I liked how subtle the product was, though; as pale as I am, I look weird in a ton of blush. Anyways, I didn't use the little brush that came with it, the brush was far too small. It took a few swipes to put on with my blush brush, and I ended up with a cute flush of color. It wasn't overpowering, nor did it fade or smear throughout the day. When I run out of this, I will buy it again.

Wet n Wild Fergie Collection Lipstick

I was on the fence about buying anything from Wet n Wild's Fergie collection, but the lipstick turned out great. I bought it in "Old School Glam" and paid around three bucks for it. I pretty much fell in love; the lipstick was highly pigmented yet smooth, and stayed on all through the day without touch-ups. The product didn't dry out my lips, and I received compliments on the bright poppy shade all day. I think this might be the HG of drugstore lipstick! Who woulda thought?

How to use Mascara as Eyeliner

I heard through the grapevine that one can use mascara as an eyeliner. I gave it a shot, and was really impressed! The mascara went on in one stroke, and packed a ton of pigment. It didn't budge all day! Anyways, here's how you do it:
1. Get a really small makeup brush. I used e l.f.'s professional concealor brush.
2. Dip the brush into the desired tube of mascara. Make sure you have plenty on the brush.
3. Apply as you would a gel liner
The picture below is of how the liner looks before I put mascara on my actual lashes.

BioOil

I got a bottle of BioOil for free through work a little while ago, and decided to see if it was a miracle product, or a farce. While it isn't a miracle, it's a great product! The oil smelled clean and not overpowering, and went on clear. I used it on my cuticles, a scar on my hand, and my lips to see if it would truly heal skin imperfections. After a period of weeks, my scar faded a little bit, my cuticles looked great, and my lips were much smoother. Score! I have also used it as a highlighter on my cheeks, which also went pretty well for me. I have been keeping my bottle of the oil in my purse, and will definitely buy it when I run out!

L'Oreal Power Volume 24 Hour Mascara

I bought L'Oreal's Power Volume 24 Hour mascara the other day; it claimed to have a smoky matte effect, and pack a ton of volume. I put it on a few days later, and ended up liking it. The brush was nice and large, slightly smaller in the center. The formula wasn't too wet, and gave me a good amount of volume. The mascara was indeed matte, and it held it's effect throughout the day. This was a pretty good mascara; I may very well buy it again!

Get the Look: Metallic Eyes

To get this metallic eye look, I put on two different shades of NYX's loose pearl eye shadows, using the darker one as a liner on the top and bottom. I put on a moderate amount of mascara and finished with a setting spray. At no point did I use liquid liner; I didn't want to detract from the shadow. What do you think; is it something you would wear?

Rimmel Dazzling Duchess Moisture Renew Lipstick

Rimmel released a handful of new Moisture Renew lipstick for the summer; the collection is called "Dazzling Duchess," and it's kind of amazing. I picked up "As You Want Victoria," the shade that Georgia May Jagger was wearing in the ad. I put it on the next morning, and loved it. It didn't make me look like Georgia May Jagger, but then again I don't have Jerry Hall's DNA (unfortunately). The lipstick went on smoothly, and was pigmented enough to only need one swipe. It was a nice shade of fuchsia, and stayed on well without settling into the lines of my lips. I plan on buying many more Rimmel lip products, after my recent success.

Rimmel Stay Glossy 3D Lip Gloss

I hauled a few shades of Rimmel's new Stay Glossy 3D lip gloss. I put them on throughout the next couple of days, and they turned out okay. I paid about five bucks for them, and didn't have my hopes up; Rimmel can be really hit-or-miss. The product stayed on pretty okay, but after a little while, they felt sticky and thick. Yuck. However, they looked great! The gloss packed a good amount of pigment and shimmer, and looked vibrant and rich. I don't think I'll buy any more, but I don't regret buying them at all.

Rimmel Extra Wow Lash Mascara

In one of my recent drugstore hauls, I picked up Rimmel's Extra Wow Lash mascara. I was excited to try it, mostly because of the "wow" in the name. I expected great length and volume, but was greatly disappointed. The applicator was much smaller than I expected; I would have preferred a larger, possibly curved one. After over ten swipes, I only got a little bit of an effect from the mascara. This product was basically a worse version of Maybelline's Great Lash mascara, which was not what I expected, or how it was marketed. I won't buy this again, and it makes me wary of Rimmel's other mascaras.

My Go-To Day Eye Makeup

Here's how I do my makeup if I really don't feel like spending a lot of time on it (aka if I won't see anyone important that day, but still want to look at least decent). The whole thing took me less than five minutes.

First, make sure your eyebrows at least look decent. Apply primer to the eyelid, and rub in.

 Apply gold (or champagne) shadow to the eyelid and under the eye as a liner. I used Maybelline's Color Tattoo cream eye shadow in "Gold Rush". Make sure that you apply enough of the product that none of your eyelid shows through.

 Add a tasteful swipe of black liquid eyeliner above your top lashes. Don't start right above the tear duct, as that makes the eye appear smaller.






Finish with a liberal, but not over-the-top dose of volumizing ascara, and you're done!

Rimmel ScandalEyes Eye Shadow Pencil

I bought Rimmel's ScandalEyes eye shadow pencil in "Blamed Blue," wondering if chubby eye shadow sticks were any good. The answer? Kind of. I paid about six bucks for it, and put it on a few days later. The product was highly pigmented, and went on in one swipe. However, as good as the shadow felt on, it smudged after a few hours. I forgive it, though; the shadow was so pigmented and bright. I will probably buy this product again, in ore colors.

L'Oreal Infallible Lacquer Liner

I bought L'Oreal's Infallible Lacquer liner, in hopes of replacing the lackadaisical Maybelline one that I already had. I paid about ten bucks for it, which is a little much for drugstore goods, but then again, I needed something good. I must say, I was quite impressed! The product came with a pretty good brush, and was in typical packaging for a gel liner. It went on in one swipe, and was highly pigmented. It stayed right where I put it all day, and gave me the perfect cat eye. I really like this product, and might even go far enough to say that it's the HG of gel liners! I will definitely buy this product in more colors.

Summer 2013 Lip Trends

It's pretty clear what the trends are for 2013, on the runway and in the magazines, that is. (Note: If a trend isn't right for you, forget about it. And when in doubt, go sheer.)

Left: Magenta. This shade is a little bit tricky, it's best if you have a bit of a tan. I don't wear it very often. (Revlon Lip Butter, Lollipop)

Middle: Classic pink. This one is pretty straightforward and easy to work with. Some wear it as pastel, some go neon with it. If I could only wear one of these trend-colors, it would be this one. (Maybelline Color Whisper, Faint For Fuchsia) 

Right: Coral. Coral is really having a moment right now, and there are many different shades of it out there. I tend to go with super-orangey colors, but it can be diluted with a little pink to make it more wearable. (Maybelline Color Whisper, Orange Attitude)

Maybelline Super Stay 14 Hour Lipstick

I picked up this lipstick mostly out of morbid curiosity. Could a lipstick stay on for 14 hours? The answer is yes. However, said lipstick will also turn your lipstick into a rose-tinted sahara desert. Stat. Towards lunch-time, (I had put on the lipstick at about 7 in the morning) my lips looked nasty. I'm talking peeling, cracked... Yeah, nasty. I ended up having to take it off; my lips were trashed. But doesn't that defeat the purpose of the longwear lipstick? Maybe this would be a good choice if your lips weren't naturally dry, like mine. I would advise you to exercise caution when decided whether or not the lipstick is a good product.
(Side note: The lipstick was very highly pigmented... I still don't forgive it, though)

Picture from Maybelline's webiste; previous picture too pixelated

Hard Candy All Lid Up Cream Cream Eye Shadow

I bought Hard Candy's All Lid Up cream eye shadow at Walmart the other day in "Stepping Stones," a nice shade of greige. I put it on a few days later, and liked it okay. It wasn't that highly pigmented, so I had to swipe it on a couple of times before I got a result. The product really complimented my eyes, and stayed on decently, but it creased a little. Overall, it was pretty okay, but lackluster. I will keep using it until I run out, but I don't think I'll buy it again.

Cheaper Chubby Stick?

I just noticed that I had a lot of "dupes" for Clinique's Chubby stick... Like, three. And I had the Chubby Stick itself. And I never noticed how similar they were until just now. Anyways, I figured I would give you a good comparison of them.

Top: Clinique Chubby Stick. Highly pigmented, great color, feels really smooth. Stays on well, moisturizes my lips quite nicely. Cream finish. 16 color options.
Second to top: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain. Highly pigmented, great color, feels good, stays on okay. Doesn't moisturize lips, nor does it dry. Cream Finish. 12 shades.
Second to bottom: Hard Candy All Glossed Up Hydrating Lip Stain. Moderately pigmented, good color, feels nice, stays on decently. Moisturizes lips a little bit, gloss finish. 8 shades.
Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick. Moderately pigmented, good color, feels okay, stays on for a few hours. Slightly moisturizes lips, cream finish. Eight shades.

The Clinique really is the best, but Revlon is a close second, in my opinion. I didn't like the Neutrogena as much as the others, it felt a little chalky as it wore off. The Hard Candy option is okay, but it doesn't have as many colors, nor does it stay on as long as the top two. If you don't want to shell out for the Clinique Chubby Stick, you should pick up Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain.

Victoria's Secret Plump Pout Lip Balm

We interrupt your normal program to announce that the Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale is on! I totally freaked out. Anyways, I happened upon a tube of their Plump Pout lip balm in the 50% off bin, and snatched it up. I put it on when I got home, and really liked it! The packaging was cute; it was clear with stripes on it, and a mirror-like base. The balm smelled sweetly of vanilla, and went on smoothly. It soaked in kinda quickly, but it plumped my lips a little bit, and made them feel all tingly. In the long run, it softened and moisturized my lips; I have totally fallen in love with this balm.

NYC Applelicious Lip Balm

I picked up NYC's Applelicious lip balm on a whim at Walmart, wondering if it would be any good. I put it on when I got home, and was mildly impressed. The balm smelled lightly of apples, and went on fairly smoothly. The apple design in the center didn't get all screwed up after I applied the product, which I appreciated. The product stayed on for a few hours before fading. The product neither dried out nor moisturized my lips. This was a fine product, but it was not a stand-out. I don't think I would buy it again, but I will use the tube that I have until I run out.

Salon Perfect Heated Eyelash Curler

I bought Salon Perfect's heated eyelash curler at Walmart for a little over eight dollars. I was suspicious of a hot object that I was supposed to twirl around near my eyes, however, I went for it. The next morning, I made sure that my lashes were clean, and I switched the curler on. It heated up really quickly, like 20 seconds kind of quickly. I swiped it over my lashes a few times, and didn't see a result. However, when I dragged it over them really slowly, and held it at the ends of my eyelashes, I ended up with longer-looking, perfectly curled lashes, which stayed that way all day. And I didn't poke myself in the eye with it! I am really glad that I bought this product.

Palladio Herbal Tinted Lip Balm

I bought Palladio's herbal tinted lip balm at Sally's, still hoping to find the HG of tinted lip balms. While this is not the holy grail, it is a good product. The packaging on the product was basic; it was just a black tube with a band across the bottom as an indication of what color it was. The balm went on smoothly, and lent a reddish hue to my lips. It stayed on for a few hours, before soaking in. The product moisturized my lips a little, but it was barely noticeable. Overall, it was a good product; however it was so basic that I would not buy it again.

NYC IndividualEyes Eye Shadow Palette

I was at Target a few days ago, and decided to pick up NYC's IndiviualEyes eye shadow palette. I put it on the next day, and was pretty impressed. I liked that the palette had it's own primer, and plenty of shadows. The product also included a highlighter and sponge applicator. Perfect to throw in my purse! The shadows complimented my brown eyes nicely, and blended well. They worked together to make the perfect casual day look (I put the browns on as a base, then the purple right above my top lashes, and added the gold around my tear duct). The shadows stayed on well, and this is a great product to keep in your purse!

Alba Hawaiian Lip Balm

I bought Alba's Hawaiian lip balm at Walmart recently, wondering if it would be any good. "Natural" cosmetic products can be really hit-or-miss, and I was hoping for something up to the standards of my Burts Bees products. The packaging was basic, but with a cute floral pattern. I put it on later that day, and was initially struck by the smell of the product.  The balm itself smelled exactly like fruit punch, and went on smoothly. The product stayed on for about two hours, and left my lips supple and moisturized. This was definitely a "hit" in terms of natural products. If only there were more than two flavors of this balm.

How to Hide a Hickey/Bruise

Hiding hickeys is a very underrated skill in the makeup world. It isn't hard, but it takes a lot of patience.

Here's what you'll need:

Lightest foundation you have

Concealer stick

Yellow corrective concealer (optional but highly encouraged)

Translucent powder

Here's what you do: (note: blend outwards after each step)

1. Apply a light layer of foundation over offending area. Pat it on, not rub. Never rub when covering a hickey

2. Follow with heavy coat of concealer

3. Another coat of foundation

4. Coat of yellow concealer if you have it, regular if you don't

5. Foundation again

6. Concealer

7. Foundation

8. Repeat 4-6 as necessary, making sure to blend liberally. 

9. Apply translucent powder with fluffy brush

Your end result may not be perfect, but unless you are up against the hickey police and investigation squad, you should be fine. 

Before

After

Battle of the Light-Weights: Color Whisper vs Rouge Caresse

Can't decide between L'Oreal's Rouge Caresse lipstick and Maybelline's Color Whisper? While they are very similar, there are a few differences that can help you determine which lipstick is for you.

                        Color Whisper                            Rouge Caresse

Price:                      7.49                                            9.99

Advertising:          Plentiful                                        Scarce

Colors Available:      20                                              16

Finish:                   Cream                                     Light Gloss      

Packaging:        Tube matches color               Mirror for touch-ups

Wear time:       Doesn't stay on well               Moderate staying power    

Lasting effect:          None                                  Lips slightly dry                           

Rimmel Show Off Lip Laquer

After being mildly impressed with the last Rimmel lip gloss I tried, I bought their new Show Off Lip Laquer. The glam packaging and the mere fact that it was a new product on the market got me stoked to try it; I bought it in Aurora, and put it on soon after. I believe that this product is, in fact, the HG. The gloss had a ton of pigment; it went on in one swipe. It showed up a strong poppy color, and looked great! It had a bit of gloss to it, not too much, and it looked creamy and smooth. The product stayed on pretty well, and didn't dry out my lips. I love this gloss, and plan to buy it in many more colors.

Rimmel Stay Glossy Lip Gloss

After being impressed by Rimmel's Lasting Finish lipstick, I decided to try their Stay Glossy lip gloss. I bought it in "All Day Seduction," a dark pink shade. The packaging was very basic, with a traditional gloss applicator, which I enjoy. I don't like it when I think that the packaging will overshadow the product. Anyways, I really liked the gloss once I put it on. The product glided on smoothly, and was neither too light, nor too heavy. The gloss only gave me a slight wash of color, which was kind of disappointing. I don't really go for "subtle". I forgave the gloss for that, though, as it stayed on quite well, and did not dry out my lips. I don't think I'll buy it again, but I will continue to use the tube that I already have.

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick

I was afraid to try Rimmel's Lasting Finish by Kate lipstick; usually when a celebrity collaborates on a makeup product, it is very poor quality. However, I fell in love with this lipstick. I bought it in 107, a sexy dark red. The packaging was cute enough; the tube was bright red with Kate's name in cursive across the top, with a tiny heart. Rimmel's signature crown was stamped atop the cap. I was afraid that the packaging would overshadow the product, but it did not.

I put it on a few days later for an event, and was amazed by how highly pigmented it was. I put one swipe on, and it was completely opaque, and a dark, sexy shade of red. The product stayed on really well throughout the night, and I got a ton of compliments on the shade. I will definitely by Lasting Finish lipstick in more colors.